92001E2019

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2019/01

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(13 July 2001)

Subject: Mediterranean Sea

Does the Commission have any concerns about the long-term effects of the growing use of desalination plants on the ecology and biodiversity of the Mediterranean Sea?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(6 September 2001)

The principle of sea water desalination is to remove the salt from sea water by a technical process (by distillation, nowadays particularly by pressure filtration through very fine membranes), resulting on the one hand in freshwater of the desired quality for drinking water supply etc. and on the other hand - in much smaller quantity - of brines, sea water with a higher concentration of salt.

Possible impacts of desalination plants on the aquatic environment to be considered are therefore related to the discharge of brines, in particular to higher salt concentrations and temperatures at a local level, plus the use of chemicals used for pretreatment and/or cleaning. According to experience available, such impact can largely vary from close to zero impact to considerable impact, depending on the location and details of the process. This is why within the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) studies have commenced. MAP is dedicated to the protection of the Mediterranean under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Programme and the Barcelona Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea(1). This action is to lead to a comprehensive document with an assessment of impacts as well as mitigation measures.

Community environmental legislation has, through the new Water Framework Directive(2), a legally binding and enforceable instrument.

The Directive addresses all impacts on water quality, including those from desalination plants. For surface waters including coastal waters the objective is to ensure good ecological status. Such ecological status addresses the quality of water in a holistic way, in terms of its biology and functioning of the ecosystem, as well as morphological and physico-chemical components.

The necessary operational tools for achieving this objective (comprehensive analysis of all impacts on waters; management plans and programmes of measures, as well as a permit procedure for all relevant abstractions or discharges) will ensure that all impacts on coastal waters including those from desalination plants are properly taken into account and the necessary measures taken.

The Commission will carefully observe technical and scientific developments, facilitate where appropriate exchange of information and experience, and scrutinize the proper implementation of the Directive, including achieving the objective of achieving/maintaining good ecological water status.

(1) Ratification by Council Decision 77/585/EEC of 25.7.1977 (OJ L 240, 19.9.1977), as amended by Council Decision 1999/802/EC, 22.10.1999 (OJ L 322, 14.12.1999).

(2) Directive 2000/60/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy (OJ L 327, 22.12.2000).