Table of contents
- 2. REPORTING AT SURFACE WATER BODY LEVEL (SCHEMA SWB)
- 2.3. Pressures and impacts on surface waters
- 2.4. Ecological status and exemptions
- 2.5. Chemical status of surface waters, exemptions and Mixing Zones
- 3. REPORTING AT GROUNDWATER BODY LEVEL (SCHEMA GWB)
- 3.3. Pressures and impacts on groundwater
- 3.4. Quantitative status of groundwater and exemptions
- 3.5. Chemical status of groundwater and exemptions
- 4. MONITORING (SCHEMA MONITORING)
- 5. PROTECTED AREAS (SCHEMAS SWB AND GWB)
- 6. REPORTING AT MS LEVEL: COMPETENT AUTHORITIES, RBDS AND SUB-UNITS (SCHEMA RBDSUCA)
- 7. REPORTING AT RBD/SUB-UNIT LEVEL FOR SURFACE WATER (SCHEMA SWMET)
- 7.3. Methodologies classification ecological status and potential
- 7.4. Methodologies classification chemical status
- 7.5. Overall management objectives (nutrients, river continuity)
- 7.6. Definition of significant pressures and impacts
- 7.7. Methodologies exemptions
- 8. REPORTING AT RBD/SUB-UNIT LEVEL FOR GROUNDWATER (SCHEMA GWMET)
- 8.4. Definition of significant pressures and impacts
- 8.5. Methodologies exemptions
- 9. REPORTING AT RBD/SUB-UNIT LEVEL FOR RBMP (SCHEMA RBMPPOM)
- 9.4. Water abstractions and exploitation of water resources
- 10. PROGRAMME OF MEASURES REPORTED AT RBD/SUB-UNIT LEVEL (SCHEMA RBMPPOM)
- 10.2. Targeted questions on basic measures and other aspects
- 10.3. Estimates of cost of measures
- 10.4. Co-ordination of measures in international RBDs
- 10.5. Progress with and achievements of the programme of measures for the first planning cycle
- 11. REPORTING AT RBD/SUB-UNIT LEVEL FOR ECONOMIC ANALYSIS AND COST RECOVERY (SCHEMA RBMPPOM)
- Overview of comments presented at WG DIS
- WISE spatial data presentation at WG DIS
7.4. Methodologies classification chemical status
The legislation covering the assessment of chemical status is presented in detail in the introduction to Section 2.5.
Annex V of the WFD specifies how Member States are to monitor and present chemical status classification. The European Commission needs to ensure that chemical status has been addressed according to the provisions of the Directive, and in a consistent and comparable way throughout the EU. The normative provisions of Annex V provide a starting point. However, interpretation and application of these provisions may differ, which may lead to a wide range of variation between the Member States. It is, therefore, important to be able to compare the criteria and thresholds that Member States have applied.
The RBMPs should include information at RBD level on trend monitoring according to Article 3(3) of the Environmental Quality Standards Directive (Directive 2008/105/EC) and on the designation of mixing zones according to Article 4. Where a Member State has designated mixing zones, the RBMP must include a description of:
- The approaches and methodologies applied to define such zones.
- The measures taken with a view to reducing the extent of the mixing zones in the future.
Class SWPrioritySubstance
- Please include here any comments which apply to all the schema elements in this Class.
- In addition to those general schema element level comments, we welcome your views on: a) whether you think this Class can be simplified; and b) whether you think the linkages with other reporting Classes or Schemas can be improved, and how;
psCode - Required.(PS_Enum)
There will be one entry per Priority Substance. Report the information in each of the following schema elements for each Priority Substance.
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The reporting guidance states that "there will be one entry per PS". Under the quality checks it is indicated that "there should be at least 1 entry per PS". It is not clear for us if one PS can be reported only once or more than once and this should be clarified.
As some PS have water and biota EQSs, it would be good if the same PS could be reported several times in this class. It will probably be the case that MS are not able to perform biota monitoring for all their WBs. If they monitor the relevant substances in these WBs in water, this could be reflected here.
psStatusAssessment - Required.(YesNoCode_Enum)
Indicate whether the Priority Substance has been used in the assessment of chemical status.
psStandardsUsed - Required.(YesNoCode_Enum)
For each Priority Substance indicate whether the only standards used are all the relevant ones from the version of Directive 2008/105/EC in force on 13 January 2009, except for the AA-EQS for naphthalene in transitional and coastal waters, which will be from the version of that Directive in force since 14 September 2013. If alternative or additional standards (for the same or other matrix, for particular water categories) are used for that substance reply 'No'. If all and no other standard than those in the EQSD are used reply 'Yes'.
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It should be added "not applicable" or "other" for those substances which are not monitored.
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We suggest the text to be changed appropriately, considering the fact that for the 2021 chemical status assessessment, the 2013 EQS should be used.
psMatrix - Conditional.(Matrix_Enum)
Select the matrix in which the standard for the Priority Substance is applied for the purpose of assessment of chemical status.
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In order to avoid any misunderstandings, it could be helpful to remove the conditional check "report if psStandardsUsed is No" and to provide the information regardless of the answer to schema element "psStandardsUsed". In this case, it would be clear if biota or water standards have been used.
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What is the difference between biota and biota-other?
psCategoryRW - Conditional.(YesNoCode_Enum)
Is this standard used for the assessment of chemical status in rivers?
psCategoryLW - Conditional.(YesNoCode_Enum)
Is this standard used for the assessment of chemical status in lakes?
psCategoryTW - Conditional.(YesNoCode_Enum)
Is this standard used for the assessment of chemical status in transitional waters?
psCategoryCW - Conditional.(YesNoCode_Enum)
Is this standard used for the assessment of chemical status in coastal waters?
psCategoryTeW - Conditional.(YesNoCode_Enum)
Is this standard used for the assessment of chemical status in territorial waters?
psStandardType - Conditional.(EQStandardType_Enum)
Select the type of standard applied for each Priority Substance and matrix.
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"Biota EQS" should be added.
psValue - Conditional.
For every combination of Priority Substance, matrix, standard type and category, report the value or range of the standard applied.
psUnit - Conditional.(UnitOfMeasure_Enum)
Report the unit of the Priority Substance standard.
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It is necessary to add this unit: ug/kg
psAnalyticalMethod - Required.(YesNoCode_Enum)
Indicate whether the analytical method used meets the minimum performance criteria laid down in Article 4.1 of the QA/QC Directive (2009/90/EC) for the strictest standard applied.
psAnalyticalMethodBAT - Conditional.(YesNoCode_Enum)
If the analytical method does not meet the minimum performance criteria laid down in Article 4(1) of the QA/QC Directive, indicate whether the analytical method complies with the requirements laid down in Article 4.2 of the QA/QC Directive (2009/90/EC) for the strictest standard applied.
Class SWChemicalStatusClassificationRBD
- Please include here any comments which apply to all the schema elements in this Class.
- In addition to those general schema element level comments, we welcome your views on: a) whether you think this Class can be simplified; and b) whether you think the linkages with other reporting Classes or Schemas can be improved, and how;
percentageSWBNotMonitoredChemical - Required.
Report the overall percentage of surface water bodies (for all categories) for which there is no monitoring of chemical status.
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We suggest to delete this schema element as the information can be extracted from the schema element "swChemicalMonitoringResults" in class SurfaceWaterBody.
approachSWBNotMonitoredChemical - Required.(ApproachSWBNotMonitoredChemical_Enum)
Report the approach taken for the assessment of chemical status in surface water bodies which have not been monitored.
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We suggest to delete this schema element as the information can be extracted from the schema element "swChemicalMonitoringResults" in class SurfaceWaterBody.
approachSWBNotMonitoredChemicalReference - Conditional.(ReferenceType )
If the assessment of chemical status of surface water bodies which have not been monitored is derived or extrapolated from monitoring in other comparable surface water bodies, provide references or hyperlinks to technical documents describing how the assessment of chemical status was carried out. Guidance on what should be included in this document is provided in Section 7.4.3.3.
limitOfQuantification - Required.(YesNoCode_Enum)
Indicate whether the method of dealing with measurements lower than the limit of quantification is as specified in Article 5 of the QA/QC Directive (2009/90/EC)?
backgroundConcentrations - Required.(YesNoCode_Enum)
Indicate whether natural background concentrations for metals and their compounds are taken into consideration where such concentrations prevent compliance with the relevant EQS.
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We suggest the following revisions to this paragraph:
Guidance on completion of schema element: Required. Indicate whether natural background concentrations for metals and their compounds are taken into consideration where such concentrations prevent affect compliance with the relevant EQS.
Indicate whether the relevant tiered approach methodology for implementing bioavailability was applied (ref. CIS Guidance on Implementing Metals EQS).
For metals that have a bioavailable EQS: If EQS failure after Tier 2, indicate if Natural Background Concentrations (NBC) were estimated. If so, indicate whether NBC was ‘significant’ when compared to the annual average dissolved metal concentration.
For metals with a generic EQS: If EQS failure after Tier 1, indicate if the annual average dissolved metal concentration was subtracted from the Natural Background Concentrations (NBC).
backgroundConcentrationsReference - Conditional.(ReferenceType)
If natural background concentrations for metals and their compounds are taken into consideration where such concentrations prevent compliance with the relevant EQS, provide references or hyperlinks to technical documents where further specific information can be found, particularly the list of metals concerned. Guidance on what should be included in this document is provided in Section 7.4.3.3.
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We suggest the following revisions to this paragraph and to update Section 7.4.3.3 accordingly:
Guidance on completion of schema element: Conditional. If natural background concentrations for metals and their compounds are taken into consideration where such concentrations prevent affect compliance with the relevant EQS, provide supplementary information, references or hyperlinks to technical documents where further specific information can be found, particularly the list of metals concerned. Guidance on what should be included in this document is provided in Section 7.4.3.3, with reference to the CIS Guidance on Implementing Metals EQS.
bioavailability - Required.(YesNoCode_Enum)
Indicate whether hardness, pH, dissolved organic carbon or other water quality parameters that affect the bioavailability of metals are taken into consideration when assessing monitoring results against relevant EQSs.
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We suggest the following additions to this paragraph:
Guidance on completion of schema element: Required. Indicate whether hardness, pH, dissolved organic carbon or other water quality parameters that affect the bioavailability of metals are taken into consideration when assessing monitoring results against relevant EQSs.
Indicate whether the relevant tiered approach methodology for implementing bioavailability was applied (ref. CIS Guidance on Implementing Metals EQS).
Indicate which bioavailability correction was applied for each metal assessed. If applicable, indicate whether a simplified bioavailability correction tool was used.
bioavailabilityReference - Conditional.(ReferenceType)
If water quality parameters affecting the bioavailability of metals are taken into consideration when assessing monitoring results against relevant EQSs, provide references or hyperlinks to technical documents where further specific information can be found, particularly the list of metals concerned. Guidance on what should be included in this document is provided in Section 7.4.3.3.
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We suggest the following revisions to this paragraph and to update Section 7.4.3.3 accordingly:
Guidance on completion of schema element: Conditional. If water quality parameters affecting the bioavailability of metals are taken into consideration when assessing monitoring results against relevant EQSs, provide supplementary information, references or hyperlinks to technical documents where further specific information can be found, particularly the list of metals concerned. Guidance on what should be included in this document is provided in Section 7.4.3.3, with reference to the CIS Guidance on Implementing Metals EQS.
longTermTrendAnalysis - Required.(YesNoCode_Enum)
Indicate whether arrangements are in place for the long-term trend analysis of concentrations of those Priority Substances listed in Part A of Annex I of the EQS Directive 2008/105/EC that tend to accumulate in sediment and/or biota (Article 3(3) EQSD).
longTermTrendAnalysisReference - Conditional.(ReferenceType)
If arrangements are in place for the long-term trend analysis of concentrations of those Priority Substances listed in Part A of Annex I of the EQS Directive 2008/105/EC that tend to accumulate in sediment and/or biota (Article 3(3) EQSD), provide references or hyperlinks to technical documents where further specific information can be found, particularly the list of Priority Substances concerned. Guidance on what should be included in this document is provided in Section 7.4.3.3.
mixingZoneDesignation - Required.(YesNoCode_Enum)
Indicate whether mixing zones have been designated under Article 4 of the EQSD.
mixingZoneMethodology - Conditional.(YesNoCode_Enum)
Indicate whether the methodology for the designation of Mixing Zones in the RBD/Sub-unit follows the tiered approach as laid down in the ’Technical Background Document on Identification of Mixing Zones’.
alternativeMixingZoneMethodologyReference - Conditional.(ReferenceType)
If the methodology for the designation of Mixing Zones in the RBD/Sub-unit does not follow the tiered approach as laid down in the ’Technical Background Document on Identification of Mixing Zones’, provide references or hyperlinks to technical documents describing the alternative methodology applied. Guidance on what should be included in this document is provided in Section 7.4.3.3.
mixingZoneMeasures - Conditional.(MixingZoneMeasures_Enum)
Indicate the measures taken with a view to reducing the extent of the Mixing Zones in the future.
mixingZoneMeasuresReductionReference - Conditional.(ReferenceType)
Provide references or hyperlinks to documents describing the measures taken with a view to reducing the extent of Mixing Zones in the future. Guidance on what should be included in this document is provided in Section 7.4.3.3.
chemicalStatusReference - Required.(ReferenceType)
Provide references or hyperlinks to documents describing the methodology for the assessment of chemical status. Guidance on what should be included in this document is provided in Section 7.4.3.3.
Guidance on contents of RBMPs/Background Documents
(Please see the full text of this sub-section in the WFD Reporting Guidance 2016 or above chapter)
Include here any comments that relate to the information contained in this sub-section of the Reporting Guidance, namely concerning information you think could/should be reported electronically and information which you believe should not be included in the River Basin Management Plans or background documents.
The whole chapter should be updated, because the Directive 2008/105/EC will not be relevant.