Economic theory inputs to address the WFD exemption challenges
François Destandeau and Anne Rozan - Pages 5 to 14
Abstract
The Water Framework Directive (WFD) represents a major change in the European environmental policy as it presents a united and consistent legal framework whose main aim is to prevent and reduce water pollution in Europe, which is considered as excessive. In order to reduce the water pollution, the WFD is setting a binding ambient standard: the « good status » requirement. It will be possible for member states to obtain a exemption by showing that pollution control costs are excessive compared to environmental benefits on the basis of a cost-benefit analysis. Thus, an economic literature review is required for guiding the choice of the valuation methods.
 

  Construction of a simplified hydrographic network (RHE) from the DB Carthageâ Database
Hervé Pella, Ton Snelder, Nicolas Lamouroux, Arnaud Vanderbecq, Ude Shankar and Crane Rogers - Pages 15 to 28
Abstract
The environmental characteristics of continental aquatic ecosystems are largely inherited along the drainage network. Their automated estimation requires the use of a digital drainage network of connected linear features. The network currently available in France (drain principal naturel) allowed several applications including the modeling of the natural flow, classification of river types and application of ecological models at the national level. However, this network is limited because of its lack of representativeness of headwater basins and small rivers. In order to provide a more comprehensive coverage of small rivers we present an extensive drainage network (RHE) that supplements the existing network. The RHE contains 2.5 times more arcs that the natural main drain, and provides a better representation of headwater basins (small rivers, short distances to the source, steep slopes).

  Sensitivity of flood loss evaluation to the method used to assess buildings vulnerability
Julian Eleuterio, Sylvain Payraudeau and Anne Rozan - Pages 29 to 44
Abstract
This paper compares, in a local scale, four different methods to assess buildings vulnerability to floods. In urban areas, buildings and contents represent the majority of flood damages. The four methods are different in relation to the quality of the data used. Each method is analyzed in terms of its feasibility and the reliability of the loss evaluation. The municipal of Holtzheim, in the Bruche River (Bas-Rhin, Alsace, France) is studied. We test the sensitivity of the evaluation results to the four different methods used to assess vulnerability. Loss is evaluated in the range of 245 to 705 k€ per year when using the most feasible method. When using the most reliable method, we evaluate loss in the range of 315 to 405 k€ per year. In conclusion, we discuss the choice between the different methods to assess vulnerability and a recommendation guide is proposed.

   Reducing point-source pesticides pollution from agriculture – First analysis of a stakeholder survey in Europe
Anne Vaçulik, Bernard Palagos, Ramon Laplana and Bernard Bonicelli - Pages 45 to 60
Abstract
This paper deals with the results of the Life-Environment TOPPS project for the point-source pollution control with Plant Protection Products (PPP). At the European scale (600 questionnaires diffused and analysed) it describes the awareness of the stakeholders involved in the agricultural practices and discuss the practical solutions to avoid point-source pollution. A majority of theses stakeholders perceive it as the most significant pattern of water contamination by the PPP. Reducing these pollutions is based on a better knowledge of the possible solutions and practices to improve the situation. This includes training, demonstration and all other means to diffuse information. In addition, incentives or enforced regulations are mentioned. During PPP manipulation, three technical processes are identified as very efficient to minimise the impacts on the environment: after spraying (tank rinsing and sprayer external cleaning), before spraying (spray liquid preparation, sprayer filling) and the waste management (empty containers). Thus, the equipments to avoid spilling, reducing residual volume, rinsing, and more widely the sprayer inspection are to promote including cost overruns, the technical reliability and the acceptably accurate solution to this problem by the farmers. In terms of infrastructure, the development of filling and cleaning areas and the implementation of a recovery system of empty pesticide containers are the priorities.