Water Framework Directive

Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy, known as the Water Framework Directive 2000 (WFD) established a strategic framework for protecting and improving the water environment. It came into force in December 2000.

The WFD requires all Member States to manage the water environment to consistent standards. Each Member State must:

1. •

   identify and assign river basin districts (s) for integrated management

2. •

   ensure that river basin management plans are updated every six years

3. •

   prevent deterioration in the status of aquatic ecosystems, protect them and improve the ecological condition of waters

4. •

   aim to achieve at least good status for all water bodies by 2015

5. •

   promote sustainable use of water as a natural resource

6. •

   conserve habitats and species that depend on water

7. •

   progressively reduce or phase out the release of pollutants that present a significant threat to the aquatic environment

8. •

   progressively reduce the pollution of groundwater and prevent