The implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) at the River Basin of Anthemountas with emphasis on the pressures and impacts analysis

The paper presents preliminary results of the Project LIFE04 ENV/GR/000099, which among others deals with the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) at the River Basin of Anthemountas, located in Thermi, Thessaloniki. This paper focuses on the pressures and impacts analysis, as specified in Article 5 of the Directive. More specifically, a methodological approach is developed and applied to the specific river basin. The review of pressures and impacts is only one element of the planning process, and is required in the design of monitoring programmes which must be operational by 2006 (Article 8). Furthermore, it is needed in order to develop programmes of measures which must be established by 2009, and made operational. The pressures and impacts analyses should be focused in such a way that the effort involved in assessing whether any body, or group of bodies, is at risk of failing to achieve its environmental objectives is proportionate to the difficulties involved in making that judgement. Since the pressures and impacts analysis is related to the assessment of the situation with respect to main pollution concerns, methodologically it should involve the selection of the relevant pollutants, the preliminary estimation of the quality objectives, the identification of driving forces and pressures and the identification of significant pressures and their impact. As a final step, there must be an evaluation of the likelihood that a water body will fail to meet the objectives set by the WFD by the year 2015. The above outlined methodology was applied for the analysis of pressures and impacts at the Anthemountas River Basin. The estimation of pressures is related to the application of two mathematical models, one estimating the pollution loads from point sources, through the incorporation of parameters directly related to the pollution (e.g. population, industrial production, emission factors etc.), while another model is developed for the assessment of the impact of pollution from non-point sources (agricultural) by using information on emission factors from the agricultural activity in the area as well as geomorphological and hydrological conditions. The analysis of the impact of significant pressures to the quality of the surface water bodies which follows, is performed through the application of mathematical models aiming at the estimation of surface water quality parameters in relation to their different uses and the specific physical characteristics of the water bodies, such as the minimum water level or the minimum flow which are necessary in order to achieve the desired water status.