OVERVIEW OF THE EU WATER FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION IN IRELAND

Abstract

The Water Framework Directive is the most important piece of European water legislation to date. It arose from the need to consolidate water policy and to integrate water-resources management, recognising the interrelationships between water quality and quantity, ground-water and surface water, an aquatic ecosystem approach and catchment-based management. The natural drainage-management units used are called river basin districts (RBDs). Eight RBDs have been established on the island of Ireland, including three international districts. The status of waters is assessed by comparison to undisturbed reference conditions. A range of aquatic biological quality elements are assessed. The directive aims to maintain 'high status' where it exists, to prevent any deterioration in the existing status of waters and to achieve at least 'good status' in relation to all waters by 2015. The roles of various public authorities in implementing the directive in Ireland and the mechanisms for North–South coordination in relation to international districts are outlined in this paper. The importance of public consultation in the planning process is also described. The success of implementation to date is charted through a series of deliverables, and a brief outline of impending tasks is included. The role of strategic environmental assessment of river basin management plans is outlined, and progress to date is described.