Water Framework Directive & POPs
Water framework directive
The Water Framework Directive (WFD) was adopted by the EU in 2000 to halt and reverse the trend of declining water quality measured across Europe. It will direct management of the aquatic environment in Europe for the foreseeable future.
To effectively protect the water environment, river basin management planning is integrated and coordinated with other European and national policies. These include land use and spatial plans, conservation plans, water services plans, pollution reduction plans and programmes, licensing of polluting sources, and cost recover y regimes. The Water Framework Directive sets out a strategy against pollution of water and has several daughter directives which outline specific steps to be taken regarding certain compounds. The Priority Substances Directive was one of the first strategies established by the WFD.
RPS have a significant presence in the water sector with over 65 offices through the UK and Ireland.
Priority organic pollutants
The Priority Organic Pollutants (POPs) are organic compounds identified among those presenting a significant risk to, or via the aquatic environment. These compounds were highlighted at EU level and are listed in Annex X to the Water Framework Directive (WFD) 2000/60/EC. The priority list is reviewed ever y 4 years by the EU via a review of the Environmental Quality Standards Directive (EQSD) 2008/105/EC in which environmental quality standards are set.
RPS’ specialist trace organics laboratory focuses on low-level pesticides in environmental samples and routinely tests the POPs having gained significant experience and expertise in their analysis over the last decade.
As well as testing for the current list RPS have an active R&D programme continually striving to improve and enhance existing analytical methodology as well as developing techniques for the analysis of the new compounds that are added to the list.
In addition to providing analytical services, RPS can provide:
- Sample containers
- Cool-boxes
- Bespoke chain-of-custody
- Import licenses
- Global coverage
- Help and advice on sampling procedures
The current chemicals are but not limited to
- 1,2-Dichloroethane
- 17a-ethinylestradiol
- 17ß-estradiol
- Aclonifen
- Alachlor
- Anthracene
- Atrazine
- Benzene
- Brominated Diphyenylethers
- Cadmium and its compounds
- Chlorfenvinphos
- Chloroalkanes C10-13
- Chlorpyriphos
- Cybutryne
- Cypermethrin
- DEHP
- Dichlor vos
- Dichloromethane
- Diclofenac
- Dicofol
- Dioxins
- Diuron
- Endosulphan
- Epoxide
- Fluoranthene
- Heptachlor and Heptachlor
- Hexabromocyclododecanes
- Hexachlorobenzene
- Hexachlorobutadiene
- Hexachlorocyclohexane
- Isoproturon
- Lead and its compounds
- Mercur y and its compounds
- Naphthalene
- Nickel and its compounds
- Nonylphenols
- Octylphenols
- PAHs
- Pentachlorobenzene
- Pentachlorophenol
- PFOS
- Quinoxyfen
- Simazine
- Terbutr yne
- Tributyltin compounds
- Trichlorobenzenes
- Trichloromethanes
- Trifluralin
Of these, 44 are organic and are collectively known as the POPs.