Water framework directive and specific pollutants in surface waters in Slovenia – Vodna directiva porsebna onesnazevala za povrsinske vode v sloveniji

Abstract

According to the European Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60/EC, 2000), the EU member states are required to prepare a list of specific pollutants and their environmental quality standards in the aquatic environment for the purpose of evaluating the ecological status of water. In addition, for the purpose of evaluating the chemical status, defined by the Directive 2013/39/EU (2013), a country must select biotic species that are relevant to surface water and determine the list of substances for monitoring in biota and/or sediment. In the period 2005-2010 we have successfully developed all the above mentioned standards and lists for Slovenia. In this article we present a list of river basin specific pollutants for surface water in Slovenia and their environmental quality standards compared to the values derived in The Netherlands, France and Germany. Values were derived for 29 specific pollutants and among them 6 are higher than in other countries. The review of background information on the derivation of environmental quality standards highlighted that a revision is needed for epichlorhydrin, hexachloroethane, terbutylazin and selenium. The presented approach serves as exemplary for similar evaluations to be carried out by various countries inside and outside Europe.