The Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC is an EU directive which commits European Union member states to achieve good qualitative and quantitative status of all water bodies (including marine waters up to one nautical mile from shore) by 2015. It is a framework in the sense that it prescribes steps to reach the common goal rather than adopting the more traditional limit value approach. The Directive's aim for 'good status' for all water bodies will not be achieved, with 47% of EU water bodies[1] covered by the Directive failing to achieve the aim.
Chemical quality that refers to environmental quality standards for river basin specific pollutants. These standards specify maximum concentrations for specific water pollutants. If even one such concentration is exceeded, the water body will not be classed as having a “good ecological status”.[2]
The Water Framework Directive stipulates that groundwater must achieve "good quantitative status" and "good chemical status" (i.e. not polluted) by 2015. Groundwater bodies are classified as either "good" or "poor".[2] Ecological Quality Ratio (EQR) is used to determine the ecological water quality status.
Article 14 of the directive requires member states "to encourage the active involvement of interested parties" in the implementation of the directive. This is generally acknowledged to be an assimilation of the Aarhus Convention.[3]
Spatial management of river basins
One important aspect of the Water Framework Directive is the introduction of River Basin Districts. These areas have been designated, not according to administrative or political boundaries, but rather according to the river basin (the spatial catchment area of the river) as a natural geographical and hydrological unit. As rivers often cross national borders, representatives from several Member States have to co-operate and work together for the management of the basin (so-called transboundary basins). They are managed according to River Basin Management Plans, which should provide a clear indication of the way the objectives set for the river basin are to be reached within the required timescale. They should be updated every six years.[4]
To facilitate data recoding, each stretch of water is given a "Water Framework Directive ID" ("WFDID" or "Waterbody ID"). For example, the stretch of the River Tame, in the West Midlands of England, from the River Blythe to River Anker is referred to as GB104028046440.[5]
Transgressions
The Ebro River Transfer, a project from the Spanish National Hydrological Plan of 2001 was highly criticised as being contrary to the principles of the EU Water Framework Directive, and later put on hold. The project planned to transfer huge amounts of water from the Ebro River to the south-east of Spain with the construction of 120 dams.[6]
^ ab"WATER FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE: THE WAY TOWARDS HEALTHY WATERS" (PDF). Umweltbundesamt. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
^ Kaika, Maria (2003). "The Water Framework Directive: A New Directive for a Changing Social, Political and Economic European Framework". European Planning Studies. 11 (3): 303. doi:10.1080/09654310303640. S2CID 153351550.
^ "Introduction to the new EU Water Framework Directive". European Commission. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
^ . European Commission. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
External links
EU legislation summary
Text of the directive, without tables and graphics, HTML format
Text of the directive, with tables and graphics, PDF format
EU Commission site with general and background information
EU Twinning Project Implementing the Water Framework Directive in Croatia
February 08, 2023
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The Water Framework Directive 2000 60 EC is an EU directive which commits European Union member states to achieve good qualitative and quantitative status of all water bodies including marine waters up to one nautical mile from shore by 2015 It is a framework in the sense that it prescribes steps to reach the common goal rather than adopting the more traditional limit value approach The Directive s aim for good status for all water bodies will not be achieved with 47 of EU water bodies 1 covered by the Directive failing to achieve the aim Directive 2000 60 ECEuropean Union directiveTitleWater Framework DirectiveMade byEuropean Parliament amp CouncilMade underArticle 175 1 Journal referenceOJL 327 22 December 2000 pp 1 73HistoryDate made23 October 2000Came into force22 December 2000Implementation date22 December 2003Other legislationAmended byDecision No 2455 2001 EC Directive 2008 32 ECCurrent legislation Contents 1 Objectives of the Directive 2 Spatial management of river basins 3 Transgressions 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksObjectives of the Directive EditThe Directive aims for good status for all ground and surface waters rivers lakes transitional waters and coastal waters in the EU The ecological and chemical status of surface waters are assessed according to the following criteria see also freshwater environmental quality parameters Biological quality fish benthic invertebrates aquatic flora Hydromorphological quality such as river bank structure river continuity or substrate of the river bed Physical chemical quality such as temperature oxygenation and nutrient conditions Chemical quality that refers to environmental quality standards for river basin specific pollutants These standards specify maximum concentrations for specific water pollutants If even one such concentration is exceeded the water body will not be classed as having a good ecological status 2 The Water Framework Directive stipulates that groundwater must achieve good quantitative status and good chemical status i e not polluted by 2015 Groundwater bodies are classified as either good or poor 2 Ecological Quality Ratio EQR is used to determine the ecological water quality status Article 14 of the directive requires member states to encourage the active involvement of interested parties in the implementation of the directive This is generally acknowledged to be an assimilation of the Aarhus Convention 3 Spatial management of river basins EditOne important aspect of the Water Framework Directive is the introduction of River Basin Districts These areas have been designated not according to administrative or political boundaries but rather according to the river basin the spatial catchment area of the river as a natural geographical and hydrological unit As rivers often cross national borders representatives from several Member States have to co operate and work together for the management of the basin so called transboundary basins They are managed according to River Basin Management Plans which should provide a clear indication of the way the objectives set for the river basin are to be reached within the required timescale They should be updated every six years 4 To facilitate data recoding each stretch of water is given a Water Framework Directive ID WFDID or Waterbody ID For example the stretch of the River Tame in the West Midlands of England from the River Blythe to River Anker is referred to as GB104028046440 5 Transgressions EditThe Ebro River Transfer a project from the Spanish National Hydrological Plan of 2001 was highly criticised as being contrary to the principles of the EU Water Framework Directive and later put on hold The project planned to transfer huge amounts of water from the Ebro River to the south east of Spain with the construction of 120 dams 6 See also EditEU law Ecological assessment Marine debris Water pollutionReferences Edit 2012 WFD review by the European Commission a b WATER FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE THE WAY TOWARDS HEALTHY WATERS PDF Umweltbundesamt Retrieved 1 April 2016 Kaika Maria 2003 The Water Framework Directive A New Directive for a Changing Social Political and Economic European Framework European Planning Studies 11 3 303 doi 10 1080 09654310303640 S2CID 153351550 Introduction to the new EU Water Framework Directive European Commission Retrieved 16 May 2012 GB104028046440 Retrieved 10 July 2016 Economic assessment of the Ebro Water Transfer European Commission Archived from the original on 4 March 2016 Retrieved 31 March 2014 External links EditEU legislation summary Text of the directive without tables and graphics HTML format Text of the directive with tables and graphics PDF format EU Commission site with general and background information EU Twinning Project Implementing the Water Framework Directive in Croatia Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Water Framework Directive amp oldid 1130499608, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
