Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility Module 2: Water Management Unit 2: Water Framework Directive

Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility Objective of this presentation  To give participants an understanding of - the Water Framework Directive - the River Basin Districts - River basins or catchments

Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility Introduction:  In recent years there has been concern in Europe over increasing pressures on water  The European Communities Water Framework Directive (WFD) is the most significant piece of legislation relating to the water environment  The WFD provides for new administrative structures  WFD encourages the active involvement of all of citizens Water Framework Directive

Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility The WFD includes all waters (rivers, lakes, canals, groundwater, estuaries and coastal waters). Its main objectives are to: - Protect “high status” where it exists - Prevent status deterioration - Restore the status of polluted water bodies within a specified time frame Water Framework Directive

Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility Basic Measures under EU legislation include:  Bathing Water Directive 76/160/EEC  Birds Directive 79/409/EEC  Drinking Water Directive 98/83/EEC  Major Accidents (Seveso) Directive 9682/EC  Environmental Impact Assessment 85/337/EEC  Sewage Sludge Directive 86/278/EEC  Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC  Plant Protective Products Directive 91/414/EEC  Nitrates Directive 91/676/EEC  Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC  Integrated Pollution Prevention Control 96/61/EEC

Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility Other stipulated basic measures include:  Cost recovery for water use  Promotion of efficient and sustainable water use  Protection of drinking water sources  Control of abstraction and impoundment  Control of point source and diffuse source discharges  Controls on other activities impacting on water status  Prevention and reduction of the impact of accidental pollution incidences

Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility Supplementary measures to protect waters include:  Legislative, administrative or fiscal instruments  Negotiated environmental programmes  Emission controls, abstraction controls  Codes of good practice  Restoration of wetlands  Rehabilitation projects  Efficiency and reuse measures  Educational projects, research, demonstration

Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility Changes in Water Management – the introduction of River Basin Districts Source NSSHARE Project

Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility What is a River Basin A river basin (or catchment) is the area drained by a river and its tributaries i.e. the area from which a river catches or collects its water..

Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility The WFD also takes account of Groundwater Bodies

Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility River Basin Districts Ballybay Wetland Centre – on the banks of the Dromore River, Co Monaghan in the Northwest International River Basin District Source NSSHARE Project

Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility Dromore River – part of the North West International River Basin District Source NSSHARE Project

Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility Crinkill Lough Water Supply Source White Lough Water Supply Source Ballybay Wetland Centre Source NSSHARE Project

Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility  To be finalised by 2009, and renewed every six years afterwards  Plans informed by public consultation over several years River Basin Management Plans

Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility Who is driving the WFD? Regulations assign specific functions mainly to  The Minister of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government  The EPA and  Local Authorities (guided by Advisory Councils)  Relevant public authorities  The community

Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility Water Framework Directive Discussion and Activities How do we maximise public involvement in achieving the aims of the WFD? Explore related websites and interactive water maps