The Water Framework Directive enforces on EU Member States, inter alia, to periodically (every 6 years) review the impact of human activities on the status of surface and groundwaters. The idea is to identify the sources of pressures and their impact and effect on the waters.
In the current planning cycle, this task was carried out as part of the following study: "Analysis of significant anthropogenic impacts along with an assessment of their effect on the state of waters as well as the risk of failure to achieve environmental objectives" in the period from August 2019 to June 2020.
The purpose of the study was to analyse anthropogenic pressures along with the assessment of their impact on the condition of surface waters for each of 4,240 updated uniform parts of surface waters (aJCWP). A risk assessment regarding the failure to achieve the environmental objectives in each aJCWP was carried out, taking into account protected areas under Article 16(32) of the Water Law. As part of the risk assessment regarding the failure to achieve the environmental objectives in accordance with the Water Framework Directive, uniform waters were identified that are not able to achieve and maintain a good water status, including good ecological status or good ecological potential as well as a good chemical status of surface waters, or the standards and objectives resulting from the legal provisions on the basis of which the protected areas were created.
Upon gathering all the necessary data, analysing anthropogenic pressures in each aJCWP, identifying significant pressures, indicating the likely source of those pressures and assessing the risk of failure to achieve the environmental goals, aJCWPs meeting the conditions for indicating derogation from Article 4.5 of the Water Framework Directive as part of the 2nd update of water management plans were identified.
In the course of their work, experts analysed very large data volumes, based on which they made calculations and analyses for all 4240 aJCWPs (3116 river waters, 1068 lake waters, 45 reservoir waters, 7 transitional waters and 4 coastal waters).
As a result of analysing all aJCWPs, the following results were obtained:
- the following were considered bearing a risk of failure to achieve the environmental objectives:
- 467 aJCWPs of 1068 lake aJCWPs,
- 2860 aJCWPs of 3116 river aJCWPs,
- 4 aJCWP of 4 coastal aJCWPs,
- 7 aJCWPs of 7 transitional aJCWPs
- 44 aJCWPs of 45 reservoir aJCWPs.
- Significant pressures are exerted on:
- 574 aJCWPs of 1068 lake aJCWPs,
- 2959 aJCWPs of 3116 river aJCWPs,
- 4 aJCWP of 4 coastal aJCWPs,
- 7 aJCWPs of 7 transitional aJCWPs
45 aJCWPs of 45 reservoir aJCWPs.
The summary and conclusions from the conducted analyses have been prepared in a descriptive format, as statistical summaries and graphs, taking into account the division into river basin areas, water regions and regional water management boards. Maps were also prepared for the purpose of better presentation of the obtained results.