EQB — Organic Quality Elements of Transition Waters

Directive 2000/60/EC, in relation to the protection of aquatic environments and in particular the protection of ecosystems, introduces the concept of “environmental quality”, establishing the obligation to achieve the best possible “ecological status” and “chemical state”, i.e. the achievement of a “good status” by 2015. For biological quality, the Organic Quality Elements (hereinafter EQB) represented, for transitional waters, by Fitoplankton, Macrophytes (macroalgae and phanerogam), benthic Macroinvertebrates and Fish Fauna shall be monitored, assessing the abundance, specific composition, presence of sensitive taxa, species diversity and biomass, as indicated in Ministerial Decree 260/2010. For physico-chemical quality oxygenation and nutrients, and for chemical elements, other specific pollutants not included in the priority list (Tab. 2/A of Ministerial Decree 260/2010) shall be considered in support of the EQBs; salinity, temperature, transparency and hydromorphological elements contribute to a better interpretation of the results.In monitoring transitional waters in Veneto, Macrofite (macroalgae and pherogames) and benthic Macroinvertebrates are analysed, selected as being more sensitive to the significant pressure(s) to which water bodies are subject. For ecological classification, EQBs shall be monitored with a cycle not exceeding three years in operational monitoring, with the exception of Fitoplankton monitored each year, according to the frequencies indicated in Ministerial Decree 260/2010