Water and environmental management | Glossaire eau, milieu marin et biodiversité

Vegetated discharge area

Sens technique

Space developed between the wastewater treatment plant and the receiving environment of treated wastewater discharges (it is not part of the wastewater treatment plant). The vegetated discharge areas (VDA) are characterised by the use of plants (mostly aquatic but possibly also terrestrial) and their planting close to the treatment plant, in the space remaining after the building of this plant. The VDA is not a wetland as there is no "long presence of natural water". It is also not a grass strip, specific to the mitigation of non-point source pollution (pesticides, fertilisers, sediments, etc.), especially in agriculture.

Source

according to OFB and IRSTEA

Law of 21 April 2004 on WFD transposition

Sens réglementaire

Law transposing the 2000 Water Framework Directive (WFD), which harmonises European regulations on water management and introduces the obligation to protect and restore the quality of water and aquatic environments in the European Union. Environmental objectives must be set for all aquatic environments (rivers, lakes, coastal waters - coastal and transitional waters - and groundwater) by 2015: achievement of good water status, no deterioration of resources and reduction or elimination of discharges of hazardous substances. The novelty of the concept of "good status" now relies on the proper functioning of aquatic environments taking into account all components of the environment: water, wildlife, flora and habitats.

Source

according to OFB

Water Law of 3 January 1992

Sens réglementaire

Law making the necessary amendments to the legislative framework to implement the numerous European directives for defining the quality standards that water must meet for certain uses (drinking water, bathing water, fish-breeding water, shellfish waters). One of the strengths of the law of 3 January 1992 is the introduction of two new global water resources planning systems: master plans for water development and management (SDAGE) for each of the major French river basins, and water management and management plans (SAGE) developed on a more local scale. Contrary to the 1964 law, the 1992 law does not imply any obligation to monitor environments but it reinforces the principles of protection of aquatic ecosystems and consultation between water users and stakeholders. The evolution of knowledge is also making it clear that the assessment of river quality must be done by considering the different components of the environment (water and substrate) and the organisms that live in it.

Source

according to OFB

Water Law of 16 December 1964

Sens réglementaire

It aims to cope with the evolution of demography, industrial development and the growing pollution problems they generate, the first law enabling institutional, financial and technical conditions for global and decentralised water resources management. It thus establishes a management logic according to major river basins (and not according to an administrative logic); sets up, in each basin, a basin committee in charge of drafting the water management policy, and a water agency (or financial basin agency), in charge of implementing this policy; and establishes a National Water Committee (NWC), an advisory body for the Prime Minister. The law of 16 December 1964 imposes, with its goal of pollution control, the making of a national inventory to establish the degree of pollution (INP) of surface water and the definition of objectives for quality improvement. It has been repealed for codification in the environment code.

Source

according to OFB

Regional ecological coherence scheme

Sens technique

Framework Document elaborated in each metropolitan area, by the Regional Council and the regional prefect, in association with local stakeholders, locally developed the green and blue infrastructure. The Regional Ecological Coherence Scheme (SRCE) is to identify biodiversity reservoirs and ecological corridors that link them. It includes an action plan to ensure the preservation and restore ecological continuity identified while taking into account land use planning issues and human activities. The SRCE must also be compatible with the planning documents, such as territorial coherence…

Source

according to IOWater

Physico-chemical

Sens commun

Physical and chemical characteristics of water. Inside a water analysis, the observed parameters are quite numerous, and all of these allow to determine the physical-chemical water quality, which determines the maintenance of river biodiversity. These parameters could be for example, temperature, turbidity, concentration of organic matter, mineral, nitrogen, etc.

Source

according to the Ministry of Environment

Organic micropollutant

Sens commun

Organic active ingredient, usually synthesized by the chemical industry, whose accumulation, even at low concentrations, can be toxic. The main organic micropollutants controlled are volatile organic compounds (VOC), hydrocarbons, andpolychlorinated biphenyl(PCB).

Source

According to Seine-Normandie Water Agency

Mineral micropollutant

Sens commun

Mineral active product, mainly metals or metalloids, whose accumulation, even at low concentrations, affects the environment and organisms. The main mineral micro pollutants controlled (from both natural and anthropical occurrence) are cadmium, mercury, copper, chromium, zinc, nickel, lead, etc.

Source

According to Seine-Normandie Water Agency

Public water management and development agency

Sens commun

Group of local authorities in charge of the local management project and of the territorial water coordination, at the watershed scale. The Public water management and development agency has to ensure flood prevention as well as non-state-owned rivers management.

Source

according to Legifrance

Self-monitoring system

Sens commun

Self-monitoring system generally required by law, to check the operation or impact of installations (e.g. wastewater-treatment plants, industrial sites, etc.). Generally speaking, it addresses the assessment water quality at the output of installations classified for environnemental protection, and the control of wastewater-treatment plants and sanitation networks.

Source

according to OFB