Working Group E on Chemical Aspects
Progress report November 2011– May 2012

for the Strategic Co-ordination Group of 10 – 11May 2012

Authors:

Jorge Rodriguez Romero, Helen Clayton, Bernd Gawlik and Mario Carere

1.KEY EVENTS IN THE PERIOD

  • Meeting of the Working Group E on 14 March 2012 in Brussels (Belgium)

CIRCA folder with documents for the meeting:

  • Meeting of the Sub-Group on Review of Priority Substances on 15 March 2012 in Brussels (Belgium)

CIRCA folder with documents for the meeting:

2.UPCOMING KEY EVENTS AND DEADLINES

  • 4th Meeting of the CMEPSub-Group on 18-19June 2012in Ispra (Italy)
  • Meeting of WG E on Chemical Aspects on 10-11October 2012 in Brussels (Belgium) – to be confirmed

3.PROGRESS CIS WORKPROGRAMME DELIVERABLES

Task 1 – Support and contribute to the work in relation to Article 16 of the WFD

A meeting of the Working Group E took place in March. The main items of discussion were the work of the Sub-Group on Chemical Monitoring and Emerging Pollutants (CMEP), including progress on the Watch List Pilot Project; the prioritisation of research needs under the CIS-SPI activity, and first outcomes of BLM testing by Member States following the metals bioavailability workshop held in 2011.

Task 2 – Support the implementation of the EQSD and chemical pollution aspects of the WFD

1. Activity on priority substances inventory

This activity came to an end with the endorsement by the Water Directors of the version of the guidance (number 10.3 of 26 October 2011) circulated for theirDecember meeting.

The guidance has since been published and is available at:

Task 3 – Chemical monitoring and emerging pollutants

1. CMEP activities

The activities initiated under the mandate of the Chemical Monitoring and Emerging Pollutants (CMEP) Sub-Group have made good progress. The following are highlighted.

Case studies on compliance checking including statistical methods (led by UK/DE)

A report explaining the issue and illustrating the different approaches in some Member States has been compiled and the final report will be sent to WG E.

Case studies on implementation of the QA/QC Directive (led by FR)

Based on the evaluation of a questionnaire on the state of play of the implementation of the QA/QC Directive in the Member States, it was concluded during the 3rd CMEP Meeting that the extent of implementation in the Member States varies significantly. Lack of hands-on training has been identified as one reason. The JRC, through its Institute for Reference Materials and Measurement, has therefore offered its assistance if deemed to be useful by WG E. The main focus of such an activity would be the introduction of a standardised approach in form of a starter kit/toolbox.

On-site exercises

The findings of the third on-site exercise have been compiled into a scientific publication (currently in press). A fourth exercise looking at the application of passive sampling was conducted in collaboration with the NORMAN Network and within a collaboration agreement between the JRC and NORMAN. The results are currently being compiled into a scientific report/publication, which is expected to be available by end of the CMEP mandate.

Standardisation of methods for existing and potential new priority substances

After initial administrative struggles, CEN TC 230 has started with the necessary work on Mandate 424 and first progress was reported during the 3rd CMEP Meeting. According to CEN TC 230 the requested new or improved standards will be available to the Member States in the form of pre-Standards (prEN) before the end of 2012. The activity is supported also by parallel activities of the European Research for Metrology Programme (ERMP). The JRC maintains a working document on available standard methods. A draft report on this activity will be presented during the 4th CMEP Meeting scheduled for June 2012.

Effect-based monitoring tools

A technical report assessing the applicability of these tools has been compiled. The report will be finalised after the next CMEP Meeting.

2. Watch list pilot exercise

The support expressed by the Water Directors in December has allowed the JRC to proceed with the pilot exercise. A phone conference involving the volunteering laboratories was held on 19 April, and sampling containers have been dispatched to nominated sampling stations not far behind the anticipated schedule. The sampling is being coordinated with national monitoring activities. The participation of 184 sampling stations in 23 countries including Norway and Iceland has so far been confirmed. From 10% of sites, not only water but also sediment and biota samples will be collected. AT, CZ, BE, UK, DE, NL, IT and the JRC will conduct the analyses. The analytical methods are either already validated or being validated. The first results are expected in the autumn.

4.OTHER ISSUES

Several responses were received from Member States to the questionnaire on the priorities for research relevant to chemical aspectssent toWGE members in the autumn of 2011. At the March WG E meeting, Member States were asked to prioritise some additional topic areas. The results are being compiled for inclusion in a report to Water Directors on the CIS-SPI activity as a whole.

5.KEY NEXT STEPS

The SCG is asked to consider the proposal to develop further CIS guidance on chemical monitoring and priority substances as well as undertake supporting technical development work under the next CIS Work Programme, and to agree to forward this proposal to Water Directors.

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