OiEAU ANNUAL REPORT - 2019

Peer-to-peer: sharing to improve the implementation of European Directives As part of the common European strategy for implementing the Water Framework Directive (WFD), OiEau provided the Secretariat of a consortium responsible for extending the Peer Review Mechanism launched in 2015 and fun- ded by the Directorate-General for Environment of the European Union. The Peer-to-Peer project aimed to develop mutual learning between experts from Member States basin organizations (peers) in order to improve the implementation of the WFD and Floods Directive. Its principle: organizing review visits of European experts, upon request from the authorities. These experts gave their opinions on the quality of the management plans (water resources and flood risks) and proposed areas for improvement. In addition to the field assignments, OiEau, as Secretariat, organized webinars on various topics such as: non-point source pollution and nitrates modeling; assessment of the status of non-per- manent rivers; the presentation of the European Drought Observatory and how the basin autho- rities can use it; the application of ecosystem management for aquatic ecosystems to stop and reverse the decline in biodiversity; water scarcity and drought management, etc. For the Jucar Water Authority in Spain (Confede- ración Hidrográfica del Jucar - CHJ), « partici- pating in this process has been enri- ching. It is an opportunity, within the European Union, to share on issues on which each State has progressed and to draw lessons from them. It is also an opportunity for Member States to establish contacts that facilitate collaboration and communication. » OiEau is training local stakeholders on Water Safety Management Plans The health safety of drinking water is one of the priorities of the local authorities and operators in charge of its production. The Water Safety Management Plans (Plans de Gestion de la Sé- curité Sanitaire des Eaux - PGSSE) aim to per- manently guarantee water health, by applying a general prevention and anticipation strategy. This involves risk assessment and preventive mana- gement, covering all stages of the water supply, from the water intake to the consumer's tap. Several Regional Health Agencies (ARS) of New Aquitania, Occitania, PACA (Provence-Alps-Ri- viera) regions… that support the People in charge of Water Production and Distribution (Personnes Responsables de la Production et Distribution de l’Eau - PRPDE) in their health security approach, have naturally turned to OiEau which offers ex- pertise, both in enhancing knowledge and voca- tional training, but also in independent support to “PRPDEs”. As the “PGSSEs” are growing rapidly in France, the actions carried out by OiEau in this area are expected to gain momentum in other regions. « We, a small syndicate, often lose perspective. […] The “PGSSE” can help us define where we should act, how to orient us. The “PGSSE” seems to me to be a tool for confidence in the future. » Mr. Cuny, President of SIAEP - KARST Charente. At the Water Meeting in Rennes in 2020, OiEau led the focus on “PGSSE”, ©OiEau • 9 basin authorities have requested a Peer review • 45 EU experts have expressed interest • 30 experts, 7 field assignments to Europe • 7 webinars, 400 participants from 30 countries In 2019, in France: • 35 acculturation meetings • 12 technical days • 12 training sessions • 5 web-conferences • 1,500 people trained 37