Recital (39)

The Fitness Check concluded that more frequent and streamlined electronic reporting is needed to foster better implementation and enforcement of Union water legislation. In view of its role also to more regularly monitor the state of pollution as described in the Zero Pollution Action Plan, the European Environment Agency (EEA) should facilitate such more frequent and streamlined reporting of monitoring data by Member States. It is important that this essential environmental information be made available to the public and to the Commission in a timely manner. Without prejudice to the monitoring frequency obligations in Directives 2000/60/EC, 2006/118/EC and 2008/105/EC, and insofar as the monitoring obligations under those Directives have led to the generation of new monitoring data, Member States should make the following data available to the public and to the EEA: (i) every three years, monitoring data on biological quality elements in surface waters collected and validated during the preceding three years; and (ii) every two years, monitoring data on chemical quality elements in surface water and groundwater collected and validated during the preceding two years. This should take place through the existing electronic data delivery mechanisms, such as the EEA’s Reportnet system, with data submission facilitated by automation, aligned with the relevant Water Information System for Europe State of the Environment data flows. Member States are encouraged to make available to the public and to the EEA the monitoring data on chemical quality elements annually. The reporting of status will continue to take place in the six-yearly river basin management plans. The administrative burden is expected to be limited insofar as Member States are already required to make spatial data themes publicly available under Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as well as under Directive (EU) 2019/1024 of the European Parliament and of the Council.