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In many European basins, water is either over-abstracted with insufficient water left for environmental needs or returned with high pollution. Only three EU Member States (Cyprus, Hungary and the Netherlands) implemented ecological flows in all RBDs in 2016, whereas France implemented the ecological flows in 2 RBDs (EC, 2019b). In 2015, 58 % of river water bodies did not achieve good ecological status, for which water abstraction (8 %) has been reported as one of the main pressures  and groundwater levels have already lowered in some of the EU Member States (Kristensen et al., 2018). Groundwater is often seen as cheap buffer resources, which can be used to supply high quality drinking water, especially when local surface waters are not suitable for exploitation or at times of water stress. Insufficient legal enforcement and incomplete tariff systems in the agricultural sector are still responsible for unauthorised water abstractions, over-exploitation of groundwater, which leads to saline intrusion in coastal aquifers. Meanwhile, around 84 % of freshwater habitats in Europe was found in unfavorable conditions according to the EU habitats directive assessment in 2015 (EEA, 2020b).

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  • molleing (Ingelise Møller Balling) 03 Feb 2021 08:49:48

    This more a general comment, however it fits in here as well:

    The impression from reading the report is that the groundwater is seen from a 'surface water point of view'. The report contains good descriptions and reflections on the groundwater resource, but concrete descriptions of water stress indicators for groundwater is missing.

  • scheidand (Andreas Scheidleder) 05 Feb 2021 18:16:03

    Austria could also be mentioned as country where the ecological flows are implemented in all RBDs. The available GW resource is defined depending on the low water flow/discharge of a relevant river.

    • zalllnih (Nihat Zal) 30 Jun 2021 11:15:42

       Yes, that is true. According to the compliance assessment of the Commission, Austria has already implemented the ecologicalflow concept in all RBDs but not all in water bodies. The respective table (Table 6.1) now is reflecting this point. 

      Austria could also be mentioned as country where the ecological flows are implemented in all RBDs. The available GW resource is defined depending on the low water flow/discharge of a relevant river.

       

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