COMMON IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY Horizontal Guidance on Water Bodies

Groundwater Aquifer Body Body Body Body Body Body Article 2.2 Article 2.11 Article 2.12 Directive’s definitions

Could > 10 m 3 a day as an average, or sufficient to serve 50 people, be abstracted Aquifer Yes Yes Non-aquifer No No  a significant diminution in the ecological quality of a surface water body; or  a directly dependent terrestrial ecosystem Would an interruption of groundwater flow result in: Aquifer criteria Article 7

Provisionally identify bodies of groundwater on geological boundaries to flow Identify aquifers Can the status of groundwater be accurately described at this scale? Confirm as body of groundwater Yes Iterative refinement using information from Annex II analyses and Article 8 monitoring Identification process Sub-divide using: 1) Geological boundaries 2) Groundwater highs 3) Flowlines No Can the status of groundwater be accurately described at this scale?

Polluted body of groundwater (e.g. under a city) Surface water body 1 Surface water body 2 Surface water body 3 Body of groundwater Provide for the description of status Poor status? Good Status? Aquifer Groundwater body 1 Groundwater body 2Groundwater body 3 Groundwater flow line Geological boundaries to aquifer

Getting the right balance  Degree of subdivision at Members State’s discretion Description of groundwater status Number of groundwater bodies Improving description Increasing numbers of bodies  Ensure an adequate description of status without creating an unmanageable number of water bodies  Balance point will depend on characteristics of, and pressures on, aquifers

Using information from Annex II analyses  Monitoring programmes do not start until the end of 2006  Use pressures and impacts analyses in initial identification of water bodies

Using boundaries to flow  Recommends starting point is to use suitable boundaries to flow in delineating groundwater bodies  Particular consideration needs to be given to ensuring that quantitative status can be assessed  For example, choosing boundaries such that any flow between bodies is only minor will facilitate the assessment of quantitative status

The third dimension  The depth of a body of groundwater should depend on the risks to the Directive’s objectives  This will depend on characteristics of aquifer, and the pressures on it  Matter for Member States to decide

Reviewing water body boundaries  Boundaries fixed prior to the publication of each river basin plan and for the duration of each planning period  Boundaries reviewed during the reviews required under Article 5 and Annex II  Boundaries altered where appropriate For example: Can recombine into larger bodies where good status achieved