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WATER RESOURCES MANAGMENT AND MONITORING IN AUSTRIA

WATER RESOURCES MANAGMENT AND MONITORING IN AUSTRIA. Birgit Vogel River Basin Management Solutions Vienna, Austria bv@rbm-solutions.com. Seminar on Urban and Rural Water Challenges 9 October 2013 Residence of the Austrian Ambassador Budapest (Hungary). Content.

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WATER RESOURCES MANAGMENT AND MONITORING IN AUSTRIA

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  1. WATER RESOURCES MANAGMENTAND MONITORING IN AUSTRIA Birgit Vogel River Basin Management Solutions Vienna, Austria bv@rbm-solutions.com Seminar on Urban and Rural Water Challenges 9 October 2013 Residence of the Austrian Ambassador Budapest (Hungary)

  2. Content Part 1: Water Resources Management in Austria • Basic information on Austria and water management • Key challenges in water management • International cooperation • Legal basis for water management in Austria Part 2: Water Status Monitoring in Austria • Overview on monitoring water status in Austria • Concluding remarks

  3. Austria in a Nutshell Austria Population: 8.353.000 Area: 83.871 km2 Density: 100 inhabitants/km2 Capital: Vienna (1,68 mio) 9 provinces Austrian Freshwater Resources River network (catchment areas > 10 km2): 31.466 km with 7.335 water bodies Lakes: 62 (> 50 ha) Groundwater resources 62 lakes > 50 ha 8 neighbouring countries International cooperation in water resources management is crucial! Danube River Basin takes significant national aerial share

  4. Main Challenges in Water Resources Management Three key areas • Protection against natural water-related hazards and disasters • Extreme flood events 2002 and 2013 • Development of a Flood Risk Management Plan by 2015 (EU Directive) • Protection of all water resources against pollution • Treatment of all municipal and industrial wastewaters applying best available techniques • Achievement of good water status for all Austrian waters • According to the EU Water Framework Directive • Focus on ecological water status • Hydromorphological alterations and mitigation are ‘new’ challenges(e.g. river continuity) Comprehensive monitoring of water status = Important pre-requisite for sustainable and integrated water resources management in Austria

  5. International Cooperation Plays a key role Eight neighbouring countries Austria shares three international river basins with neighbours • Danube • Rhine • Elbe Transboundary river basin management is implemented via • Bilateral/multilateral agreements with neighbours • Transboundary water management commissions • International River Basin Organisations

  6. Legal Framework – Austrian Water Resources Management • Several European Directives regarding water resources management • e.g. Water Framework Directive, Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, Flood Directive, Integrated Pollution and Prevention Control, Hazardous Substances, etc. • Fully integrated in the Austrian national legislation European Water Framework Directive Most important Directive for River Basin Management, Integrated Water Resources Management and Monitoring Development of River Basin Management Plansevery 6 years

  7. Monitoring of Water Status in Austria • Good ecological and chemical status for all • Surface waters (Rivers, Lakes) • Water Status is assessed by biology, chemistry and hydromorphology • Good chemical and quantitative status for all groundwaters • Assessment of water status is essential part of the Austrian River Basin Management Plan Basis for the RBM Plans and Programme of Measures

  8. Monitoring of Water Status in Austria Specification and Regulation Two Ordinances on water quality objectives for surface waters Specific pollutants: • Ordinance on chemical water quality objectives for surface waters (BGBl. II Nr. 96/2006 i.d.f. BGBl. II Nr. 267/2007) Biological, hydromorphological & general physico-chemical elements • Ordinance on ecological water quality objectives for surface waters (BGBl. II Nr. 99/2010)

  9. Monitoring of Water Status in Austria Chemical Water Status 72 specific pollutants national hazardous substances and priority substances) 3 status classes (high, good, bad)

  10. Monitoring of Water Status in Austria Ecological Water Quality/Status • Five Biological Quality Elements are assessed • Fish, macroinvertebrates, phytbenthos, macrophytes, phytoplankton • Assessed in 5 water quality/status classes

  11. Monitoring of Water Status in Austria Three types of monitoring are in place

  12. Key Types of Pressures in Austria Surface Waters Alteration of chemical condition • Point and diffuse source pollution • Organic pollution • Pollution by nutrients - eutrophication • Pollution by hazardous substances • Hydromorphological alterations • Pressures on natural river structure, flow and river continuity interruption All pressure can impact on the water status including water quality The following shows drivers and pressures on hydromorphology of rivers

  13. Natural Driver/Pressure HYMO alteration Hydropower • River and habitat continuity interruption • Alteration of flow • Impoundments Navigation • River and habitat continuity interruption • River bed and bank alteration Mitigation measures are taken to achieve water quality! Monitoring for improvement through measures. Flood Protection • River bank alteration • Straightening • Channelisation

  14. Monitored Water Status in Austria – 2009 Chemical Water Status • More than 97% achieve the good chemical status • 19 % of the river network impacted with organic and nutrient pollution

  15. Monitored Water Status in Austria – 2009 Ecological Water Status Rhine AT Danube Basin All Austrian Rivers Ecological Status High Good Moderate Poor Bad

  16. Environmental Objectives in Austria • Austrian River Basin Management Plan 2009 • Foresees a stepwise achievement of good water status by 2027 • Implementation of the Programme of Measures • Monitoring of water status to • Assess the achievement of the environmental objectives • Assess the effectiveness of mitigation measures to improve status

  17. International Monitoring Activities Danube River Basin • Transboundary monitoring between 14 countries under Danube Convention • Joint Transnational Monitoring Network (TNMN) • International Danube River Basin Management Plan

  18. Summary • Austria has a long tradition on managing its water resources • Water legislations is fully aligned to Directives of the European Union • Implementation of the European Water Framework Directive is crucial • Monitoring in Austria is very targeted to achieve legally binding aims • Monitoring results are used to • Get an overview on the status of all waters (surface and groundwater) • Undertake assessments regarding human impacts on waters Development of a national River Basin Management Plans including a Programme of Measures to achieve environmental objectives

  19. Thank You!

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