The Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC requires all inland and coastal water bodies to reach at least 'good status' by 2015. Good status is defined as 'when both its ecological status and chemical status are at least good'. This is the first time that a water Directive deals with all inland and coastal waters based on river basins. It includes both surface and groundwater and also looks at the quantity of water in each river basin which may affect how the objectives are met.
The objectives of the Directive are to:
Enhance the status and prevent further deterioration of aquatic ecosystems and associated wetlands - there is a requirement for nearly all inland and coastal waters to achieve ‘good status’ by 2015;
Promote the sustainable use of water;
Reduce pollution of water, especially by ‘priority’ and ‘priority hazardous’ substances;
lessen the effects of floods and droughts;
Rationalise and update existing water legislation and introduce a co-ordinated approach to water management based on the concept of river basin planning.
The first step is for Member States to identify River Basin Districts (water bodies and the surrounding land area). They must then characterise the unique nature of each River Basin District by assessing the specific pressures and impacts on the water environment, such as overuse or pollution.
Once that is complete a River Basin Management Plan is prepared. This tailored plan sets out how water quality will be improved. A plan must be prepared for each River Basin District no later than 9 years after it entered into force (by 22nd December 2009), they must be reviewed and updated at the latest by 22nd December 2015 and then every six years.
The Member State will set up a monitoring process to measure the water body status and then use the River Basin Management Plan to achieve and then maintain the requisite good status. In order to ensure that the objectives of the Directive are met a rigid timetable of implementation has been imposed.
A recent daughter Directive sets out requirements specifically relating to the incidence of certain chemicals in water. The Priority Substances in Water Directive Com (06) 397 includes a list of the most dangerous priority hazardous substances which will have strict limit controls upon them and emissions of these will have to be entirely phased out by 2025. The substances include mercury and calcium compounds, chlorinated paraffins, tributyl tin and penta-BDE.
