2005 - 2006 - Pinsent Masons Water Yearbook 2012

BELGIUM PART 2: COUNTRY ANALYSIS
Belgium
Economics (2003)
GDP per capita US$25,760
GDP per capita (PPP) US$28,920
Agriculture 1%
Industry 26%
Services 72%
Regulation and legislation
Water policy in Walloon is based on the 1967 law on non-navigable water resources, the 1985 decree
for the protection of surface water (modified by the decrees of 1993 and 1996), and the 1990 decree
for the protection and use of groundwater and drinking water. The Brussels region is covered by the
1971 law for the protection of groundwater against pollution, the 1983 law concerning water quality
objectives and the 1993 regional prescription on environmental permits. Additional legislation
concerning integrated permits for the release of wastewater and the taxation of wastewater were
passed in 1992 and 1996 respectively. In Flanders water and sewage is integrated into a series of
Five Year Environment Policy Plans (MINA). Every two years, a State of the Environment Report
(MIRA) is produced. An Environment Programme is issued each year. General Water Treatment
Programmes (AWP) are being designed especially for surface water. Nationally, cost recovery for
sewerage is about 70%, although it is only 30% in Brussels. Since 1996, a series of levies have been
developed for domestic, industrial and agricultural users.
Population
Total (2003 million) 10.4
Total (2015, million) 10.5
In urban areas (2003) 98%
In urban areas (2015) 98%
In urban agglomerations (2000) 11%
Water quality
According to a UNESCO survey published in March 2003, Belgium has the world’s worst water. The
survey examined river water quality as well as drinking water. The next EU country was Germany, 56
places above Belgium.
Both ground and surface waters are polluted by nitrates. The river Meuse is polluted by industrial
effluents including chlorides, fluorides and phosphates, although it is an important source for drinking
water abstraction. The most important aquifers used for drinking water production are to be found in
Walloon. Drinking water is generally considered to be of good quality. In East Flanders, the water
table has fallen by up to 100 metres because of the over-abstraction of water resources. As a result,
the regional government is now charging a BF 2-5 per m 3 levy for the abstraction of groundwater from
private sources.
Inland water quality 1980 1990
I-Good 56% 17%
II-Fair 17% 31%
III-Poor 16% 15%
IV-Bad 11% 37%
The quality of Belgium’s rivers appears to have deteriorated notably between 1980 and 1990. This
reflects the cumulative legacy of the country’s outdated sewage treatment system and a belated
acknowledgement as to the challenges the country has to face so as to comply with the UWWTD. In
the Meuse Basin (73% of Walloon) water quality is generally grade II and better, except the Sambre
River, half of which is grade III/IV. The Yser Basin (Flanders) is mainly grade III/IV. The Escaut Basin
(the entire Brussels Region, the majority of Flanders and 22% of Walloon) are all grade III/IV except
for the River Dyle in Walloon which is grade II. In consequence, Belgium has the highest
concentration of Class IV inland waters in the EU.
60 Pinsent Masons Water Yearbook 2005 – 2006