Metoc Report for the UK Water Industry on Cost and Environmental Compliance for Revised EU Bathing Waters Directive
Environmental engineers Metoc plc have completed a research project, commissioned by UKWIR (UK Water Industry Research), to investigate the potential costs and understand the compliance issues for the UK arising from the revisions to the EU’s BWD (Bathing Waters Directive).
(PRWEB) June 14, 2006
Environmental engineers Metoc plc have completed a research project, commissioned by UKWIR (UK Water Industry Research), to investigate the potential costs and understand the compliance issues for the UK arising from the revisions to the EU’s BWD (Bathing Waters Directive).
The new Directive will to raise bathing water standards through enhanced beach management and water quality improvements for the further protection of human health.
Metoc’s work has helped to inform the Water Industry and influence the decision making process which resulted in the successful adoption of the Directive in February 2006. The standards reflect a good balance between compliance, sustainability and the important role of improving public health protection, according to the report authors. Metoc’s bathing water assessment strategies were critical in providing informed and scientifically justified recommendations, says Richard Dannatt, Metoc’s business manager for the water sector.
Metoc’s recommendations include the implementation of the new Directive from 2015 - so that the standards can be integrated with measures undertaken under the WFD (Water Framework Directive). This will assist planning for compliance not only by the UK water industry but other local and national agencies, including local authorities, who will be a critical to the successful implementation.
The WFD is the primary legislation in this field and makes broader provision for improved pollution management from such sources as agriculture, Richard Dannatt explains. Consequently integration with the BWD offers a more logical and resource-efficient transition particular given improved knowledge on the effects of diffuse pollution on bathing waters.
Paul McNie of South West Water, who was a key member of the UKWIR steering group for the project, says:
“ Metoc's continued flexibility and commitment, during the development of the directive, has made this a very successful project. This work has significantly assisted the industry during the ongoing negotiations regarding the revision, in what can only best be described as demanding conditions”
Key Recommendations:
· The key recommendations reflect the principle that ‘the polluter should pay’ and costs should be proportionate across all of the relevant sectors involved - public agencies and private organisations.
· The Directive should integrate delivery of the BWD with the WFD to provide optimal rationalisation and efficiency of implementation, within realistic timescales. The ‘sufficient’ standard is confirmed, to enable the water industry and the environmental regulators to ascertain and address significant sources of contamination in a timely manner, to obviate the risk of de-designating Bathing Waters unnecessarily on the UK coastline.
· Sustainability targets should be incorporated in the implementation – in line with the UK’s commitments under the Kyoto Agreement to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 12.5 per cent of its 1990 levels by the year 2012.
· Beach management will require further, detailed understanding of the likely impact of bacterial pollution, from point and diffuse sources, under a wide range of environmental and flow conditions. This will necessitate integration of sewerage telemetry, meteorological information and predictive modeling, where Metoc has specific expertise, according to the sewerage utility.
For further information:
Natalie Johnson, Metoc plc, Exchange House, Station Road
Liphook, GU30 7DW Tel: + 44 (0)1428 727800
Http://www. metoc. co. uk (http://www. metoc. co. uk)
Media information:
Patrick Rea, Rea-TMA Marketing
Tel: +44 (0)20 8870 4976
Www. rea-tma. com
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