The objective of the new water policy in the EU is to stop the ongoing deterioration of the water resources in Europe. One of the aims is to reduce overextraction of groundwater and to reduce contamination of groundwater, inland water and coastal water. Even if water does not satisfy the quality requirement "a good ecological status" by 2015, at least by that year action will have been taken to achieve this target.
Sweden has been divided into five water districts which are each managed by a water authority. Their first task was to chart all water resources in their districts and to determine the impacts on these, their status and their economic importance. The next step was to make a start on designing a management plan and to draw up a programme of measures for water resources that do not satisfy the requirements of the level High or Good Ecological Status. These programmes of measures will set out what water quality standards are to be satisfied, what measures need to be taken, what each measure is estimated to cost, and which authority or authorities are responsible for ensuring that the measures are implemented.
All must take part
In the next step, in the spring of 2009, comprehensive consultations will take place. The cooperative agencies of the water authorities are the local consultative panels. These are voluntary organisations of water users in a complete river basin or in parts of this.
Working in a local consultative panel means becoming thoroughly conversant with the water directive. In the spring of 2009, the consultative panels will scrutinise, discuss and give their views on management plans and programmes of measures, which calls for strong local cooperation and influence. The bottom-up approach which is clear in Article 14 of the Water Directive requires each and everyone to work together in improving water conditions in all member states. It requires the water authority to ensure both that information regarding the management plan and programmes of measures are promulgated and that the views of the many local consultative panels are taken into account when decisions are made.
The European framework directive for a new water policy opens up and spreads responsibility for the preservation of our vital water resources. The message is: all must help. In the next few years water issues will have increased significance, especially in the autumn of 2009 when Sweden assumes the presidency of EU and will pay special attention to the marine environment and the Baltic Sea.
Five advantages of the consultative panels
- Holistic perspective on water resources
- Stakeholders and authorities learn from one another
- The right measure in the right place
- A firm local basis for a decision
- Opportunity to exert an influence before a decision is made.
Author
:
Reinhold Castensson
is professor at Thematic Programme Water, Linköping University. He is also a member of the Water Delegation in the Southern Baltic Water District, which is the Board of the water authority.
Literature:
Jöborn, A., Danielsson, I. & Oscarsson, H., 2006. På tal om vatten. Om vägen mot en hållbar vatten-förvaltning. Vattenstrategiska forskningsprogrammet, VASTRA, Göteborg University, Göteborg.
Regeringens proposition 2003/03:2 Förvaltning av kvaliteten på vattenmiljön. Stockholm 23 September 2003.
Vattenmyndigheterna Södra Östersjön och Västerhavet, 2005. Handledning om Vattenråd.