Linking the Water Framework and IPPC/IE Directives

Project description and aims

The IPPC Directive 2008/1/EC (now IED 2010/75/EU) and Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC are two of the most wide-reaching items of EU environmental law. They have presented many challenges to the Member States. Installations regulated under IPPC may impact on the water environment, such as through direct or indirect discharges of pollutants, water abstraction, etc. IPPC requires installations to operate to conditions in permits compliant with Best Available Techniques (BAT). They are also required to respect environmental quality standards established in EU law, including those derived under EU water law. However, the relationship between the two sets of obligations is often far from simple.

Therefore a phased IMPEL project has been started in 2010 to investigate the relationship between both directives. The analysis focused on pressures from point source pollution due to organic (e.g. untreated/partially treated waste water from agglomeration and industry), nutrient and chemical substance emissions. Nutrient pollution is – as with organic pollution – mainly caused by emissions from the agglomeration, industrial and agricultural sector. Most important industrial contributor for nutrient pollution is e.g. the chemical, pulp and paper and food sector. Manufacturing industries are responsible for the large emission loads of a number of hazardous substances.

Phase I

The objectives of the project are:

• To define the relationship (complementary and competition) between IPPC implementation and WFD implementation from the scope of permitting, enforcement and data collection.
• To develop an inventory of problems and best practices in the Member States, with regard to
  permitting, enforcement, data collection and data collection systems.
• To provide recommendations for competent authorities to contribute to better implementation and enforcement of the WFD requirements and the (reviewed) IPPC directive, to contribute to better performance of environmental inspections and permits in the Member States.

The report focused on the following key questions:

• How to ensure that current and future licensing and enforcement activities are both
  WFD and IPPC proof?
• How can permits contribute to achieving both IPPC and WFD goals?

Phase II

The objectives of phase II of the project were to:

1. Make an inventory of problems and best practices in the member states, with regard to permitting, enforcement, river basin management, data collection and data collection systems.
2. Provide recommendations for competent authorities to contribute to better implementation and enforcement of the WFD requirements and the (reviewed) IPPC directive, to contribute to better performance of environmental inspections and permits in the Member States.

Phase III

This project builds upon past IMPEL projects in 2010, 2011 and 2012. This phase plans to develop a practical guidance tool with best practices on how to deal with multiple pollution sources from both IPPC and non-IPPC plants and Industrial estates. This guidance will include a way for how inspectors can assess environmental impacts of installations during inspections as required by the IED.