1. Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility www.worldofwater.ie Module 2: Water Management Unit 2: Water Framework Directive

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

3. Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility www.worldofwater.ie 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

4. Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility www.worldofwater.ie 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

5. Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility www.worldofwater.ie 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

6. Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility www.worldofwater.ie 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

7. Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility www.worldofwater.ie 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

8. Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility www.worldofwater.ie Changes in Water Management – the introduction of River Basin Districts Source NSSHARE Project

9. Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility www.worldofwater.ie 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..

10. Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility www.worldofwater.ie The WFD also takes account of Groundwater Bodies

11. Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility www.worldofwater.ie 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

12. Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility www.worldofwater.ie Dromore River – part of the North West International River Basin District Source NSSHARE Project

13. Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility www.worldofwater.ie Crinkill Lough Water Supply Source White Lough Water Supply Source Ballybay Wetland Centre Source NSSHARE Project

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

15. Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility www.worldofwater.ie 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

16. Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility www.worldofwater.ie 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