Page 28 - Freshwater-Biology-and-Ecology-Handbook

CHAPTER 1 1.1 1

WATER FRAMEWORK

DIRECTIVE CONTEXT

1.1 Background

The major advances in water management and regulation Well planned use of key natural resources makes certain that
in recent years have centred on the concepts of integrated a balance is struck between socio-economic requirements
river basin management and long-term planning of water and environmental needs, and ensures that high quality
resources. The EU agreed to adopt the European Water water is made available for drinking water, industry and
Framework Directive (WFD) in 2000. This provides a long- agricultural and recreational use. In addition, good planning
term planning framework for all the river basins across the will allow local water and environmental needs to be met.
EU, based on achieving biological and ecological outcomes.
The WFD has been accepted as a model that can be adapted The primary aims of the WDF are presented in Box 1.1 and
to other river basins across the world. It has stimulated are directly quoted from the Directive.
discussion and knowledge exchange programmes in
many countries, sponsored by the EU and Member States.
Technical advances have taken place with international Box 1.1
partners and some elements of the WFD have been adopted, Primary aim of the EU WFD is to:
or modified, to suit specific river basin situations. Establish a framework for the protection of inland
surface waters, transitional waters, coastal waters
The WFD introduces new ways of protecting and improving and groundwater which:
rivers, lakes, groundwater, estuaries and coastal waters.
It provides a structure to enable us to develop a sustainable prevents further deterioration and protects and
future for our natural waters. The emphasis is on promoting enhances the status of aquatic ecosystems
aquatic environments that support balanced plant and (a) and, with regard to their water needs, terrestrial
animal communities. Healthy ecosystems indicate that ecosystems and wetlands directly depending on
water quality is sufficiently high to be available for a variety the aquatic ecosystems
of human uses.
promotes sustainable water use based on a long-
(b)
River Basin Planning through the WFD should consider term protection of available water resources
strategic aims and at the same time accommodate local
needs. In this way, river basin planning is seen as a ‘top down aims at enhanced protection and improvement
and bottom up’ process. Getting this balance correct is of the aquatic environment, inter alia, through
essential. specific measures for the progressive reduction
(c) of discharges, emissions and losses of priority
substances and the cessation or phasing-out of
discharges, emissions and losses of the priority
The adoption of integrated river basin planning provides hazardous substances
an opportunity to address strategic challenges such
as climate change, sustainable development and other ensures the progressive reduction of pollution of
water-based activities. For example, climate change (d) groundwater and prevents its further pollution
scenarios, including water flows and temperatures,
can be modelled and can inform future water planning contributes to mitigating the effects of floods and
decisions. (e) droughts

28 | Freshwater Biology and Ecology Handbook
–