Emission reduction objectives for water in the Netherlands

For approximately twenty years, national and international agreements have been made to reduce emissions to water.

Developments in emission reduction objectives for water

Numerous measures have been taken in the last 30 years to cut emissions into water of harmful substances such as heavy metals, organic micropollutants and nutrients. As a result, sizeable reductions have already been achieved for a number of substances. This is the result of the numerous successive national and international agreements and policy objectives.

• Particularly important in the period 1985-1995 were the agreements in the context of the Rhine Action Plan (IRC, 1987) of the International Rhine Committee (IRC) and the North Sea Action Plan (V&W, 1991). The Rhine Action Plan and North Sea Action Plan set reduction objectives for emissions of a large number of substances compared to 1985 and concentrated on industrial point sources.
• In more recent years, the emission reduction objectives for priority substances have been important. These are set out in the second National Environmental Policy Plan (VROM, 1993), the OSPAR strategy for all North Sea countries, the EU Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (EU, 1991), the EU Nitrate Directive and the Diffuse Sources Action Programme (CIW, 1999).
• During the fourth North Sea Ministers Conference in 1995, it was agreed that the emissions of chemical substances would be terminated within 25 years. The aim is to reduce the concentrations of xenobiotic substances to almost zero and those of non-xenobiotic substances almost to the natural background levels. The current reduction objectives, as set out in the third National Environmental Policy Plan (VROM, 1997) and the fourth Water Management Policy Document (V&W, 1999), are derived from these international agreements.
• In 2000, the European Water Framework Directive came into effect (EU, 2000). It is not yet clear what the consequences of the directive will be for current water quality and emissions policy. New proposals will be adopted by the European parliament and the Council of Ministers no later than 2006.

Current emission objectives linked to standards for water quality

The emissions of priority substances to water must be reduced to such an extent that standards for water quality are met. The MAC (maximum allowable concentration) must be met by 2000; the deadline for the target value is 2010.
If relevant, the Environmental Data Compendium states the reduction objectives and measures for a number of substances in the various indicators that describe the emissions to water by target sector.

Measures for the reduction of emissions into water

After the successful approach to the reduction of industrial point sources, the current policy concentrates primarily on the diffuse sources, atmospheric deposition and foreign sources. Examples of policy measures are:

• product improvement throughout the substance life-cycle;
• closed recycling systems;
• alternative uses for materials;
• international agreements;
• an area-based approach.

If necessary, the measures for each substance will be tailored for the various target sectors, depending on the relative contribution to national emissions. A policy document from the Ministry of the Environment (VROM, 2001) shows that the main problems are still the heavy metals, the nutrients and the polyaromatic hydrocarbons.

References

• CIW (1999). Actieprogramma diffuse bronnen, voortgangrapportage 1999. Dutch Lower House, 1999-2000, 26401, no. 20. Commissie Intergraal Waterbeheer, The Hague.
• EU (1991). Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 concerning urban wastewater treatment. Official Journal of the European Communities No. L 135/40-52.
• EU (2000). Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy, Official Journal of the European Communities, No. L327, 22 December 2000. More information about this directive can be found on the website about the European Water Framework Directive.
• IRC (1987). Aktionsprogramm Rhein (Rhine action programme). Rheinministerskonferenz. International Rhine Committee (IRC), Strasburg,1 October 1987.
• VROM (1993). National Environmental Policy Plan 2. Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, The Hague.
• VROM (1997). National Environmental Policy Plan 3. Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, The Hague.
• VROM (2001). Emissiereductiedoelstellingen prioritaire stoffen. Notitie in het kader van NMP4. Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, The Hague.
• V&W (1991). Noordzeeactieplan, Nationaal Uitvoeringsdocument Derde Noordzeeministersconferentie. Lower House, 1990-1991, 21884, nos 1 and 2. Ministry of Transport and Public Works, The Hague.
• V&W (1999). Fourth Water Management Policy Document. Ministry of Transport and Public Works, The Hague.

Relevant sections and indicators in the Environmental Data Compendium

• Emissions into water in the Netherlands, 1990-2001
• Discharges into water and burden on surface water in the Netherlands, 1990, 1995, 1999 and 2000
• Emissions to water by target sector in the Netherlands, 2001
• Copper and cadmium: inflow to the North Sea, 1990-2001
• Guide to 'Quality of surface water' section , for information about concentrations of substances in surface water

Relevant information outside of the Environmental Data Compendium

• More information about the OSPAR strategy