Water Pollution Control in Cyprus

Dr. Chrystalla StylianouEnvironment Service

Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment

Contents of PresentationWater pollution issues

Introduction to the Water Pollution Control Laws(scope, competent authorities, requirements, waste discharge permit, protected areas, quality standards, emission limit values, etc.) and to the Integrated Prevention and Pollution Control Laws (scope, installations, measures)

Pollution Control (water bodies at risk, protected areas, monitoring of waters)

PollutionWater pollution is the direct or indirect introduction, as a result of human activity, of substances or heat into water which may be harmful to human health or the quality of aquatic or terrestrial ecosystems, that result in damage to material property, or impair or interfere with amenities and the other legitimate uses of the water.

Dangerous substances, nutrients, oxygen depleting substances, microbial contamination, nuisance (taste and odor), heat, suspended solids, salinity, etc.

Water Pollution Control Laws{106(I)/2002, 160(I)/2005, 76(I)/2006}

The WPC Law can be considered a “water pollution framework” Law since most of the EU directives and the environmental acquis for the protection of water and some in the waste sector have been transposed mainly through Ministerial Orders and Council of Ministers Regulations under this Law.These include the directives dealing with nitrates, urban wastewater treatment, dangerous substances, bathing water, water for abstraction for drinking, protection of freshwater supporting fish life, sludge use in agriculture, etc. The WFD has been transposed through a separate Water Framework Law (No. 13 (I)/2004).

Implementation of WPC LawCompetent authority for the implementation of this Law is the Minister of MANRE, who also appoints inspectors. The Chief Inspector comes from the E.S. ENVIRONMENT SERVICE is the coordinating and responsible agency for the Implementation and Enforcement of the WPC Law.Other governmental departments (WDD, GSD, DFMR, DMPHS) are responsible mainly for monitoring the quality of water bodies. The Department of Agricultureis mainly responsible for the action program and code of good agriculture practice according to the nitrates directive.

Protection of Waters from PollutionEvery person that discharges or disposes or causes or permits the discharge or disposal in river, dry river bed, coastal waters, lake or dam, in soil or subsoil, in a place that can fall or be transferred in water bodies any object, substance or matter (wastes, sludge, etc.) that pollutes or tends to pollute the surface or ground or coastal waters, if found guilty is subject to a prison term up to 3 years or a a fine of CP 50.000 or both. Itis not a crime, if such discharge is done with a waste discharge permit (WDP) from the Minister of MANRE.

Waste Discharge PermitNo installation or activity that causes or can cause water or soil pollution can operate without a waste discharge permit issued by the Minister to the owner or beneficiary.The Environment Service is the competent authority formanaging the permitting process (applications, environmental investigations, data keeping, preparing draft permits, coordinating with other departments, preparing final permit to be signed by the Minister), inspection (checking compliance), as well as enforcement (issuing fines and preparing cases for prosecution by the Attorney General).Technical Committee evaluates the applications and advises the Minister of MANRE for permit.

Terms/ Conditions on a PermitThe location and method of discharge or applicationof wastes. The rate of wastes discharges and the total annual quantity disposed.The total quantity of any substance or wastes that can be discharged.The nature, composition and other physical characteristics of the substances or wastes discharged.Maximum concentrations for different quality parameters, temp. and pH of the wastes discharged. Requirements for providing access for sampling and measurements, for self monitoring of discharges and water and soil at discharge points.

Violations and PunishmentsOperating without a permit (3 years imprisonment or CP 50.000 or both)Violating terms of the permit (as above)Interfering with inspection procedure (6 months imprisonment or CP 1.000 or both)Violating any provision of this Law (CP 1.000)In case of conviction, the Court may additionally ask the sale or confiscation of the property of the installation.The court can order installation shut-down and for the owner of the I &A to take all measures and assume the cost for the restoration.Inspectors can imposed an “out of court fine” up to CP 200 for violations.

Permitting Data (May 2005)

815Mining Activities

18180

154149 7

AgricultureAnimal husbandry Fisheries

131466Total

660

33303

Waste Management FacilitiesWWTPSolid waste facilities

9966123369

260104261433259

IndustryFood ChemicalMinerals / MetalsEnergySlaughterhousesOthers

No. of permitsNo. of applications Type of I & A

Permitting per type I & A

Apllications for WDP per type of I & A

57%33%

7% 3%Industry

Agriculture

WasteManagementFacilitiesMining

Permits issued per type of I & A

73%

6%4%

17%

Industry

Agriculture

WasteManagementFacilitiesMining

Updated data and results of implementationΑ. PERMITTING B. OUT OF COURT FINES

WWTP : 16 WWTP : 4Livestock units :31 Livestock units :30Food industries : 86 Food industry : 13 Slaughterhouses : 13 Slaughterhouses : 15Mining Activities : 17 Mining Activities : 4Others : 25 Others: 5 TOTAL : 188 TOTAL : 71

C. PROCECUTION REPORTSWWTP : 1 Livestock units : 5Slaughterhouses : 7TOTAL : 13

The Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Laws

The IPPC Directive applies to installations that potentially have the greatest adverse effects on the environment. It has been transposed into national legislation by the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Law and is implemented through the Water and Soil Pollution Control Laws and the Air Pollution Control Law. IPPC permitting is realized through the Waste Discharge Permit and the Air Emissions Permit that are granted after coordinating the permitting process by the Technical Committee for the Protection of the Environment.

Environmental scope

waste prevention and recovery

energy efficiency

prevention and control of accidents

noise vibrationheat

emissionsto water

emissions to air

emissions to land

odor

IPPC Activities in CyprusNumber

Energy industries 3Production and processing of metals 1Mineral industry (cement factories, mines, ceramic and brick manufacturing) 11Waste management (used oils, landfills) 6Slaughterhouses and processing of food products 2Disposal or recycling of animal waste 4Rearing of poultry or pigs 80

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Pollution Control Identification of pollution problems and potential pollution sources (pressures)

=> Article 5 of WFD Declaration of protected areas

=> Article 6 of WFDMonitoring of waters and setting of EQS

=> Article 8 of WFDControl of discharges (permitting of installations, inspection and enforcement of permit terms and setting of ELVs and allowable application rates => Article 10 and Article 11 of WFD

Results of the Analysis based on the Implementation of Articles 5 & 6

of the WFD

Surface Water Bodies at Risk

Characterization of Groundwater bodies

Characterization of groundwater bodiesFurther

initial

Water protected AreasNitrate Vulnerable Zones (ND), Sensitive Areas (UWWTD)

and Bathing Areas (BD)

for Bathing waters

Nature protected sites

Water bodies used for abstraction for drinking

Protection zones for drinking wells

Under the Ministerial Order 45/96 Protection Zones I, II and III are designated prohibiting certain activities (in each one) in order to protect the groundwater used for drinking purposes. Dams are also protected with special protection zones set by the Town Planning and Housing Department.

Water monitoring networks

Monitoring of waters is being implemented according to the following Directives: Nitrates, Urban Wastewater Treatment, Bathing Water, Water Abstracted for Drinking Water Purposes , Water for protection of Fish Life, Dangerous Substances and Decision on the Exchange of Information on Surface Waters.

Development of an Integrated Monitoring Program for the implementation of Article 8 of the WFD – Transition Facility Project

Σηµεία δειγµατοληψίας νερών κολύµβησηςBathing waters monitoring network

Vision and expectations for the future(personal thoughts)

The legal framework for effective pollution control exists. The implementation (permitting, inspection and enforcement) of the legislature needs significant improvement.

Strengthening of the water pollution implementation unit of the Environment Service (staff, training, equipment, IT and legal assistance) . Integrated Environmental Permit (WDP, GWDP, WMP, Environmental Terms from EIA).Establishment of Environmental Inspectorate handling inspection and enforcement for all environmental legislature (water, air, waste, nature, EIA, noise, etc.).