kom (2021) 1000 - Ingen titel

Europaudvalget 2021
KOM (2021) 1000
Offentligt

EUROPEAN

COMMISSION

Brussels, 11.10.2021

SWD(2021) 1001 final

PART 30/38

COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT

Accompanying the document

REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN

PARLIAMENT

on the implementation of Council Directive 91/676/EEC concerning the protection of

waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources based on Member

State reports for the period 2016–2019

{COM(2021) 1000 final}

kom (2021) 1000 - Ingen titel

PORTUGAL FICHE

Pressure from Agriculture

Portugal

’s

utilized agricultural area

amounts to 3.6 Mha, representing 40% of

the total land area. The major outputs of the

agricultural industry excluding services

include in a decreasing order fruit (19.3%),

vegetables and horticultural plants (16.6%)

and other crops (14.9%).

Major land use statistics for Portugal

Table 1.Utilized agricultural area (abbreviated as UAA)

Portugal’s arable land

has decreased from the

last reporting period by

14%.

Permanent

grassland, crops and

kitchen

gardens

remained stable.

Animal distribution in Portugal

Portugal

has

seen

increase in all livestock

numbers. Consequently, the

livestock density index has

increased by 8.9% since

2013. The livestock intensity

index is lower than the EU

average of 0.8.

Table 2. Livestock statistics

564

kom (2021) 1000 - Ingen titel

PORTUGAL FICHE

Nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers and surplus (kg/ha UAA)

Figure 1. N and P fertilizers and gross surplus (kg/ha)

The N and P mineral fertilizer, manure and gross nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P)

surpluses originate from EUROSTAT data for the years 2000-2017, while for years

2018-2019 from the National Institute of Statistics (INE). The consumption of inorganic

N during the last reporting period is lower than that of the previous. The consumption of

inorganic P fertilizer has increased by 13%. Both N and P from manure have increased

since the last reporting period. The N surplus continues to increase since 2010. The

phosphorus surplus is higher than that of the previous reporting period. In the plots: N/P

min and N/P man are respectively the N/P mineral fertilizers and N/P manure.

565

kom (2021) 1000 - Ingen titel

PORTUGAL FICHE

Livestock unit - LSU /ha

Figure 2. Map of livestock unit distribution in the Continent part, year 2016 (Source: Eurostat, February

2021)

Animal production is concentrated in the south-western part of the Portugal (total LSU

and LSU by animal type were retrieved individually from EUROSTAT).

In this document, the NUTS-2013 version is used.

(https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/gisco/geodata/reference-data/administrative-units-

statistical-units/nuts)

566

kom (2021) 1000 - Ingen titel

PORTUGAL FICHE

Livestock unit - LSU /ha

Acores and Madeira

Figure 3. Map of livestock unit distribution in Acores and Madeira, year 2016 (Source: Eurostat, February

2021)

Bovine production is dominating in Acores while poultry is dominating in Madeira (total

LSU and LSU by animal type were retrieved individually from EUROSTAT).

In this document, the NUTS-2013 version is used.

(https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/gisco/geodata/reference-data/administrative-units-

statistical-units/nuts)

567

kom (2021) 1000 - Ingen titel

PORTUGAL FICHE

Water Quality Monitoring

The Regional Directorates of Water Resources and Spatial Planning including the

Azores Regional Directorate are in charge of maintaining an up to date record of the

results obtained from the region’s monitoring programmes and provide it to the

competent national authority, the Portuguese Environment Agency.

It is noteworthy that in some cases in the bar charts the total value can differ from 100%

due to rounding errors.

Groundwater quality monitoring network

Table 3. Number of GW stations with measurements and trends per type

Surface water quality monitoring network

Table 4. Number of SW stations with measurements, trends and trophic status per type

568

kom (2021) 1000 - Ingen titel

PORTUGAL FICHE

Groundwater Quality

Groundwater average annual nitrate concentration

Figure 4. Spatial distribution of average NO3 annual concentration (map) and corresponding percentage

of monitoring points per classes of concentration by reporting period (x axis). The percentages below 5%

are not labelled, see the next plot for more information. In the map in blue the NVZ.

Figure 5. Comparison of percentage of monitoring points in the three reporting periods by classes of

average NO3 annual concentration (x axis)

569

kom (2021) 1000 - Ingen titel

PORTUGAL FICHE

Groundwater average annual nitrate concentration trend

Figure 6. Spatial distribution of average NO3 annual trends (map) and corresponding percentage of

monitoring points per classes of trends by reporting period (x axis). In the map in blue the NVZ.

Figure 7. Comparison of percentage of monitoring points in the three reporting periods by classes of

average NO3 annual trends (x axis)

570

kom (2021) 1000 - Ingen titel

PORTUGAL FICHE

Groundwater hotspot

Figure 8. GW hotspot analysis map (top graph) and distribution by NUTS2 (lower graph) of average NO3

annual concentration greater than 40 mg/l. In the map in blue the NVZ.

The hotspot analysis identifies all the GW monitoring stations that have NO3

concentration in the range of 40-50 mg/l with increasing trends or are above 50 mg/l.

The map shows the spatial distribution of these points, and the table reports the number

of stations by NUTS inside and outside NVZ. Only the NUTS of interest are reported.

571

kom (2021) 1000 - Ingen titel

PORTUGAL FICHE

Groundwater stations removed

Figure 9. GW removed stations map (top graph) and distribution by groundwater type (lower graph). In

the map in blue the NVZ.

The removed stations analysis identifies all the GW monitoring stations that were

removed in the current reporting period. The map shows the spatial distribution of these

points with the concentrations of the previous reporting period, and the table reports the

number

stations

with

measurements

and

trends

per

type.

572

kom (2021) 1000 - Ingen titel

PORTUGAL FICHE

Surface Water Quality

Surface water average annual nitrate concentration

Figure 10. Spatial distribution of average NO3 annual concentration (map) and corresponding percentage

of monitoring points per classes of concentration by reporting period (x axis). The percentages below 5%

are not labelled, see the next plot for more information. In the map in blue the NVZ.

Figure 11. Comparison of percentage of monitoring points between the three reporting periods by classes

of NO3 concentration (x axis)

573

kom (2021) 1000 - Ingen titel

PORTUGAL FICHE

Surface water average annual nitrate concentration trend

Figure 12. Spatial distribution of average NO3 annual trends (map) and corresponding percentage of

monitoring points per classes of trends by reporting period (x axis). The percentages below 5% are not

labelled, see the next plot for more information. In the map in blue the NVZ.

Figure 13. Comparison of percentage of monitoring points in the three reporting periods by classes of

average NO3 annual trends (x axis)

574

kom (2021) 1000 - Ingen titel

PORTUGAL FICHE

Surface Water Eutrophication

Figure 14. Spatial distribution of eutrophic status (map) and corresponding percentage of monitoring

points per classes of status by reporting period (x axis). In the map in blue the NVZ.

Figure 15. Comparison of percentage of monitoring points in the three reporting periods by classes of

status (x axis)

575

kom (2021) 1000 - Ingen titel

PORTUGAL FICHE

The Eutrophic status vs average NO3 annual concentration

Figure 16. The SW monitoring stations with eutrophic status versus the average NO3 annual

concentration. In the map in blue the NVZ.

The analysis shows all the SW monitoring stations with the higher trophic status and the

corresponding value of NO3 concentration. The map shows the spatial distribution of

these points, and the table reports the number of stations with measurements with

highest trophic status and the corresponding stations by classes of NO3 concentration.

Only the NUTS of interest are reported.

576

kom (2021) 1000 - Ingen titel

PORTUGAL FICHE

The classification criteria implemented under the WFD were considered as the basis to

assess the trophic status of both rivers and reservoirs. Two geographical zones were

considered for the classification in which both nitrate and total phosphorus

concentrations were used. For the northern rivers the lowest limits for eutrophication

were 25 mg NO3/l and 0.2 mg P/L for nitrate and total phosphorus, respectively. For

southern rivers the lowest criteria for total phosphorus is 0.23 mgP/L while the criteria of

nitrate is identical to that of northern rivers. For reservoirs, chlorophyll-a is considered in

addition to the nitrate and total phosphorus criteria. Again, two zones are used to

determine the trophic classes boundaries. For reservoirs, the nitrate limit for

eutrophication is the same as for rivers. For total phosphorus the concentrations limits

are 0.05 and 0.08 mgP/L for northern and southern reservoirs, respectively. The

chlorophyll-a limits for eutrophication are 7.9 and 9.66 mg/L for northern and southern

reservoirs, respectively. Nitrate, phosphate and chlorophyll-a parameters were

considered pertinent in the trophic status classification system of coastal and

transitional water, using as a basis the reference values defined in the implementation

of the WFD for the different types of water bodies and classes of salinity. While most

rivers are classified as non-eutrophic the large majority of lakes are eutrophic. There

are no eutrophic coastal waters while transitional waters had almost the same

distribution for the eutrophic, non-eutrophic and could become eutrophic classes.

Table 5. Summary of SW stations by classes of trophic status and type.

577

kom (2021) 1000 - Ingen titel

PORTUGAL FICHE

Surface Water quality hotspot

Figure 17. SW hotspot analysis map (top graph) and distribution by NUTS2 (lower graph) of average

NO3 annual concentration greater than 40 mg/l and trophic status. In the map in blue the NVZ.

The hotspot analysis identifies all the SW monitoring stations that have high trophic

status, NO3 concentration in the range of 40-50 mg/l with increasing trends or are

above 50 mg/l. The map shows the spatial distribution of these points, and the table

reports the number of stations by NUTS inside and outside NVZ.

Only

the

NUTS

interest

are

reported.

578

kom (2021) 1000 - Ingen titel

PORTUGAL FICHE

Surface Water Stations Removed

Figure 18. SW removed stations map (top graph) and distribution by surface water type (lower graph). In

the map in blue the NVZ.

The removed stations analysis identifies all the SW monitoring stations that were

removed in the current reporting period. The map shows the spatial distribution of these

points with the concentrations of the previous reporting period, and the table reports the

number

stations

with

measurements

and

trends

per

type.

579

kom (2021) 1000 - Ingen titel

PORTUGAL FICHE

Measures in the Action Programme

The first Code of Good Agricultural Practice was drawn up on 23/11/1997, revised in

2016 and approved in 2018. The new version of CGAP contains updates with regard

to:

Periods in which the application of fertiliser is inappropriate

Application of fertiliser on steep slopes

Fertiliser application on water-saturated, flooded, frozen or snow-covered soil

Conditions for fertiliser application on land adjacent to watercourses

The capacity and the construction of manure storage tanks, including

measures to prevent water pollution by run-off and seepage into the

groundwater and surface water of liquids containing livestock manures and

effluents from stored plant materials such as silage



Fertiliser application methods, including dosage and uniformity of spreading, of

both chemical fertiliser and livestock manure in order to maintain nutrient

losses to water at an acceptable level



Land use management, including crop rotation systems and the relative

proportion between the area devoted to permanent crops and annual crops



Maintaining a minimum level of vegetation cover during (rainy) periods that will

absorb soil nitrogen that otherwise could cause water pollution by nitrates



Establishment of fertiliser plans at farm level and maintaining a record of the

application of fertilisers



Prevention of water pollution caused by drainage or by infiltration beyond the

roots of the plants in irrigation systems

Portuguese authorities have pointed out that they assume that the voluntary

implementation of CGAP by farmers and livestock producers located outside NVZs

has grown since it was first published in 1997, due to the evolution seen in the

agricultural and livestock sector.

The Action Programme (AP) was published for the first time in 1998 and was revised

in 2001 for NVZ: Esposende Villa do Conde, Aveiro, Faro. In 2003 Mira was included.

During the four-year period of 2008-2011 the following NVZ were included: Tagus,

Beja, Elvas-Villa Boim, Luz-Tavira. Revisions of NVZ areas were also made in this

period. Recently, a single Action Programme was drawn up for all NVZs on mainland

Portugal, while in Azores three different Action Programmes are available for different

NVZ.

The Action Programme was drawn up taking into account crop requirements during

their growth cycle and the maximum quantities of nitrogen to be applied. It also limits

the amount of organic fertilisers which can be used and considers the need to draw

580



kom (2021) 1000 - Ingen titel

PORTUGAL FICHE

up fertilisation plans and balances. It further prohibits the application of fertilisers in

specific seasons, in soils which are flooded or susceptible to flooding, in snow-

covered or frozen soils and on land adjacent to watercourses, groundwater wells,

reservoirs, lakes (buffer strips). The AP also sets out the requirement for the

sustainable management of livestock manure and slurry and the correct management

of irrigation while also making compulsory certain agricultural practices on sloping

land. It also sets out procedures for monitoring and controlling nitrates in waters and

on agricultural land parcels.

For each NVZ, measurable criteria for assessing impact of the programmes on

practices in the field have been reported, as well as the percentage of farmers

respecting the rules.

No cost effectiveness was reported.

Controls

Portugal reported by NVZ regions the controls performed to assess the

implementation of the Action Programme. The percentage of farms visited in each

zone varied from 0 to 25% of the farmers concerned. The percentage of non-

compliance varies widely between the regions and ranges from 0% to 20% of non-

compliance. The most frequent reason of non-compliance deals with the need of a

balanced fertilization.

Designation of NVZ

Portugal has made no adjustment to the nitrate vulnerable zones designated in the

previous report. So, Portugal designated 4,047 km

as NVZ, which represents 4.4%

of the national territory.

581

kom (2021) 1000 - Ingen titel

PORTUGAL FICHE

Forecast of Water Quality

A groundwater model was used to simulate the nine vulnerable zones designated in

mainland Portugal. The groundwater model was calibrated against actual

measurements of piezometric levels and nitrate concentration. Then it was assumed

that no additional nitrate input occurred in the groundwater and the model was used

to estimate nitrate concentrations in 2040. Six aquifers out of 9 have nitrate

concentrations above 50mg/l. Calculated concentrations of nitrate above 50mg/L

covered from 1.5 to 6.7% of the area of the remaining aquifers.

582

kom (2021) 1000 - Ingen titel

PORTUGAL FICHE

Summary

Figure 19. The summary plot for the period 2016-2019

This plot provides in the first row the percentage of stations exceeding 50 mg/l with

respect to the total stations with measures and the percentage of eutrophic SW

stations with respect to the total for which the trophic status is reported. In the second

row, the percentage of stations exceeding 50 mg/l that are outside NVZ with respect

to the total of stations exceeding 50 mg/, and the percentage of SW eutrophic

stations that are outside NVZ with respect to the total that are eutrophic.

583

kom (2021) 1000 - Ingen titel

PORTUGAL FICHE

Long term analysis

Figure 20. Time series of box whisker plots along with the distribution of the average NO3 annual

concentrations for each reporting period, for groundwater stations. The blue, red, green and black dots

represent the mean of the fourth third, second and first quartiles, respectively.

Figure 21. Time series of box whisker plots along with the distribution of the average NO3 annual

concentrations for each reporting period, for surface water stations. The blue, red, green and black

dots represent the mean of the fourth third, second and first quartiles, respectively.

584

kom (2021) 1000 - Ingen titel

PORTUGAL FICHE

Conclusions and recommendations

The livestock density close to the EU average and a nitrogen and phosphorus

surplus which is slightly lower than the EU average.

The network of monitoring stations is concentrated in NVZ but there are also station

outside NVZ to follow the development of the possible nitrates pollution. There is a

high number of groundwater hotspots showing nitrates concentration above 50 mg/l

in NVZ, also a high number of stations show an increasing trend. A high number of

surface waters are affected by eutrophication of which very high number is outside

NVZ.

The action programmes was revised in 2012.

The Commission recommends that Portugal revises and reinforces its action

programme to tackle the groundwater pollution in hot spots and revises NVZ

designation to address eutrophication of surface waters where agriculture pressure is

significant.

585