In France, the chemical and ecological status is good for almost 45% of surface waters, whereas for ground water, the chemical status is good for 59% and the quantitative status is good for 89%. These data, made public on 22 March, World Water Day, shed light on water status in 2009. They were sent to the European commission in the report on implementation of the European water framework directive (WFD).
Home - Mission - A Four Part Strategy
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Report to the European commission on water status in 2009
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New national observatory on public water and sanitation services
At the annual conference of French mayors on 18 November, Chantal Jouanno, junior minister for ecology, launched the national observatory for public water and sanitation services. The observatory, the first national database on prices and the performance of public services -
The national PCB action plan continues to monitor contamination
Monitoring of PCB, contamination of sediment and fish continues in the framework of the national PCB action plan.For the second straight year, fish and sediment samples were collected in May and June 2009 to determine PCB levels -
A national framework for water data in France
A national framework for water data in France
Filling out the law on water and aquatic environments, a decree will organise the WIS-F (water information system) by creating the national framework for water data. - Next
MAnage the WIS-F and produce data
“ The combination of research, development and the information system is the starting point for a win-win relation between researchers and the people in the field. The goal is to prepare the design of future methods and observation systems by serving as the interface between information-system management and the scientists who are the most apt to make use of the data, notably via modelling. By combining these various elements in a national agency that can profit from strong local contacts and key partnerships, France has set up an interface to meet the challenge of an R&D sector needed to assist public decision-making and action in coming to grips with the future issues in the water sector.”
Patrick Lavarde, Director of ONEMA
A central part of the mission lies in gathering information on the status of water bodies in France for reports to the European commission and in assisting in setting priorities for water-management policies.
A valuable observation network
Via its personnel spread around the country, Onema collects, manages and uses data on: - hydrobiological parameters (piscicultural aspects) of continental surface waters and their hydromorphological status; the protected species at risk/the native species in danger and habitats. Standardised methods ensure the consistency of collection techniques and of the data itself, notably concerning sampling of populations and diagnosis of the biological status of environments.
Water Information System
Onema provides functional management of the national Water Information System (WIS-F) in a close partnership with the river-basin authorities. It organises information gathering and use, notably in the framework of the Water Information System for Europe (WISE). To ensure the consistency of water data, Onema establishes rules for the various partners on information systems and methods. Onema designs the evaluation methods for water status in view of formulating restoration strategies.
More on the national Water Information System
An observatory on the performance of public water and water-treatment services
Onema is currently setting up a national observatory to evaluate the performance of these services and report to the public and elected officials. The observatory will complement the National water information system that Onema is in the process of organising
More information on the observatory