1

Emission AccountsEmission Accounts Data sources and methods Data sources and methods Regional Workshop on Water Accounting Regional Workshop on Water Accounting

Santo DomingoSanto Domingo16-18 July 2007 16-18 July 2007

Michael VardonMichael VardonUnited Nations Statistics DivisionUnited Nations Statistics Division

Waste Water Emissions in AustriaWaste Water Emissions in AustriaMaterial courtesy of Michael NagyMaterial courtesy of Michael Nagy

michael.nagy@umweltbundesamt.atmichael.nagy@umweltbundesamt.at

Information needsInformation needs• To answerTo answer national policy relevant questions: national policy relevant questions:

• Status, trends, forecasts on emissions and pollution Status, trends, forecasts on emissions and pollution controlcontrol

• Fulfillment of Fulfillment of international reportinginternational reporting exercises: exercises:• EU-Urban Waste Water Treatment DirectiveEU-Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive• EU-Water Framework DirectiveEU-Water Framework Directive• EPER EPER PRTR PRTR• Eurostat / OECD Joint Questionnaire on Inland Eurostat / OECD Joint Questionnaire on Inland

WatersWaters

Policy demandsPolicy demands• ““Classical” policy questionsClassical” policy questions::

• What is the % of population connected to collecting system and urban waste water treatment plants?What is the % of population connected to collecting system and urban waste water treatment plants?• Is pollution from urban areas and industry increasing or decreasing?Is pollution from urban areas and industry increasing or decreasing?

• New Policy questionsNew Policy questions• Mostly related to economic considerations (more about these later)Mostly related to economic considerations (more about these later)

““Classical” indicatorsClassical” indicators

• Population connectedPopulation connected to collecting system and to collecting system and waste water treatment plantswaste water treatment plants

• Waste water quantitiesWaste water quantities (m³) discharged (m³) discharged (urban / industry)(urban / industry)

• Organic pollutantsOrganic pollutants (BOD / COD) discharged (BOD / COD) discharged (urban / industry)(urban / industry)

• NutrientsNutrients (Nitrogen and Phosphorus) (Nitrogen and Phosphorus) discharged (urban / industry)discharged (urban / industry)

• ((Dangerous substancesDangerous substances))

Characteristics of “classical” Characteristics of “classical” waste water indicatorswaste water indicators

• Focus on Focus on point sourcespoint sources discharging into discharging into surface waterssurface waters

• Policy relevant questions were related to the facts that:Policy relevant questions were related to the facts that:

• pollution of surface waters stemmed mainly from pollution of surface waters stemmed mainly from point point sources sources

• big potential for improvementbig potential for improvement of treatment technologies and of treatment technologies and production processesproduction processes

• Indicators have been the basis for regulations on Indicators have been the basis for regulations on limitation of limitation of discharged pollutantsdischarged pollutants (production sector specific), (production sector specific), investmentsinvestments, , subsidies subsidies and other measuresand other measures

• Indicators have been used for Indicators have been used for monitoring monitoring of progress and of progress and assessment of achievement of policy goalsassessment of achievement of policy goals

Indicator: Indicator: connections to sewerageconnections to sewerage

47,9

57,9

71,075,7

81,586,0

30,0

50,0

73,5

80,9

86,0

k.A.

60,0

k.A.0,0

10,0

20,0

30,0

40,0

50,0

60,0

70,0

80,0

90,0

100,0

1968 1971 1981 1991 1995 1998 2001

% o

f po

pu

latio

n

Connection to collecting system Connection to UWWTPs

Indicator: Indicator: Treatment efficiencies and dischargesTreatment efficiencies and discharges

294.863

551.486

44.270

7.02013.639

48.744

14.0031.164

-

100.000

200.000

300.000

400.000

500.000

600.000

BOD5 COD Nitrogen Phosphorus

Parameter

[t/a

]

Incoming Discharged

New policy questionsNew policy questions• Which measures (as e.g. required according to EU-

WFD) are the most cost-effective?• What are the costs to reduce 1 unit of a pollutant

discharged from agriculture/industry/urban areas....?• What are the socio-economic costs of polluted waters?

• Health of society• Economic activities dependent from clean water: e.g.

fishery, drinking water production, tourism,...• Other uncertain effects of loss of healthy

environment

New waste water indicatorsNew waste water indicators• Better Better consideration of diffuse pollutionconsideration of diffuse pollution to to

consider ALL sources of pollutionconsider ALL sources of pollution• Industry aggregationIndustry aggregation link with economic link with economic

indicatorsindicators• GoalsGoals

• identify cost-efficient measuresidentify cost-efficient measures• assess socio-economic effectsassess socio-economic effects• monitor effects of changed production-technologiesmonitor effects of changed production-technologies

COD emissions, direct dischargesCOD emissions, direct dischargesCSB

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

40000

45000

50000

01 02 05 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 40 41 45 50 51 52 55 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 70 71 72 73 74 75 80 85 90 91 92 93 95 99 H

NACE - Abteilungen

[t/a

]

Herstellung und Verarbeitung von Papier und Pappe

Haushalte

Abwasser- und Abfallbeseitigung und sonstige Entsorgung

Herstellung von Chemikalien und chemischen Erzeugnissen

COD

Manufacture of pulp, paper and paper products (21)

Manufacture of chemicals and chemical products (24)

Sewage and refuse disposal, sanitation and similar activities (90)

Households

Share of COD emissions

Private Households43%

Manufacture of pulp, paper and paper products

32%

Sewage and refuse disposal, sanitation and similar activities

5%

Manufacture of chemicals and chemical products

5%

Rest15%

Nitrogen emissions, direct dischargesNitrogen emissions, direct discharges

Stickstoff

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

40000

01 02 05 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 40 41 45 50 51 52 55 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 70 71 72 73 74 75 80 85 90 91 92 93 95 99 H

NACE - Abteilungen

[t/a

]

Haushalte

Landwirtschaft, J agd

Forstwirtschaft

Nitrogen (total)

Agriculture, hunting and related service activities (01)

Forestry (02)

Households

Share of Nitrogen emissionsShare of Nitrogen emissions

Agriculture, hunting60%Forestry

16%

Private Households15%

Manufacture of chemicals and chemical products

4%

Rest5%

Chrome emissions. direct dischargesChrome emissions. direct dischargesChrom

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

01 02 05 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 40 41 45 50 51 52 55 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 70 71 72 73 74 75 80 85 90 91 92 93 95 99 H

NACE - Abteilungen

[kg

/a]

Metallerzeugung und -bearbeitungGlas, Steine und Erden

Textilien und Textilwaren (ohne Bekleidung)

Leder

Chrome

Manufacture of basic metals (27)Manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products (26)

Manufacture of textiles (17)

Leather (19)

Share of Chrome emissionsShare of Chrome emissions

Manufacture of basic metals34%

Manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products

30%

Manufacture of textiles16%

Tanning and dressing of leather13%

Rest7%

Data collectionData collection• A lot of data collections exists:A lot of data collections exists:

• National AccountsNational Accounts• National reports on the status of the environmentNational reports on the status of the environment• International reporting obligations (WFD, International reporting obligations (WFD,

UWWTD, EPER, etc.)UWWTD, EPER, etc.)• Austrian Emissions Inventory: updated once a Austrian Emissions Inventory: updated once a

year with data from regional authorities (for each year with data from regional authorities (for each individual “significant” discharger)individual “significant” discharger)

To further develop emission To further develop emission accounts in Austriaaccounts in AustriaDemonstrate usefulness to policy makers Demonstrate usefulness to policy makers

(e.g. for purposes of EU-WFD)(e.g. for purposes of EU-WFD)Use already existing data collections as Use already existing data collections as

far as possible (usually legally binding)far as possible (usually legally binding)Modify data collections (and their legal Modify data collections (and their legal

basis) where this is necessary (coverage, basis) where this is necessary (coverage, sector-specific aggregation)sector-specific aggregation)

Outlook for AustriaOutlook for Austria• Emission accounts project in 2006:Emission accounts project in 2006:

• Use of data of the Austrian Emission Inventory on Surface Use of data of the Austrian Emission Inventory on Surface Waters (developed according to EU-WFD, covers Waters (developed according to EU-WFD, covers “significant” point sources and diffuse sources) for “significant” point sources and diffuse sources) for NAMEA-Water Emissions (2004-2005 data)NAMEA-Water Emissions (2004-2005 data)

• Develop methodology for consistent time-series based on Develop methodology for consistent time-series based on WFD-dataWFD-data

• Overall goal: Regular update on the basis of WFD-dataOverall goal: Regular update on the basis of WFD-data

Diffuse emissionsDiffuse emissions

• European Harmonised Procedures for European Harmonised Procedures for Quantification of Nutrient Losses from Diffuse Quantification of Nutrient Losses from Diffuse Sources - Sources - EUROHARPEUROHARP

• Web:Web: http://euroharp.org/index.htm http://euroharp.org/index.htm

ConclusionsConclusions• Emission accounts are addressing new policy-relevant questionsEmission accounts are addressing new policy-relevant questions• Existing data collection systems may contain useful information Existing data collection systems may contain useful information

(e.g. Emissions Register)(e.g. Emissions Register)• May need to set-up specific data collections May need to set-up specific data collections • Promotion of usefulness of (emission) accounts is very Promotion of usefulness of (emission) accounts is very

important. They will aide:important. They will aide:• Understanding of the costs and benefits of measuresUnderstanding of the costs and benefits of measures• discussion with different stakeholders (e.g. agriculture versus discussion with different stakeholders (e.g. agriculture versus

industry as polluters of waters)industry as polluters of waters)• monitoring of environmental efficiencymonitoring of environmental efficiency• definition of policy goalsdefinition of policy goals

Contact detailsContact details

Michael VardonAdviser on Environmental-Economic AccountingUnited Nations Statistics DivisionNew York 10017 USARoom DC2 1532

Phone: +1 917 367 5391Fax: +1 212 963 1374Email: vardon@un.org