WFD tools

The Water Framework Directive takes a holistic approach to managing waters, looking at the water within the wider ecosystem and taking into account its movement through the hydrological cycle. It also requires that other environmental priorities, economic considerations and social issues have to be considered when setting water management objectives.

It requires European Union Member States to put in place a River Basin Management Plan for managing the water environment within each “river basin district” - a geographical area which is defined based on hydrology. The RBMP's should be operational by 2009, with the target of achieving favourable status by 2015.

The river basin planning process involves setting environmental objectives for all waters within the river basin district, analysing the pressures that are acting on the river basin, and devising programmes of measures to address those pressures and meet the environmental objectives.

Further information on the Water Framework Directive, the river basin planning process, and the tools developed to support it is provided in these pages.