The overarching aim of the project is to provide relevant authorities with a framework for assessing the cost effectiveness and sustainability of measures for the management of groundwater quality in the context of river basin management plans. In this project, which also has direct links to the implementation of Water Framework and Groundwater Directives, groundwater protection measures (identified under the Water4all project) are combined with cost-effectiveness calculations in order to come up with a common assessment methodology.

The aim of the WaterCost project is to help to provide Water Framework directive "competent authorities" with cost-effective and sustainable measures for the management of groundwater quality, in the context of river basin management plans. The WaterCost project aims to provide guidance on how to obtain an integrated and environmentally sustainable approach to groundwater protection and management, in overall, WaterCost aims to help to deliver cleaner groundwater in regions around the North Sea and protection of the groundwater from future pollution - preventing the groundwater from becoming polluted in the first place.

Expected Outcomes

The results and outputs from WaterCost will be applied directly by the authorities involved in the project, e g mapping of costs and benefits will be included in the action plans for the Aalborg Water Supply area, the modelling in the Netherlands will similarly be incorporated in the spatial plans of Province Drenthe, in Germany the results will feed into the decision making and consultation group on the Water framework directive, and finally, in the U K, the results will be applied in the work of the EA and thereby influence spatial planning. Given the existing interest, from different sources, including the European Commission, in applaying the results of the WaterCost project, it is likely that the results will feed into the daily work on the implementation of the Water framework directive as well as into the working groups on national and EU level on the Water framework directive.

Activities

WP 1 Transnational seminar WP 2 Analyses and modelling in partner countries, transnational exchange of knowledge, providing input transnationally and cross-sector WP 3 Preparing studies WP 4 Dissemination

Reported Outcomes

The project is focusing on identifying and establishing a usable cost-effective analysis methodology based on existing knowledge, experience and expertise from different European regions. Furthermore, the project will include experiences and knowledge gained from cooperation in the Interreg IIIB NSR projects Water4all and NOLIMP. The focus of WaterCost is closely linked to the Groundwater Directive (GWD) and the groundwater aspects of the WFD, according to which, protection of drinking water resources must be integrated for each river basin incl. protection of aquatic ecology, habitats and bathing water. The core of the WFD is an integrated approach to water management. Cost-effectiveness of protective measures for groundwater is a key factor in this context. WaterCost will identify, establish and test a usable CEA methodology, based on existing knowledge and expertise from different European regions resulting in a usable approach to cost-effectiveness applicable Europe-wide. The WaterCost project will provide a framework for assessing the cost-effectiveness and sustainability of various measures for groundwater protection. The policy target of high quality groundwater has to be reached according to the Ground Water Directive - by using the appropriate land use for protecting the groundwater; protecting it from being polluted in the future. The issue for the competent authorities is to reach this high quality level, in a cost-effective way. The objectives are: Establish how to apply cost-effectiveness analyses to selected measures and identify a common terminology on how to apply Cost-Effectiveness Analysis. Assess the cost effectiveness and sustainability of a range of potential measures for the sustainable management of groundwater quality. Exchange information on the approaches to cost effective analysis employed in each country and the outcomes of CEA analysis of the measures. Develop a cost-effective approach to groundwater management and protection for chosen areas in the partner regions, illustrating different steps to handle it. Provide a report on the CEA approaches in each country, and the applicability of selected measures in each, highlighting the differences, strengths and weaknesses, and suggesting a usable approach to CEA for groundwater protection measures. Contributions to a Cost-effective Analysis Methodology The WaterCost project will contribute to developing a cost-effectiveness analysis methodology via activities in the partner regions and during transnational meetings. The regional partners will work on the following issues: Modelling and test Analysis on selected Water Protection Area, calculation of CEA. Mapping costs and benefits, such as socio-economic and environmental, of protective measures. And through this identifying a calculation methodology and developing an evaluation matrix. Analysis of the Application of CEA and Cost Benefit Assessment. Modelling Optimal balance of factors in land use change. The mapping and analysis on cost and effects of different protective measures provides the foundation for developing a usable approach, which can be applied by decision-makers. The thrid transnational workshop contributed to the further development and progress in the regarding CEA analysis. The partners presented the method they had applied and provided adjustment and evaluation of the tool applied. The partners would take these adjustments into account in their further work. For more information about the WaterCost project: www.watercost.org