Targets & Actions of Priority Area 4

(As established in the EUSDR Action Plan 2020 (COM(2020) 59 final)

Targets

The Water Quality Priority Area (PA4) has five major objectives to follow during its work:

1. Achieve the management objectives set out in the Danube River Basin Management Plan
2. PA4 aims to reduce the nutrient levels in the Danube River to allow the recovery of the Black Sea
ecosystems to conditions similar to 1960s
3. Elaborat a Danube Delta Analysis Report as a step towards completion of the Delta management Plan
4. Secure viable populations of Danube sturgeon species.
5. Elaborate, adopt and implement the sub-basin management plans, such as Sava, Tisza and Prut sub-basin

Actions

Above targets would be reflected by below drafted subject matters to be covered by revised and new actions:

  1. Close knowledge gaps on monitoring of hazardous and emerging substances in surface waters, biota and sediment
  2. Determine sources and pathways of hazardous and emerging substances emissions
  3. Quantify water emissions and loads
  4. Implement prevention and mitigation measures including a more comprehensively evaluation of measures efficiency
  5. Contribute to capacity building in monitoring, modelling and management of hazardous substances pollution
  6. Contribute to improved quality of sediments
  7. Identify means to finance infrastructure projects especially in EU Member States that have joined after 2007 and non-EU countries
  8. Focus on investments in maintenance and rehabilitation of the existing infrastructure
  9. Enhance and disseminate knowledge on wastewater treatment technologies also considering emerging substances
  10. Assist in strengthening capacity at national and local administration level as well as at utility level to improve financing, operation and technology of the wastewater infrastructure and services
  11. Promote alternative collection and treatment of wastewater in small rural settlements, including measures to build capacity at the regional and local level
  12. Decouple pollution and water scarcity from agricultural development
  13. Improve water demand management in agriculture by smart irrigation and water reuse in order to reduce water abstraction needs
  14. Make agro-environmental measures more attractive
  15. Provide appropriate information on modern technologies and tools to improve agricultural practices
  16. Promote good agricultural practices in nutrient management according to the Nitrates Directive (Council Directive 91/676/EEC) and Water Framework Directive
  17. Close knowledge gaps on measures efficiency
  18. Raise awareness related to the link between agricultural practices, water and soil quality and biodiversity
  19. Promote links with Air Quality Plans and National Air Pollution Control Programme (NAPCPs, mandatory under NECD) to make authorities and stakeholders understand how the described measures for water and agriculture can also help to improve air quality
  20. Contribute to EU Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) national strategic plans
  21. Contribute to resource efficiency and encourage deliberate and effective water consumption and a water saving culture by the civil and industrial consumers
  22. Raise public awareness towards the environment friendly, economic, efficient and safe water uses as well as strengthening the environmental consciousness of the public using social media, information materials and targeted guidance documents
  23. Promote water protection and pollution reduction from the source to tap, according to the proposed revision of the Drinking Water Directive
  24. Ensure safe drinking water supply via water quality early warning and safeguard zones. Increase the resilience of society and water supply systems against droughts by means of stimulating investments in alternative water sources and smart grids (i.e. linking networks of water providers), and enhancing planning of water availability (i.e. with reservoirs filling plans)
  25. Raise broad public awareness and political commitment for the Danube sturgeons as flagship species for the Danube River basin and for the ecosystems and biodiversity of the Danube River basin as a whole
  26. Foster sturgeon conservation activities including protection of habitats, restoration of fish migration routes and ex-situ conservation measures
  27. Close knowledge gaps concerning monitoring of pressures and planning of measures for fish migration in coordination with PA 6 (Action 3)
  28. Implement water quality measures of the ICPDR Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change
  29. Promote concrete measures to control water abstraction and groundwater overexploitation
  30. Promote the establishment and maintenance of green infrastructure and natural water retention measures (NWRMs)
  31. Promote water related measures in urban planning
  32. Raise farmers’ and public awareness about the importance of soil moisture and soil water retention capacity in soil fertility under changing climate conditions
  33. Ensure active involvement of and dialogue with all stakeholders
  34. Strengthen territorial cooperation at different levels
  35. Continue to support ICPDR in further developing water information systems in the Danube Region
  36. Strengthen and facilitate exchange of good practice in integrated water management implementation in the Danube Basin among decision-makers at all levels and all sectors
  37. Identify transboundary funds, which could finance and invest in measures outlined in the joint programme
  38. Collect information on water related financing needs
  39. Ensure consideration of climate change in planning and measures