PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Iceland is implementing its first River Basin Management Plan (RBMP) at a time when most European countries are developing plans for their fourth RBMP cycle. Iceland is therefore aiming to accelerate the implementation to align with the rest of Europe.
3 overarching constraints to implementation have been identified:
- Iceland has a very small population, a large land area and a fragmented administration, both local and central, which is lacking in capacity
- the current RBMP in Iceland has significant gaps due to lack of data and expertise
- communication and cooperation are fragmented across various stakeholders
On top of this, the management and governance of Icelandic waterbodies is particularly challenging as the country has over 2 000 water bodies.
There are also significant gaps in the data relating to and understanding of pressures on water bodies in Iceland, and a more comprehensive and accurate analysis is needed to fully grasp their status. For example, there has been a substantial increase in water use for aquaculture and other water-dependent industries. Data on run-off water, hydro-morphological pressures and the monitoring of priority substances, as well as information on agricultural pressures, have been limited or unavailable.
OBJECTIVES
The main objective of the LIFE ICEWATER project is to enhance implementation of the first RBMP for Iceland before 2028, and provide direct input into the development of the second cycle RBMP (2028-2033). The specific objectives of the project are to:
- strengthen cooperation and build capacity and knowledge in Iceland
- create a framework for implementing the Water Framework Directive
- gather data through the monitoring of water bodies
- develop and improve classification systems and determine the status of water bodies
- improve institutional communication between stakeholders across all sectors, both nationally and internationally
- remove administrative and legislative barriers to implementation
- address pressures and promote improvements in water body status
- ensure the sustainability of the project and replicability of its results
- LIFE ICEWATER covers the whole of Iceland and involves various governmental bodies, the research community,municipalities, the public, industry and other stakeholders. The consortium consists of 21 beneficiaries and 2 affiliatedpartners who will collectively bring the necessary expertise to implement the RBMP.
RESULTS
The expected results of the LIFE ICEWATER project are:
- reduction in the area of surface water bodies and groundwater bodies with an affected ecological status from 509 km² to 0 km²
- decrease in the number of water bodies with unknown status from 441 to 200
- update the number of groundwater bodies from 313 to 283 due to the incorporation of missing information and by creating a national data recording system
- reduction in inappropriately managed wastewater sludge from 62 tonnes per year to 20 tonnes per year, which will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- increase in the ratio of wastewater facilities over 50 Population Equivalent that have pollution permits from 10% to 70%
- revision of 8 regulations regarding water management
- increased investment in improving water quality from €15 million to €250 million
- improved capacity of all project partners and stakeholders to facilitate and accelerate the implementation of the Water Framework Directive
- increase in number of monitored waterbodies from 22 to 42
- increase in number of local authorities participating in capacity building events from 0 to 50