Hydrobiology EU Water Policy and Regulation Professor Nick

Hydrobiology EU Water Policy and Regulation Professor Nick Gray Trinity Centre for the Environment Trinity College Dublin ©Tigroney Press

Freshwater Hydrobiology? v. Limnology from the Greek: Λίμνη limne, "lake"; and λόγος, logos, "knowledge" ØScience based mainly on studies of lakes pioneered by François Alphonse Forel (1841 1912) who worked on Lake Geneva and later on work done in Lake District by FBA. http: //www. fba. org. uk v. Latter attention turned to rivers as well and led to development of the more applied approach to the study of freshwater biology known as hydrobiology. ØHistorically important work of hydrobiologists include: biological processes in water and wastewater treatment; development of biological indices to classify water quality according to communities supported. Approach taken is this course based on hydrobiology.

Water Regulation Course objectives: • To provide a broad overview of freshwater ecology • To understand the factors that create unique freshwater habitats and their ecology • To understand community response to pollutants • To compare and contrast rivers and lakes • To be able to carry out basic surveys and analysis of freshwater systems.

Water Regulation Learning objectives today: Ø Concept of River catchments Ø Relevance of Water Framework Directive in relation to other key water Directives Ø How policy has changed management in the protection of water resources ‘Water is not a commercial product like any other but, rather, a heritage which must be protected, defended and treated as such. ’

Water Regulation Hydrological Cycle Freshwater bodies are often closely interconnected. A continuum is formed from rainwater to salt (marine) water. So each part of the cycle can influence quality of another, often significantly. • Water quality alters within catchments due to variations in geology, soils, distance from coast, transpiration rate of trees, land use and other activities of man etc. • Water resources are used for a range of uses such as abstraction, fisheries, navigation, waste disposal and recreation.

Water Regulation Key differences between freshwater – marine Ø Low concentration of salts Ø Organisms in freshwater have a problem of acquiring and retaining minimum salts for metabolism (osmotic/diffusion problems) – makes them more vulnerable to pollution Ø Smaller volumes Ø results in greater range and more rapid fluctuations in temperature and other parameters (e. g. DO) – more vulnerable to pollution Ø Physical restraints on pollutants and animals

Water Regulation Small volume and area of freshwater … so what? Ø a physical restriction on certain species (e. g. size, feeding behaviour etc. ), restricts free dispersion of organisms Ø Isolated → restricted movement → lower diversity Ø Recovery from pollution relies on recolonization from within area, easier in rivers (drift) than lakes Ø Contains pollutants v Lake is a very small sink with a small dilution and assimilative capability v Sea is a vast sink with a huge potential dilution and assimilative capacity

Water Regulation Freshwater Habitats Wide variety with hydrological, physico chemical and biological characteristics varying significantly between each Standing water • Lakes • Ponds • Turrlochs • Tropical lakes • Gravel works • Old peat workings Flowing water • Springs • Mountain torrents • Chalk streams • Lowland rivers • Large tropical rivers

Water Regulation Ø Lentic – standing water (e. g. ponds, lakes) Ø Ecologically important physico chemical variables vary in intensity or concentration in a vertical direction forming distinct depth profiles (e. g. DO, temperature) Ø Lotic – flowing water (e. g. rivers, streams) Ø Rivers are one way flow systems generated by gravity Ø Horizontal or longitudinal patterns of physico chemical variables formed Ø May be difficult to differentiate Ø Canals, flooded ditches, wetlands within river systems Ø Lentic lotic; lotic lentic lotic

Water Regulation Retention Time ØLakes normally have an input and an output, although often a very small throughput. ØSo systems can only be defined in terms of retention time.

Water Regulation Each catchment is drained by a dendritic network of streams and rivers all feeding into the main channel. Within each catchment are also lentic bodies, wetlands and aquifers that all eventually feed into estuaries (transitional) and coastal waters Streams increase in size (order) from very small (1) feeding the main channel (6 10). Each forms a sub catchment with unique water quality

Water Regulation River sections can also be classified by mean discharge rate, catchment area and width.

Water Regulation Global warming On the summer chart recent years tend to fall more in the bottom right quarter, corresponding to hotter, drier summers compared with earlier periods.

Water Regulation On the winter chart the recent years tend to fall more in the top right quarter, corresponding to warmer, wetter winters.

Water Regulation Effects of global warming and climate change on freshwaters Ø Ecological impact depends on hydrological response. Ø Increased water temperatures Ø Reduction in summer flow rates Ø Rivers fed by groundwaters and upland peats may dry up in summer Ø Increased spates and flooding in winter Ø Scale critical smaller catchments most vulnerable Ø Lakes especially vulnerable due to reduction in volume Ø Increased acidification and eutrophication Ø Reduced dilution will increase impact of wastes

Water Regulation Water Service Cycle Water technology deals with the processes and mechanisms that are required to manage the water service cycle. It’s function is to provide continuous and sufficient quantities of safe palatable drinking water for both domestic and industrial consumers and dispose of the used water to prevent environmental damage and to protect public health.

Water Regulation The need for catchment management ØSurface water bodies are not isolated entities they interface with land, groundwater, and the atmosphere. Ø Across these boundaries there is a constant movement of materials and energy. Ø Air – surface water interface: gases, water, suspended solids. Ø Land- surface water interface: main source of material from weathered/eroded rocks, the soil, decaying material and anthropogenic inputs. Ø groundwater- surface water interface: Two way movement of water; major source of ions and cations from aquifer forming rock; potential source of pollutants from surface water. Therefore to protect surface and ground waters effectively and sustainably we need to manage the catchment as a whole not just the resources.

Water Regulation Irish catchments §Vary in size §Hydrological areas made up of one or more catchments §Each catchment unique in terms of geology, soils, land use and anthropogenic inputs §Water quality unique in each catchment

Water Regulation EU Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EEC) q Catchments, watersheds or river basins are the basis of the management of water resources through the EU Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EEC) q Based on a collection of individual catchments known as River Basin Districts, including groundwater, wetlands and coastal zone, although groundwaters may not always be contained within a single catchment area. q Key aims: § Prevent further deterioration of freshwaters § Protect and enhance the quality of aquatic ecosystems and associate wetlands § Promote sustainable consumption of water § Reduce pollution from priority substances § Prevent deterioration of groundwater quality and progressively reduce groundwater pollution § Reduce the effects of floods and droughts.

Water Regulation Ø Created a legal framework for all water types (rivers, lakes, groundwater, transitional and coastal) integrating existing and new water based legislation. Ø At its heart the WFD is about improving minimum water quality, ensuring sustainable use of water, and enhancing water quality and biodiversity. Ø Directive unusual as it contains not only standards but also provisions that deal with operational and procedural aspects of integrated water management. Ø River Basin Districts are the basis of management linking human activity to water quality Ø River Basin Management Plans are prepared and enacted. Six yearly planning cycles: 2009 2015; 2016 2021 and 2022 2027. Ø Encourages stakeholder involvement. Ø Implementation and goals incentivized by sanctions via European Court

Water Regulation Irish RBDs 2009 -2016 Eight River Basin Districts (RBDs) in Ireland plus three International (trans boundary) River Basin Districts shared with NI. 2016 -2021 OECD study in 2010 found existing RBDs not sufficiently robust. All Republic’s RBDs except transboundary, merged into single RBD with new three tier management structure European Union (water policy ) Regulations 2014 (SI No. 350/2014) http: //www. irishstatutebook. ie/eli/2014/si/35 0/made/en/pdf

Water Regulation Second Cycle RBDs http: //www. epa. ie/water /watmg/wfd/rbmp/

Water Regulation New three tier Governance Arrangement 2016 used in Ireland http: //www. epa. ie/water/watmg/wfdgovernance/

Water Regulation ICZM: Integrated coastal zone management. ESDP: European spatial planning perspective. SEA: Strategic environmental assessment. AA in relation to Natura sites also interacts with WFD _________ Marine protection: Strategy to protect the marine environment. Aarhus: Conventional on access to environmental information Helsinki: Convention on the protection of the Baltic sea

Water Regulation Legal basis of the water management and policy in Europe

Water Regulation Areas within River Basin Districts (RBDs) requiring special protection under the WFD • Areas designated for the abstraction of water intended for human consumption Drinking water safeguard zones • Areas that may be designated in the future for the abstraction of water intended for human consumption • Areas designated for the protection of economically significant aquatic species • Bodies of water designated as recreational waters, including area designated as bathing waters under Directive (76/160/EEC; 2006/7/EC) • Nutrient sensitive areas including areas designated as vulnerable zones under Directive 91/676/EEC and areas designated as sensitive areas under Directive 91/271/EEC • Areas designated for the protection of habitats of species where the maintenance or improvement of the status of the water is an important factor in their protection, including relevant Natura 2000 sites designated under Directives 92/43/EEC (last amended 97/62/EC) and 79/409/EEC (last amended 97/49/EC)

Water Regulation All waters are classified using a range of ecosystem specific biological and physcio chemical parameters using five categories of quality Objective was that all surface waters should have achieve at least good status (in all elements physico chemical, biological and hydrological) by the end of 2015

Water Regulation The annual average (AA) and maximum allowable concentration (MAC) in ugl 1 of physico chemical EQSs for surface waters in the supporting of overall quality status. Name of substance Environmental quality standard (EQS) (2)(3)(6) AA EQS(7) AA EQS MAC EQS(8) Inland surface Other surface Inland surface waters MAC-EQS Other surface waters Arsenic 25 20 - Chromium III 4. 7 32 - Chromium VI 3. 4 0. 6 32 Copper(4) 5 or 30 5 - Cyanide 10 10 - Diazinon 0. 01 0. 02 0. 26 Dimethoate 0. 8 4 4 Fluoride 500 1, 500 - Glyphosate 60 - Linuron 0. 7 2 2 7. 3 Mancozeb Monochlorobenzene 1. 5 25 - Phenol 8 8 46 46 Toluene 10 10 - Xylenes 10 10 - 8 or 50 or 100 40 - - Zinc(5) The problem of eutrophication in surface waters is also dealt with under the WFD. However, both the Nitrate Directive and the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive contain provisions for the control of eutrophication.

Water Regulation Priority Substances § Article 16 new list of priority substances was drawn up – forms Annex X of the Directive § The list was finalized in 2008 and identified 33 priority substances and 8 other pollutants (EU Directive 2008/105/EC); and subsequently revised in 2011 (COM(2011)876) 20 classed as priority hazardous substances (PHS) § All compounds identified as priority hazardous substances must be removed from all discharges or emissions within a reasonable time that must not exceed the year 2023. Environmental Quality Standards are given in in both national and European legislation Link: EU priority substances Access to Annex X and the Environmental Quality Standards (EQSs) for all priority substances. http: //ec. europa. eu/smartregulation/impact/ia_carried_out/docs/ia_2012/com_2011_0876_en. pdf Standards have also been specified for river flows and water level changes in lakes.

Water Regulation General physico-chemical environmental quality standards for rivers and lakes in Ireland. Thermal pollution: Not greater than a 1. 5 o. C rise in ambient temperature outside the mixing zone Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) (mg O 2 l-1): High ecological status <1. 3 (mean) or <2. 2 (95%ile) Good ecological status <1. 5 (mean) or C 2. 6 (95%ile) Dissolved Oxygen (percent saturation): Lower limit >80% (95%ile) Upper limit <120% (95%ile) p. H Soft water (hardness <100 mg Ca. CO 3 l 1) >4. 5 < 9. 0 Hard water (hardness >100 mg Ca. CO 3 l 1) >6. 0 <9. 0 Total Ammonia (mg N l-1): High status <0. 040 (mean) or <0. 090 (95%ile) Good status <0. 065 (mean) or <0. 140 (95%ile) Molybdate Reactive Phosphorus (MRP) (mg P l-1): High status <0. 025 (mean) or <0. 045 (95%ile) Good status <0. 035 (mean) or <0. 075 (95%ile)

Water Regulation The biological quality is measured using four elements phytoplankton macrophytes invertebrates Fish § Biological monitoring results employing macro invertebrates are expressed numerically in terms of Ecological Quality Ratios (EQRs) which have a range of 1 (high status) to 0 (bad status). § These are calculated by comparing actual field results expressed as a biotic index (e. g. BMWP, WHPT etc. ) to data collected from similar pristine sites which are selected by comparison of a range of site characteristics. For macro invertebrates this is done using the River Invertebrate Classification Tool (RICT) which is a software package. UKTAG 2014 UKTAG Invertebrates (General Degradation): Whalley, Hawkes, paisley and Trigg (WHPT) metric in River Invertebrate Classification Tool (RICT). River Assessment Method Benthic Invertebrate Fauna Series, Water Framework Directive United Kingdom Technical Advisory Group, Sterling, Scotland. http: //www. wfduk. org/sites/default/files/Media/Characterisation%20 of%20 the%20 water%20 environme nt/Biological%20 Method%20 Statements/River%20 Invertebrates%20 WHPT%20 UKTAG%20 Method%20 Sta tement%20 Dec 2014. pdf

Water Regulation The relationship of the EPA scheme of Biotic Indices (‘Q Values’) to Water Framework Directive ecological status categories. Biotic Index (Q) Q 5, Q 4 5 Equivalent ecological status High Q 4 Good Q 3 4 Q 3, Q 2 3 Q 2, Q 1 Moderate Poor Bad Link: Standards in England Wales An update of the biological and physico chemical parameters for surface and groundwater. https: //www. gov. uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/307788/river basin planning standards. pdf Link: UKTAG Biological Methods The UKTAG site gives access to all UK methods including the biological assessment methods http: //www. wfduk. org/resources/category/biological standard methods 201

Water Regulation EPA Water quality of Irish Rivers 2007 8. http: //www. epa. ie/pubs/data/water/Final_Status_Report_20110617 c. htm

Water Regulation Up to date details of the status of all waters covered by the EU WFD can be accessed at: http: //www. wfdireland. ie/documents wfd. html

Water Regulation Overview v Water is a renewable resource that is constantly being recycled v Water resources are interconnected v Wide range of different freshwater habitats and ecosystems each with different fauna and flora v Man must manage his own use of water sustainably to preserve the aquatic environment v Water resources must be managed on a catchment basis which includes land use management

Water Regulation Further Information: Link: WISE Water Information System for Europe is the portal for all EU water information including details on River Basin Management Plans which can be accessed via this site. A huge and informative database covers each of the Member States. Numerous maps dealing with all aspects of water resources, use and disposal. http: //water. europa. eu/en/welcome Link: EU LEGISLATION Access to all water related EU Directives and legislation. http: //ec. europa. eu/environment/water/index_en. htm Link: USEPA Portal for water quality regulation and standards. http: //www. epa. gov/wqs tech Link: EU priority substances Access to Annex X and the Environmental Quality Standards (EQSs) for all priority substances. http: //ec. europa. eu/smartregulation/impact/ia_carried_out/docs/ia_2012/com_2011_0876_en. pdf Link: NVZs in the UK Government support site for Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs) areas designated as being at risk from agricultural nitrate pollution. https: //www. gov. uk/guidance/nutrient management nitrate vulnerable zones Maps showing zones can be accessed via the Environment Agency http: //apps. environment agency. gov. uk/wiyby/141443. aspx Link: European NVZs European Environment Agency Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs) maps for all Member States. http: //www. eea. europa. eu/data and maps/figures/nitrate vulnerable zones eu Gray, N. F. (2016) Water Technology: An Introduction for Environmental Scientists and Engineers, (4 th edn. ) Butterworth Heinemann, Oxford.

Water Regulation Further details of the course • Course text: Gray, N. F. (2017) Water Scirnce and Technology: an introduction, (4 th edn) CRC Press, Oxford. ISBN 978 1 4987 5345 6 • What you have to do: ØObtain a pair of wellington boots and a pair of rubber gloves (household grade) ØRead Chapter 1 of course text ØCheck out assessments on web site

Water Regulation Further Reading For a broad overview of legislation and regulation in the water industry and its relevance to EIA analysis/consultancy work have a look at the following chapters: 6. Water basin management and assessment 7. Water quality and regulation 8. Water quality assessment. In: Gray, N. F. (2017) Water Science and Technology: An Introduction (4 th edn) CRC Press, Bocta Raton, FL. USA. Important to read Chapter 1 to consolidate your basic introductory knowledge.

Next time ! • Basic Field techniques • The Factors controlling water quality • Who or what is this? And what is it doing in the river at the bottom of your garden?