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.
