Is it correctly understood that member states like Denmark, according to
Article 5 (6) in the Nitrates Directive shall follow the trend in the extend of
nitrate pollution in waters from agricultural sources?
Article 5(6) of the Nitrates directive establishes that Member States shall draw up and
implement suitable monitoring programmes to assess the effectiveness of Nitrates Action
Programmes. This article specifies that Member States like Denmark, which apply the
Nitrates Directive throughout their national territory, shall monitor the nitrate content of
waters (surface and groundwater) at selected measuring points which make it possible to
establish the extent of nitrate pollution in the waters from agricultural sources. Monitoring
programmes shall allow the assessment of nitrate pollution trends to evaluate the
effectiveness of the Action Programmes.
Is it correctly understood that location and depth of monitoring points in the
monitoring programme under the Nitrates Directive must be chosen in order
to give a representative picture of nitrate pollution in waters from agricultural
sources, and hence the aim of the monitoring under the Nitrates Directive is
not to give a representative picture for all groundwater?
As specified in the point above, Article 5(6) of the Nitrates directive sets that the water
monitoring should serve the assessment of the effectiveness of the measures taken under the
Action Programmes, in this context the monitoring should target the extent of nitrate
pollution in the waters from agricultural sources. The establishment of other monitoring
programmes covering all groundwater quantitative status, chemical status and the
assessment of significant, long-term pollutant trends resulting from human activity are
required by the Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60/EC).
Is it correctly understood that it is the responsibility of the member states to
adapt their monitoring network continuously in order to optimize their
evaluation of the trend in nitrate pollution in waters from agricultural sources
and to be better suited to assess the effectiveness of their respective Nitrates
Action Programmes?
According to the Nitrates Directive, the responsibility of establishing the water monitoring
networks and running the monitoring programmes relies on the Member States.
Is it correctly understood that the 20% of groundwater mentioned in the reply
from 18th January 2017 to MEP Jørgen Dohrmann refers to that 20% of the
monitoring points in the groundwater monitored in Denmark, in accordance
with the Article 5(6) in the Nitrates Directive), that had a maximum nitrate
concentration, exceeding 50 mg/l during the period 2008 - 2011. Hence the
reference to groundwater in the answer refers to groundwater, monitored
under the Nitrates Directive. This understanding explains the reference to the
reporting after Article 11 and Article 10 in footnote no. 5 in the reply.
In its answer to the above mentioned Written Question, the Commission refers to data
reported to the Commission by Denmark for the period 2008-2011 in the context of the
reporting exercise pursuant to Article 10 of the Nitrates Directive. In its answer, the
Commission provides, in footnote 5, the specific reference: Report from the Commission to