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Chapter eleven
MONITORING
11.1 The new regulatory and other regimes required by the Water Framework Directive will need to be underpinned by enhanced environmental monitoring. We will need to put monitoring in place to find out how our waters match up to the Directive's biological classification scheme and to determine what human activities are affecting them, and where. We will also need to monitor the effectiveness of the strategies that we put in place to mitigate the effect of these activities.
Directive's Requirements
11.2 For surface water, the Directive specifically states that all the major categories of plants and animals living in the water must be monitored, in addition to various chemical and physical parameters. All of these 'quality elements' have to be monitored, unless they are not a significant component of the relevant aquatic ecosystem. Groundwater monitoring must cover quantity and the degree of contamination with pollutants, for example nutrients or pesticides. In addition, those terrestrial ecosystems (e.g. wetlands) that are directly connected to groundwater also have to be monitored. Protected Areas will have to be monitored in relation to their particular objectives (e.g. bathing water quality). The definition of water bodies (the main unit of regulation in the Directive) and the definition of reference or undisturbed conditions for different water body types (against which the ecological status of water bodies can be judged) are also a part of environmental assessment and monitoring. (See Annex 1)
11.3 These are all interlinked because water bodies are the basic unit for the Directive's classification system and their size will determine the density of monitoring sites that will be needed. The environmental monitoring programmes that will have to be put in place must be capable of assigning water bodies into the status classes in relation to the reference conditions. This chapter sets out our ideas about how we can develop the monitoring that we already do, so as to comply with the Directive.
Does current monitoring meet the Directive's requirements?
11.4 A wide range of organisations, in the public, private and voluntary sectors carry out monitoring of the aquatic environment. Table 11.1 gives a flavour of this work. However, we believe that this existing monitoring activity does not meet the Directive's requirements. For example, although our understanding of the aquatic ecology in rivers is quite good, our knowledge of the state of the environment, in coastal and estuarine waters, tends to be restricted to specific sites. Our understanding of Scotland's groundwater resources is particularly limited, mainly because we have tended to rely much more on surface than ground waters for our water supplies. We are starting to remedy this situation, by establishing a national network of groundwater sampling points for the monitoring of water quality but there is more to be done to meet the Directive's requirements.
11.5 Meeting the Directive's requirements though is not simply about expanding the geographical spread of monitoring networks. We must also expand the range of parameters to cover the full range of the indicators that determine ecological status for surface waters, and quantitative and chemical status for groundwaters. Crucially, we also need to improve our understanding of the interactions within aquatic ecosystems and the relationships between ground water and surface water so that we can decide when and how any particular activity, is actually having an effect on water status.
Table 11.1: Current water monitoring in Scotland:
Organisation | Monitoring Activities |
SEPA | Wide geographical coverage.
3,400 surface water monitoring sites to measure chemistry and some biological characteristics (mainly invertebrates - insects and worms), mainly in rivers.
Over 300 primary gauging stations to measure water quantity (river flows).
Microbiological monitoring at designated bathing waters and recreational waters and shellfish waters.
Expanding ground water monitoring network for chemistry. |
Fisheries Research Service-Freshwater Fisheries Lab | Wide geographical coverage of freshwater sites for chemical and biological data (fish, invertebrates), especially in the upland lochs streams and rivers.
Good geographical coverage of long-term sites to evaluate environmental change and the ecological effects of diffuse pollution.
Extensive data on salmon and sea trout populations and other freshwater fish species. |
Fisheries Research Service- Marine Lab | Monitoring in estuarine and coastal waters of specific pollutants, phytoplankton, nutrients.
Long term records of offshore sites for physical and biological measurements. |
SNH | Detailed monitoring in designated sites specific SSSI's and SAC's for features of nature conservation interest - may be physical, chemical or biological. |
Water Authorities | Routine chemical and microbiological analysis of rivers, lochs and groundwaters used for public water supply. |
Food Standards Agency | Microbiological monitoring of shellfish in designated shellfish waters. |
Government funded research institutions | Long term environmental monitoring at certain specific sites through the ECN network and other specific research sites.
Comprehensive land use, land cover and soil data.
Acid rain critical loads data. |
Scottish Fisheries Co-ordination Centre | Extensive data on salmon and sea trout populations. |
NGO's | A range of biological information for specific sites of local or national conservation interest. |
Universities | A varied range of short, medium and long term data sets on the aquatic environment held in a wide number of institutions. |
Biological Records Centres | Biological information for specific sites.
Act as a clearing house for information collected by a wide range of groups and amateur enthusiasts. |
Developing a Scottish Monitoring Strategy
11.6 We do not think it would be appropriate for one organisation to take on all of the Directive's monitoring requirements. Rather, we have to find a way to make the best use of the valuable experience that already exists in Scotland. However, we do think that there is a case for appointing a single co-ordinating body to oversee the process. We propose that SEPA should take on this role. This makes sense, given that we propose it should have a leading role in relation to river basin management planning. It also fits given that it is likely to be given a key role in the new environmental licensing regimes the Directive will bring. With a lead role in relation to monitoring, it will be able to ensure that environmental licences are backed by the best monitoring information available. Do you agree that SEPA should be given this co-ordinating role?
11.7 One of SEPA's first tasks in relation to monitoring would be to undertake, in partnership with relevant organisations, a thorough analysis of gaps in environmental monitoring and assessment in Scotland in relation to the Directive's requirements. At the same time it will be working on the initial characterisation of river basin districts which is due in 2004. Both of these tasks are likely to involve pooling data and expertise from several organisations. We recognise that there may be technical and commercial difficulties with this but it will allow us to avoid duplication by making the maximum use of the expertise and data that already exists. It also ensures the private and voluntary sectors have the opportunity to contribute to the gathering of the data that will underpin the controls that will affect them.
11.8 This initial phase of work should result in a clearer picture of how monitoring should be taken forward from 2006 onwards. At a future date, it may be useful to draw this together into a Scottish Monitoring Strategy.
CONSULTATION ARRANGEMENTS
Please send your views and comments on the proposals in this paper to:
Linda Galbraith
Water Framework Directive Team
Scottish Executive
Area 1H, Victoria Quay
EDINBURGH
EH6 6QQ
Or by e-mail to: wfd@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Responses should reach us by 28 September 2001.
Earlier responses would be welcome.
Where possible we would be happy to discuss our proposals with you. Please contact us if you would find that helpful. We also plan to organise a conference on the Water Framework Directive during the consultation period. Please contact us if you would like to attend. Further details will be made available in due course.
It you require further copies of this document please contact Linda Galbraith at the above address. Alternatively, please e-mail us at the above address or telephone 0131 244 0386.
Under the Code of Practice on open government, responses will be made available publicly unless respondents ask for their comments to remain confidential.
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