PRTR REGISTER: WATER EMISSIONS (FORMERLY INES REGISTER: WATER EMISSIONS)

    Descrizione 1
    Update date
    Authors

    Andrea Gagna

    Abstract
    Immagine
    Abstract

    The EPRTR (European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register) is the integrated register established by the EU based on Regulation (EC) No. 166/2006, aimed at making publicly available information on environmental impacts caused by industrial facilities falling under the criteria set out in the regulation.

    This indicator represents total emissions into surface waters and pollutant transfers in wastewater from industrial facilities that reported such data to the national PRTR register. For the year 2020, 60 substances were reported as present in emissions into surface water bodies, while 49 substances were declared in pollutant transfers via wastewater conveyed through pipelines to external treatment facilities.

    The PRTR activity groups that contribute the highest percentages of reported pollutant emissions into both wastewater and surface waters are generally those related to "Waste and Wastewater Management" and "Chemical Industry".

    Description

    The indicator shows total emissions into surface waters (direct discharges) and total pollutant transfers in wastewater (indirect discharges) from large industrial facilities located across the national territory. Emission data also includes discharges from urban wastewater treatment plants with a treatment capacity of at least 100,000 population equivalents.

    Water emissions and wastewater transfer data are obtained through measurements, calculations, or estimates as stipulated by the reference legislation. Qualitative and quantitative information is collected via PRTR declarations, based on the criteria set out in Regulation (EC) No. 166/2006, Presidential Decree No. 157/2011, and Article 30 of Legislative Decree No. 46/2014.

    These criteria include a list of pollutants (Annex I of the Regulation), each with a reporting threshold for emissions to air, water, and soil. Unlike the former INES register, in the PRTR register, direct emissions to water and pollutant transfers via wastewater are managed and assessed separately according to the respective water matrix threshold.

    L'indicatore rappresenta le emissioni totali nelle acque superficiali (scarichi diretti) e i trasferimenti totali di inquinanti nei reflui (scarichi indiretti) dei complessi industriali di maggiori dimensioni presenti sul territorio nazionale. I dati di emissione in acqua includono anche le emissioni derivanti dalla depurazione dei reflui civili (impianti di depurazione con capacità di trattamento pari ad almeno 100.000 abitanti equivalenti). I valori delle emissioni in acqua e dei trasferimenti di inquinanti nelle acque reflue riportati sono stati acquisiti tramite misure, calcoli o come previsto dalla normativa di riferimento. Le informazioni qualitative e quantitative sulle emissioni in acqua e sui trasferimenti di inquinanti nei reflui sono raccolte attraverso le Dichiarazioni PRTR sulla base dei criteri stabiliti dalla normativa di riferimento (Regolamento CE n.166/2006; DPR 157/2011 e art.30 del D.Lgs. 46/2014). Tali criteri consistono in una lista di inquinanti (Allegato 1 al Regolamento) a ciascuno dei quali è associato un valore soglia all'emissione in aria, acqua e suolo. A differenza del precedente Registro INES, nel Registro PRTR l'emissione in acqua (scarico diretto, cioè inviato direttamente al corpo idrico recettore superficiale anche dopo eventuale trattamento di depurazione interno) e i trasferimenti di inquinanti nelle acque reflue (scarichi indiretti, cioè inviati attraverso fognatura o condotta dedicata a un depuratore esterno) sono gestiti e confrontati separatamente con i valori soglia relativi alla matrice acqua per la dichiarazione.

    Purpose

    The purpose is to provide qualitative and quantitative information on water emissions produced by PRTR activities (which also include most activities subject to the Integrated Environmental Authorization procedure under the IPPC Directive). For each pollutant and reference year, the national figures for emissions into surface waters and for transfers into wastewater are reported.

    Policy relevance and utility for users
    It can describe the trend without necessarily evaluating it.
    It is simple and easy to interpret.
    It is sensitive to changes occurring in the environment and/or in human activities
    It provides a representative picture of environmental conditions, environmental pressures, and societal responses
    It provides a basis for international comparisons.
    Analytical soundness
    Be based on international standards and international consensus about its validity;
    Be theoretically well founded in technical and scientific terms
    Presents reliability and validity of measurement and data collection methods
    Temporal comparability
    Spatial comparability
    Measurability (data)
    Adequately documented and of known quality
    Updated at regular intervals in accordance with reliable procedures
    An “adequate” spatial coverage
    An “appropriate” temporal coverage
    Main regulatory references and objectives

    Regulation (EC) No. 166/2006; Presidential Decree No. 157/2011; Art. 30 of Legislative Decree No. 46/2014

    The goal is to make environmental data publicly accessible. Compared to the previous INES register, the PRTR register covers more companies, more substances, and more monitored activities. The first national EPRTR data collection took place in 2008, referring to data from 2007. The register is updated annually and includes data from companies that were previously reporting to the INES register.

    DPSIR
    Pressure
    Indicator type
    Descriptive (A)
    Limitations

    The data collection system for the PRTR Register, based on a self-declaration process by facilities and quality assessment by the competent authorities, allows room for actions aimed at further improving the completeness of the database. Quality control operations carried out by the competent authorities may result in subsequent adjustments to the reporting base and to the national figures for water emissions and pollutant transfers in wastewater.

    Frequenza di rilevazione dei dati
    Annuale
    Fonte dei dati
    ISPRA
    Data availabilty

    The data on total emissions into surface water and transfers of pollutants in wastewater from facilities included in the official communication to the European Commission (Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 166/2006) are publicly accessible on the EPRTR (European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register) website: https://industry.eea.europa.eu/#/home

    Spatial coverage

    National

    Time coverage

    2007-2020

    Processing methodology

    The values are obtained by aggregating data by substance and by PRTR activity group.

    Update frequency
    Year
    Qualità dell'informazione

    The basic data used for the calculation of the indicator are derived from the national PRTR Register database. They are reported by companies subject to the PRTR reporting obligation and assessed by the competent authorities as established by Presidential Decree No. 157/2011. The quality assessment of the reported data is, in fact, an ongoing process that may lead to adjustments to the reporting base and the communicated data even in the years following the reporting year. The indicator provides a representative overview of environmental pressures. It also serves as a basis for international comparisons.

    State
    Good
    Trend
    Positive
    State assessment/description

    In 2020, 60 substances were reported in emissions to surface water bodies. Most of these emissions originate from the "Waste and Wastewater Management" and "Chemical Industry" groups. No emissions were reported from intensive livestock farming or aquaculture activities. The "Waste and Wastewater Management" group contributes to nearly all substances, but for some (e.g., halogenated organic compounds), the highest contributions come from the "Miscellaneous" group (see Table 1, Figures 1–5). Compared to 2019, emissions of 26 substances increased, while emissions of 34 substances decreased.

    For pollutant transfers via wastewater pipelines to external treatment facilities, 49 substances were declared in 2020 (Table 2). The main contributors were “Miscellaneous” and “Waste and Wastewater Management”. Compared to surface water discharges, the metal industry’s role increased (notably for cadmium and lead), and over 98% of chromium in wastewater came from the “Miscellaneous” group, particularly from the tanning industry (Table 2, Figures 1–5). Emissions for 28 substances decreased compared to 2019.

    Trend assessment/description

    About the 60 substances reported for 2020 in surface water emissions, for 13 substances, there was insufficient data to determine a trend; for 29 substances, emissions decreased compared to 2007 (for 18 of these, the reduction exceeded 40%); for 18 substances, emissions increased compared to 2007 (14 had increases greater than 40%).

    Regarding transfers via wastewater, for 13 substances, no comparison with 2007 was possible; for 14 substances, amounts increased compared to 2007 (11 had increases >40%); for 25 substances, amounts decreased (12 had reductions >40%).

    Comments

    The national emission values reported in Tables 1 and 2 are obtained by aggregating the data declared by individual facilities subject to the obligation to report to the PRTR Register. The values for emissions into surface water bodies and pollutants transferred in wastewater refer to substances included in the list established by the relevant legislation. The data declared by individual facilities, having exceeded the corresponding thresholds set for PRTR reporting, were subject to quality assessment by the competent authorities. The substances listed in the tables indicate that, for the year considered, at least one facility reporting to the PRTR Register provided information regarding the parameter in question. Therefore, blank cells indicate that no data exceeding the threshold were reported for that substance and the year in question.

    Data
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    Figure 2: Total emissions into surface waters by PRTR group, 2020

    Data source

    ISPRA, Italian National PRTR Register

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    Figure 4: Total emissions into surface waters by PRTR group, 2020

    Data source

    ISPRA, Italian National PRTR Register

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    Figure 6: Total emissions in wastewater by PRTR group, 2020

    Data source

    ISPRA, Italian National PRTR Register

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    Figure 8: Total emissions in wastewater by PRTR group, 2020

    Data source

    ISPRA, Italian National PRTR Register

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    Figure 9: Total emissions in wastewater by PRTR group, 2020

    Data source

    ISPRA, Italian National PRTR Register

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    Figure 1: Total emissions into surface waters by PRTR group, 2020

    Data source

    ISPRA, Italian National PRTR Register

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    Figure 3: Total emissions into surface waters by PRTR group, 2020

    Data source

    ISPRA, Italian National PRTR Register

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    Figure 5: Total emissions into surface waters by PRTR group, 2020

    Data source

    ISPRA, Italian National PRTR Register

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    Figure 7: Total emissions in wastewater by PRTR group, 2020

    Data source

    ISPRA, Italian National PRTR Register

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    Table 1: Total emissions into surface waters, by PRTR group, in 2020

    Data source

    ISPRA, Italian National PRTR Register

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    Figure 10: Total emissions in wastewater by PRTR group, 2020

    Data source

    ISPRA, Italian National PRTR Register

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    Table 2: Total transfers of pollutants in wastewater, by PRTR group, in 2020

    Data source

    ISPRA, Italian National PRTR Register

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