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13.3 - The environment

(Note 1) Let us now take a closer look at the state of the environment, in particular at the urban environment as it is the most vulnerable and has to deal with different problems.
We have already spoken about air quality in the section on mobility, but here we'll take a further look with particular reference to the capital municipalities.
Air
One of the biggest problems local governments have to face is nitrogen oxide emissions, which are by-products of combustion processes and are caused above all by traffic and central heating in urban centres. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is a particular problem. The figures for Veneto capitals show that in 4 out of 7 cases, NO2 concentrations in the air exceed the threshold limit (Note 2) considered to be dangerous for health. The situation is even worse if we look at pollution from particulate matter: only Belluno has figures below the threshold limit, Treviso stands on the threshold and all the other capitals exceed it. (Figure 13.3.1)
Water
When talking about the environment it is impossible to exclude the subject of water and its different uses (domestic, tourism-leisure, seaside), considering also the pressure factors involved.
The importance water has for life is ever more evident; as a resource it not only provides for the most basic needs of the population, but is also one key to the development of a region, encouraging wellbeing through agriculture, fishing, energy production, industry, transport and tourism.
Veneto is one of the regions with the most water in Italy. The area contains several important rivers such as the Po, the Adige, the Brenta, the Piave, the Livenza and the Tagliamento. It also contains other hydrographic basins, among which the one that drains the waters in the lagoon of Venezia. Besides Lago di Garda there are also many other smaller naturalistic lakes. Transition waters in Veneto extend from the lagoon of Caorle to the Delta del Po, including the lagoon of Venezia. Veneto also has around 156 km of Adriatic coast. Lastly, the region's underground aquifers make up one of Europe's most important water reserves in terms of quality and capacity.
The region's groundwater stores (aquifers) can be found both in its mountainous and hilly areas (aquifers in rock) and on its plains (aquifers in sediment). They constitute the main resource for drinking water in the region, which is distributed both via small municipal aqueducts in the mountain areas and via the sophisticated aqueduct system on the plain.
Quantity-wise, data from the last ten years show a slight positive trend in the amount of aquifers. This, however, is not enough to contrast the negative impact the aquifers in the alta pianura (higher plain areas) have sustained in the past, which led to a significant depletion of groundwater resources.
As far as quality is concerned, groundwater can be classified according to the SCAS index (Note 3). Veneto aquifers prove in general to be in good chemical condition. This, however, is compromised in the more vulnerable areas of alta and bassa pianura (the higher and lower plain areas) where they are exposed to pollution from agriculture (nitrates and plant protection products which are responsible for 47% and 25% of class 4s respectively) and to organo-halogenated compounds (20%). The presence of metals caused by human activity is more rare (8%). The area with the highest density of low quality water is the alta pianura (higher plain areas) of Treviso.
By looking at data on chemical levels for the last five years (2001:2006), we can see that the situation remained fairly stable: in 81% of the places monitored the chemical class remained the same; for 9% it improved; and for 10% it worsened.
As has already been mentioned, groundwater provides the main supply of drinking water in the region. The types of sources (90% wells and springs, 10% surface water), as well as the fact that the water consistently meets the standards set by the law, allows us to believe that Veneto water is of excellent quality.
The concentration of nitrates, which is usually connected to human activity, is monitored carefully as these compounds can cause health problems in consumers. Throughout the region the average values never exceed the threshold levels set by Legislative Decree D.Lgs. 31/01. Only 4% of the analyses showed concentrations of between 25 and 50 mg/l (the threshold limit); these figures were to be found in the provinces of Verona, Vicenza and Treviso. (Figure 13.3.2)
The figures regarding the presence of undesirable substances in water intended for human consumption in the capital municipalities are rather comforting: all seven municipalities have levels below the 50 mg/l threshold, but only three of them, Rovigo, Belluno and Treviso are close to or below the recommended level of 5 mg/l set out by Regional Decree DPR 236/88. (Figure 13.3.3)
As regards the use of water for tourism or for leisure, it is quite interesting to look at the quality of water in lakes or along the coast, and to look at its suitability for bathing, this latter with particular reference to the waters of the Veneto coast and Lago di Garda.
ARPAV monitors the quality of ten lakes in the provinces of Belluno, Treviso and Verona (Lago di Garda). The SAL (Environmental State of Lakes) index, which was introduced by Legislative Decree D.Lgs. 152/99, is used to determine the quality of these lakes. This index is used to classify the lake waters in five ways: excellent, good, acceptable, poor, and very bad. Data for 2006 show that four of the lakes are in good condition, five in acceptable condition and one in poor condition (Lago di Santa Maria in the province of Treviso).
Comparison with the SAL index for the two year period 2001:2002 shows an overall improvement, with an increase in the number of lakes in good condition (from 1 to 4) and a decrease in the number of those in poor condition (from 2 to 1) and in very bad condition (from 1 to none in 2006).
The trophic index (TRIX) is used to describe the quality of coastal seawater, although it has been suspended by the current regulations while Community Directive 2000/60/EC is waiting to be put in place. This index measures the trophic conditions and the levels of productivity of the coastal areas.
Annual data taken from the coast has shown a positive change from 2003:2007 as index values have slowly increased. This is mainly due to a decrease in the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus being transported to the sea by rivers. The number of samples showing the water to be in excellent and good condition has increased and equals 70% of samples taken (in 2003 this figure was 49.6%). (Figure 13.3.4)
Data for 2007 show that the trophic condition of Veneto's coastal areas is generally more than satisfactory, with better results towards the North (good-excellent) than towards the South (acceptable-good).
Another important aspect of the quality of coastal seawater and lake waters, especially due to the effect it has on tourism, is their suitability for bathing as envisaged by a specific regulation (D.P.R. no. 470/1982 and subsequent amendments and integrations.)
Through careful monitoring, every year Regione Veneto identifies those areas that will be suitable for bathing during the following summer period; checks are carried out on the Adriatic sea, Lago di Garda and on some smaller bodies of water in the provinces of Treviso and Belluno. The Adriatic sea proved to be in good condition (on average 91% of places analysed in 2002:2007 were deemed suitable) with an improvement of 18 percentage points on 2002; Lago di Garda was also in excellent condition (on average 98% of places analysed were suitable) with an improvement of 8 percentage points on 2002. The conditions had remained good in most of the smaller lakes, with 100% of places analysed being deemed suitable for bathing (from 2002 to 2007). Lago di Santa Croce and Lago del Mis were considered unsuitable for bathing in 2005:2006. (Figure 13.3.5)

Top  Pressure factors

Our region, which contains a high amount of human activity and is economically advanced, puts an enormous amount of pressure on the water system, both in terms of quality with its industrial and urban wastewater, and in terms of quantity as water is needed for civilian, agricultural and industrial use.
One piece of data which shows the pressure put on surface water by civilian use is that which concerns the conformity of agglomerations to the requirements of Directive 91/271/EEC. This directive defines an agglomeration as an area in which the population and/or economic industries are concentrated enough to enable the collection and transport of urban wastewater to sewage treatment plants or to sewage outlets. All agglomerations of over 2,000 inhabitant equivalents (IE) must have a sewerage network. Civilian use, which includes domestic sewage and industrial wastewater, refers to the agglomeration's organic biodegradable waste load expressed in terms of inhabitant equivalents. The objective set by the directive is for 95% of sewage to be collected and transported by the sewers. The number of agglomerations of above 2,000 IE, according to the Regione's census in 2005, reaches 174, 58% of which (101) have fewer than 15,000 IE.
Out of 174 agglomerations, only 27 (16%) conform to standards with at least 95% of sewage being collected and transported by the sewers. Of the 147 agglomerations which don't meet standards, however, 49 of these have a good level of collection and transportation (between 80% and 95%); 62 of them have figures between 60% and 80%; while 36 of them (21% of the total) have a decidedly poor level of collection and transportation by sewers (less than 60%). The average level of collection and transportation of all agglomerations is 73%.
Despite the fact the level of collection and transportation is still below par, improvements are in sight as work has been started on a lot of sewerage systems to bring them up to standard, and water-purifying plants have started being built in the last few years by the bodies responsible for sewage works. There are also plans for more work to be done in the future thanks to constant investments being made in this area.
If we look in particular at the water-purifying plants, an overall growth in capacity can be seen. In 2007 there were 237 plants with the capacity to deal with quantities of 2,000 IE or more. The bodies responsible for sewage works will focus ever more on concentrating treatment of sewage into medium-large sized purifying plants in order to guarantee major efficiency in getting rid of pollutants and reductions in overall costs. (Table 13.3.1)
We can evaluate the amount of pressure put on the water system by production industries by looking at the presence of industrial wastewater outlets and their capacity. This data is not always easy to come by, but we can provide a rough basic picture of the presence of outlets in the region and their loads; in this case we won't look at the industries which dominate overall but only those which pump their wastewater into the surface water bodies.
The industry which pumps the largest volume of wastewater into surface water bodies in all Veneto provinces is the paper-mill industry (46% in Padova and Vicenza, 26% in Treviso and Verona). In the province of Padova, the food industry, waste management industry and rubber industry also produce significant amounts of wastewater, which is released into surface water bodies. In the province of Treviso glassworks, as well as textile and extractive industries, play a significant role. In the province of Venezia, agriculture, as well as the food, textile and chemical industries, are extremely important. In the province of Verona, 26% of industrial wastewater is produced by agriculture and 13% by animal husbandry. In Vicenza wastewater derives mainly from paper-mills and the chemical industry.
Special and urban waste
Veneto is ahead of the other regions in matters regarding the management of special and urban waste, both in terms of the results already obtained, and for the outlook for the future which seems positive as far as managing the sector as a whole is concerned (production, collection, recovery and disposal). It can be said that Veneto is in an excellent position, at both Italian and European level, in terms of separate urban waste collection and autonomy in the management of special waste.
Although data for 2007 has yet to be made available, certain positive trends in our region can be confirmed: there has been a slight increase in the production of urban waste, but one which is very restrained if we compare it to family consumption; more and more municipalities have adopted door to door rubbish collection systems; separate waste collection has increased by 1% for the whole region compared to the previous year.
Total urban waste production in 2006 is still on the increase both on a national and regional level.
In 2006 urban waste per capita was 495 kg (equal to 1.36 kg/inhabitant per day) and was one of the lowest in Italy. Veneto compares positively both to the national average (550 kg/inhabitant) and to the overall average of the Northern regions which is very similar to the national average. This is comforting news seeing as Veneto is one of the regions with the highest family consumption in Italy and is the region with the largest tourist flows.
As far as the provinces are concerned, there is a large difference between the province of Venezia (1.8 kg/inhabitant per day) due to the high level of tourism, and the province of Treviso (1.05 kg/inhabitant per day) which is the most virtuous of the seven provinces, thanks also to the increased amount of home collection. (Figure 13.3.6)
Veneto ranks first in the whole country for the percentage of separate urban waste collection. During 2006 the figure reached 49%, well over the 40% objective set for 31 December 2007 by Law no. 296 of 27/12/06. The national average was 26% and the average for the Northern regions 40%. The share of separated waste collection is still far from the 35% objective which should have been reached by 2003 according to Legislative Decree D.Lgs 22/97. Despite the fact that these figures are improving slowly on a national level, there are still large differences between the regions in the North, Centre and South of Italy.
In 2006 73% of Veneto municipalities exceeded 50% of separate waste collection; in terms of the population, this figure corresponds to more than 60% of inhabitants. These municipalities have reached the 50% objective set out by Law no. 296/06, two years ahead of schedule (the objective is set for 31/12/2009).
Thanks to the collection of almost 1.2 million tonnes of separated waste, most urban waste no longer ends up at the dump but is recovered in different ways, substituting raw materials in the production of new consumer goods and contributing to the growth of the recycling and recovery industry.
Recovery efficiency is strictly related to the quality of separated waste; the development of door to door rubbish collection has contributed to improving the quality of collected waste and therefore to improving the cost-efficiency of the recovery itself. (Figure 13.3.7)
During 2006 almost 50% of urban waste produced at a regional level was sent for recovery (recoverable dry parts and organic waste). As far as the treatment and disposal of residual waste is concerned, sending it to the dump is still the most common method of disposal, although this figure has decreased from 82.5% of total waste produced in 1997 to 34.8% in 2006.
In 2006 85% of municipalities separated their organic waste, which enabled a reduction in the amount of biodegradable waste sent to dumps. On a national level, Veneto ranks first for having collected 109.3 kg/inhabitant of separated organic waste in 2006 compared to the national figure of 45.7 kg/inhabitant.
Alongside the reduction in waste sent to dumps, as showed in graph 13.3.8, there is an increase in the amount of residual waste destined for energy recovery through incineration (6.7% in 2006) and in the amount sent to plants producing Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) and Biostabilised Waste (BW). (Figure 13.3.8)
As far as special waste is concerned, Legislative Decree D.Lgs. 152/06 introduced an important amendment to the types of subjects required to fill in an M.U.D., an environmental declaration, by exempting the producers of non-dangerous waste. The consequent reduction in the number of M.U.D. declarations presented in 2006 (compared to the year before) caused a change in the waste calculation system, meaning comparison with data from previous years is impossible.
The most up-to-date data are from 2005 and demonstrate that the production sector which produces the largest amount of waste (almost none of it dangerous) is the non-metallic mineral product manufacturing sector, which includes the cutting, modelling and finishing of stone. This industry produces almost 1.5 million tonnes of special waste, 18% of the regional total. In second place with 16% is the waste disposal and water-purifying industry.
The sector which produces the largest amount of dangerous special waste is the sector involved in the manufacture of chemical products and of synthetic and artificial fibres, with almost 25% of regional dangerous waste. The province of Venezia, through the industrial area of Porto Marghera, produces a third of dangerous waste.
The production of non-dangerous special waste regards mainly the provinces of Verona and Vicenza in the stone and similar industries.
There has been an increase in the percentage of special waste recovered out of the total produced: from 2003 to 2005 these figures increased from 42% to 63%, making recovery the main method of special waste management. Despite this fact, the disposal of special waste in dumps is still frequent; in 2005 there were 83 dumps in Veneto: 17 for non-dangerous waste and 66 for inert waste. For the same year, the largest quantities of special waste were disposed of in plants in the provinces of Verona, Vicenza and Treviso. This consisted mainly in mixed construction and demolition materials (C&D), inert materials and drilling muds from the cutting and grinding of stone, and asbestos cement. (Figure 13.3.9)
Radiation: radon and electromagnetic pollution
The spread of new technologies is contributing to the increase in sources of electromagnetic, magnetic and electric fields in the region. More and more research is being done into the implications for human health linked to exposure to these sources of radiation. .
Electromagnetic waves have certain frequencies which determine whether they are of the ionising radiation (IR) or non-ionising radiation (NIR) type.
Ionising radiation can be of natural or artificial origin. In both cases it is potentially dangerous for human health as it creates alterations in the molecular structure of materials. Radon is a type of radioactive natural gas which can be found in certain areas in Veneto. This gas can accumulate inside buildings which are not sufficiently ventilated and can cause serious problems in the respiratory organs.
Here we will provide results from an ARPAV study on the levels of radon in schools. Measurements took place in 773 school buildings located in 135 Veneto municipalities from 2003 to 2005 (one school building may host more than one type of school). Measurements lasted one year (usually measurements were taken during two consecutive six-monthly periods) and were taken in a variety of environments depending on the size and type of building involved.
In infant schools and schools providing for the years of compulsory education, the limit (named the "action level") was set at 500 Bequerel per m3 (Bq/m3) by Legislative Decree D.Lgs. 241/00. In places where the limit was exceeded, decontamination must be carried out within three years.
Table 13.3.2 shows the number of schools monitored, the number of schools which exceeded the limit, and the percentage of buildings with at least one section of the building which exceeded the limit. Decontamination of the schools which exceeded the limit has already been planned in many schools and has been started in 15 out of 56 schools (figures for September 2007). (Table 13.3.2)
As far as non-ionising radiation is concerned, data is provided on the number of mobile-phone base stations in the region. These constitute one of the main sources of electromagnetic radiation.
The number of mobile-phone base stations has increased sharply in recent years. In Veneto, figures increased from less than 900 in 2000 to over 5,000 by 31/12/2007. There are many reasons for this growth, from the ever increasing frequency of mobile-phone use to the introduction of new technologies, such as UMTS, which require a higher number of stations in order to guarantee a signal due to low antenna power.
On 31/12/2007 5,176 stations were counted, more or less the same number as counted in 2006. 3,999 are active stations and 1,177 are not yet active.
The anticipatory evaluations, which must be carried out before authorisation can be given, must guarantee that in the buildings and places surrounding the station, the electric field has an intensity of less than 6 V/m: the limit value specified by regulations (DPCM 8/7/2003).
Despite the fact that the number of active base stations is increasing, new technologies utilise lower antenna power, thus reducing the electric field level. (Figure 13.3.10) and (Table 13.3.3)
The number of exceedances of the legal limits caused by radio and television equipment and radio base stations in the last ten years is also reported, as is the number of operations carried out to reduce levels.
Exceedances of the limits for electric fields were caused mainly by radio and television equipment as the antennas used to broadcast radio and TV are more powerful than the radio base stations and are usually concentrated into specific areas (e.g. the Monte Cero site in the Colli Euganei in the province of Padova).
Compared to Italy overall, the situation in Veneto is positive: the percentage of radio and television equipment sites brought down to legal limits was 70% compared to the national average 45%. One-hundred percent of radio base sites were brought within legal limits compared to the 60% national average. (Figure 13.3.11)



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Notes

  1. Edited by Silvia Rebeschini, Monica Cestaro, Giovanna Ziroldo, Gabriella De Boni, ARPA Veneto - SIRAV Service
  2. Equal to 40 µg/m3 for 2010 (48 µg/m3 for 2006). These are the values set out by Community Directive 1999/30/EC and integrated into our system by the Ministerial Decree DM 60/2002.
  3. The SCAS index (Chemical Condition of Underground Water, Legislative Decree D. Lgs. 152/99) has five categories: from class 1 with no anthropic impact to class 4 with high anthropic impact, plus class 0 for aquifers containing inorganic pollutants of natural origin.


Figure 13.3.1
Air quality in the capital municipalities: nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM10) - Year 2006
Figure 13.3.2
Distribution of nitrates, coming out from analyses, in terms of concentration classes (mg/l) in Veneto drinking water - Year 2006
Figure 13.3.3
Quality of drinking water in capital municipalities: nitrates (NO3) - Year 2006
Figure 13.3.4
Percentage of coastal seawater samples by trophic index (TRIX) class. Veneto - Years 2003:2007
Figure 13.3.5
Percentage of places deemed suitable for bathing in the Adriatic sea and Lago di Garda. Veneto - Years 2002:2007
Table 13.3.1
Number of public purifying plants by capacity (Inhabitant Equivalents, IE). Veneto - 31 August 2007
Figure 13.3.6
Urban waste production (separate and residual) per capita (kg/inhabitant per year) by province. Veneto - Year 2006
Figure 13.3.7
Trend in the production of separated and residual urban waste (thousands of tonnes). Veneto - Years 1997:2006
Figure 13.3.8
Management of urban waste (thousands of tonnes). Veneto - Years 1997:2006
Figure 13.3.9
Percentage division of special waste disposed of in dumps by province. Veneto - Year 2005
Table 13.3.2
Number of schools monitored, exceedances of limit and decontamination work started. Veneto - September 2007
Figure 13.3.10
Number of stations in census (active and prospective). Veneto - Years 2000:2007
Table 13.3.3
Number of active mobile-phone base stations in census, divided by province - Year 2007
Figure 13.3.11
Trend in the number of exceedances and clean-up operations. Veneto - Years 1997:2007
Chapter 13 in figures
Chapter 13 in figures

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