The Emission Inventory Water: A Planning Support System for Reducing Pollution Emissions in the Surface Waters of Flanders

Abstract

The Emission Inventory Water (EIW) is an important policy instrument enabling a better insight into the pressures and impacts of point and diffuse emissions caused by different sectors on the surface waters of Flanders in Belgium. It is a spatially explicit computer-based information system developed to support the Flemish Environmental Agency (VMM) in its monitoring and reporting obligations vis-à-vis the Flemish, Belgian and European authorities. In addition to this function of providing an up-to-date technical database, it enables the design and assessment of alternative policies and spatially explicit (alongside technical) measures targeted at particular sectors and aimed at improving the quality of the surface waters in different river basins and administrative entities of Flanders. It supports to that effect ‘what if’ analyses in an interactive context. Such exercises are propelled by the obligation imposed on the Member States by the European Union to treat all waste waters by 2012. It is, therefore, an important tool in helping to meet water quality standards as well as evaluating and prioritizing measures (Crouzet and Bogestrand 1999; Fuchs et al. 2002; emissieregistratie.nederland).