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Document 02000L0060-20260510
Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy
Consolidated text: Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy
Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy
02000L0060 — EN — 10.05.2026 — 008.001
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DIRECTIVE 2000/60/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy (OJ L 327 22.12.2000, p. 1) |
Amended by:
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Official Journal |
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No |
page |
date |
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DECISION No 2455/2001/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 20 November 2001 |
L 331 |
1 |
15.12.2001 |
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DIRECTIVE 2008/32/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 11 March 2008 |
L 81 |
60 |
20.3.2008 |
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DIRECTIVE 2008/105/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 16 December 2008 |
L 348 |
84 |
24.12.2008 |
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DIRECTIVE 2009/31/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 23 April 2009 |
L 140 |
114 |
5.6.2009 |
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DIRECTIVE 2013/39/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 12 August 2013 |
L 226 |
1 |
24.8.2013 |
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L 353 |
8 |
28.12.2013 |
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L 311 |
32 |
31.10.2014 |
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DIRECTIVE (EU) 2026/805 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 30 March 2026 |
L 805 |
1 |
20.4.2026 |
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DIRECTIVE 2000/60/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
of 23 October 2000
establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy
Article 1
Purpose
The purpose of this Directive is to establish a framework for the protection of inland surface waters, transitional waters, coastal waters and groundwater which:
prevents further deterioration and protects and enhances the status of aquatic ecosystems and, with regard to their water needs, terrestrial ecosystems and wetlands directly depending on the aquatic ecosystems;
promotes sustainable water use based on a long-term protection of available water resources;
aims at enhanced protection and improvement of the aquatic environment, inter alia, through specific measures for the progressive reduction of discharges, emissions and losses of priority substances and the cessation or phasing-out of discharges, emissions and losses of the priority hazardous substances;
ensures the progressive reduction of pollution of groundwater and prevents its further pollution, and
contributes to mitigating the effects of floods and droughts
and thereby contributes to:
Article 2
Definitions
For the purposes of this Directive the following definitions shall apply:
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1. |
‘Surface water’means inland waters, except groundwater; transitional waters and coastal waters, except in respect of chemical status for which it shall also include territorial waters. |
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2. |
‘Groundwater’means all water which is below the surface of the ground in the saturation zone and in direct contact with the ground or subsoil. |
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3. |
‘Inland water’means all standing or flowing water on the surface of the land, and all groundwater on the landward side of the baseline from which the breadth of territorial waters is measured. |
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4. |
‘River’means a body of inland water flowing for the most part on the surface of the land but which may flow underground for part of its course. |
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5. |
‘Lake’means a body of standing inland surface water. |
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6. |
‘Transitional waters’are bodies of surface water in the vicinity of river mouths which are partly saline in character as a result of their proximity to coastal waters but which are substantially influenced by freshwater flows. |
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7. |
‘Coastal water’means surface water on the landward side of a line, every point of which is at a distance of one nautical mile on the seaward side from the nearest point of the baseline from which the breadth of territorial waters is measured, extending where appropriate up to the outer limit of transitional waters. |
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8. |
‘Artificial water body’means a body of surface water created by human activity. |
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9. |
‘Heavily modified water body’means a body of surface water which as a result of physical alterations by human activity is substantially changed in character, as designated by the Member State in accordance with the provisions of Annex II. |
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10. |
‘Body of surface water’means a discrete and significant element of surface water such as a lake, a reservoir, a stream, river or canal, part of a stream, river or canal, a transitional water or a stretch of coastal water. |
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11. |
‘Aquifer’means a subsurface layer or layers of rock or other geological strata of sufficient porosity and permeability to allow either a significant flow of groundwater or the abstraction of significant quantities of groundwater. |
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12. |
‘Body of groundwater’means a distinct volume of groundwater within an aquifer or aquifers. |
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13. |
‘River basin’means the area of land from which all surface run-off flows through a sequence of streams, rivers and, possibly, lakes into the sea at a single river mouth, estuary or delta. |
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14. |
‘Sub-basin’means the area of land from which all surface run-off flows through a series of streams, rivers and, possibly, lakes to a particular point in a water course (normally a lake or a river confluence). |
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15. |
‘River basin district’means the area of land and sea, made up of one or more neighbouring river basins together with their associated groundwaters and coastal waters, which is identified under Article 3(1) as the main unit for management of river basins. |
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16. |
‘Competent Authority’means an authority or authorities identified under Article 3(2) or 3(3). |
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17. |
‘Surface water status’is the general expression of the status of a body of surface water, determined by the poorer of its ecological status and its chemical status. |
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18. |
‘Good surface water status’means the status achieved by a surface water body when both its ecological status and its chemical status are at least ‘good’. |
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19. |
‘Groundwater status’is the general expression of the status of a body of groundwater, determined by the poorer of its quantitative status and its chemical status. |
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20. |
‘Good groundwater status’means the status achieved by a groundwater body when both its quantitative status and its chemical status are at least ‘good’. |
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21. |
‘Ecological status’is an expression of the quality of the structure and functioning of aquatic ecosystems associated with surface waters, classified in accordance with Annex V. |
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22. |
‘Good ecological status’is the status of a body of surface water, so classified in accordance with Annex V. |
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23. |
‘Good ecological potential’is the status of a heavily modified or an artificial body of water, so classified in accordance with the relevant provisions of Annex V. |
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24. |
‘Good surface water chemical status’means the chemical status required to meet the environmental objectives for surface waters set out in Article 4(1)(a) of this Directive, that is the chemical status achieved by a body of surface water in which concentrations of pollutants exceed neither the environmental quality standards for priority substances listed in Part A of Annex I to Directive 2008/105/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 1 ) nor the environmental quality standards for river basin specific pollutants set and applied in accordance with Article 8d of that Directive, and in which effect-based trigger values, where available, are also not exceeded. |
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25. |
‘Good groundwater chemical status’is the chemical status of a body of groundwater, which meets all the conditions set out in table 2.3.2 of Annex V. |
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26. |
‘Quantitative status’is an expression of the degree to which a body of groundwater is affected by direct and indirect abstractions. |
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27. |
‘Available groundwater resource’means the long-term annual average rate of overall recharge of the body of groundwater less the long-term annual rate of flow required to achieve the ecological quality objectives for associated surface waters specified under Article 4, to avoid any significant diminution in the ecological status of such waters and to avoid any significant damage to associated terrestrial ecosystems. |
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28. |
‘Good quantitative status’is the status defined in table 2.1.2 of Annex V. |
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29. |
‘Hazardous substances’means substances or groups of substances that are toxic, persistent and liable to bio-accumulate, and other substances or groups of substances which give rise to an equivalent level of concern. |
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30. |
‘Priority substances’means substances listed in Part A of Annex I to Directive 2008/105/EC, that are substances which present a significant risk to or via the aquatic environment and are prioritised in accordance with Article 16(2) of this Directive. |
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30a. |
‘Priority hazardous substances’means priority substances which are identified as “hazardous” in accordance with the legislation referred to in Article 16(3). |
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30b. |
‘River basin specific pollutants’means pollutants that are not or no longer identified as priority substances, but which Member States have identified, on the basis of the assessment of pressures and impacts on surface water bodies carried out in accordance with Annex II, as being discharged or deposited in significant quantities into a river basin or sub-basin and thus posing a significant risk to or via the aquatic environment within their territory. |
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31. |
‘Pollutant’means any substance liable to cause pollution, in particular those listed in Annex VIII. |
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32. |
‘Direct discharge to groundwater’means discharge of pollutants into groundwater without percolation throughout the soil or subsoil. |
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33. |
‘Pollution’means the direct or indirect introduction, as a result of human activity, of substances or heat into the air, water or land which may be harmful to human health or the quality of aquatic ecosystems or terrestrial ecosystems directly depending on aquatic ecosystems, which result in damage to material property, or which impair or interfere with amenities and other legitimate uses of the environment. |
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34. |
‘Environmental objectives’means the objectives set out in Article 4. |
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35. |
‘Environmental quality standard’means the concentration of a particular pollutant or group of pollutants in water, sediment or biota not to be exceeded in order to protect human health and the environment. |
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35a. |
‘Effect-based trigger value’means a threshold for the effects of a pollutant or group of pollutants in water, sediment or biota, where those effects are measured by an appropriate and scientifically validated effect-based monitoring method, above which adverse effects on human health or the environment from that pollutant or group of pollutants in water, sediment or biota, could occur. |
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36. |
‘Combined approach’means the control of discharges and emissions into surface waters according to the approach set out in Article 10. |
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37. |
‘Water intended for human consumption’means water intended for human consumption as defined in Article 2, point (1), of Directive (EU) 2020/2184 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 2 ). |
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38. |
‘Water services’ means all services which provide, for households, public institutions or any economic activity:
(a)
abstraction, impoundment, storage, treatment and distribution of surface water or groundwater,
(b)
waste-water collection and treatment facilities which subsequently discharge into surface water. |
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39. |
‘Water use’ means water services together with any other activity identified under Article 5 and Annex II having a significant impact on the status of water. This concept applies for the purposes of Article 1 and of the economic analysis carried out according to Article 5 and Annex III, point (b). |
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40. |
‘Emission limit values’ means the mass, expressed in terms of certain specific parameters, concentration and/or level of an emission, which may not be exceeded during any one or more periods of time. Emission limit values may also be laid down for certain groups, families or categories of substances, in particular for those identified under Article 16. The emission limit values for substances shall normally apply at the point where the emissions leave the installation, dilution being disregarded when determining them. With regard to indirect releases into water, the effect of a waste-water treatment plant may be taken into account when determining the emission limit values of the installations involved, provided that an equivalent level is guaranteed for protection of the environment as a whole and provided that this does not lead to higher levels of pollution in the environment. |
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41. |
‘Emission controls’are controls requiring a specific emission limitation, for instance an emission limit value, or otherwise specifying limits or conditions on the effects, nature or other characteristics of an emission or operating conditions which affect emissions. Use of the term ‘emission control’ in this Directive in respect of the provisions of any other Directive shall not be held as reinterpreting those provisions in any respect. |
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42. |
‘Deterioration of the status of a body of water’means the lowering of the status of at least one of the quality elements, within the meaning of Annex V, by one class, even if that lowering does not result in a fall in the classification of the body of water as a whole; however, if a quality element is already at the lowest class, any further deterioration of that element constitutes a deterioration of the status of the body of water. |
Article 3
Coordination of administrative arrangements within river basin districts
Each Member State shall ensure the appropriate administrative arrangements, including the identification of the appropriate competent authority, for the application of the rules of this Directive within the portion of any international river basin district lying within its territory.
Article 4
Environmental objectives
In making operational the programmes of measures specified in the river basin management plans:
for surface waters
Member States shall implement the necessary measures to prevent deterioration of the status of all bodies of surface water, subject to the application of paragraphs 6 to 7b and without prejudice to paragraph 8;
Member States shall protect, enhance and restore all bodies of surface water, subject to the application of point (iii) of this paragraph for artificial and heavily modified bodies of water, with the aim of achieving good surface water status at the latest 15 years after the date of entry into force of this Directive, in accordance with the provisions laid down in Annex V, subject to the application of extensions determined in accordance with paragraph 4 and to the application of paragraphs 5 to 7b without prejudice to paragraph 8;
Member States shall protect and enhance all artificial and heavily modified bodies of water, with the aim of achieving good ecological potential and good surface water chemical status at the latest 15 years from the date of entry into force of this Directive, in accordance with the provisions laid down in Annex V, subject to the application of extensions determined in accordance with paragraph 4 and to the application of paragraphs 5 to 7b without prejudice to paragraph 8;
Member States shall implement the necessary measures in accordance with Article 16(1) and (8), with the aim of progressively reducing pollution from priority substances and ceasing or phasing out emissions, discharges and losses of priority hazardous substances.
without prejudice to the relevant international agreements referred to in Article 1 for the parties concerned;
for groundwater
Member States shall implement the measures necessary to prevent or limit the input of pollutants into groundwater and to prevent the deterioration of the status of all bodies of groundwater, subject to the application of paragraphs 6 to 7b of this Article and without prejudice to paragraph 8 thereof and subject to the application of Article 11(3)(j);
Member States shall protect, enhance and restore all bodies of groundwater and ensure a balance between abstraction and recharge of groundwater, with the aim of achieving good groundwater status at the latest 15 years after the date of entry into force of this Directive, in accordance with the provisions laid down in Annex V, subject to the application of extensions determined in accordance with paragraph 4 of this Article and to the application of paragraphs 5 to 7b thereof without prejudice to paragraph 8 of this Article and subject to the application of Article 11(3)(j);
Member States shall implement the measures necessary to reverse any significant and sustained upward trend in the concentration of any pollutant resulting from the impact of human activity in order progressively to reduce pollution of groundwater.
Measures to achieve trend reversal shall be implemented in accordance with Article 17(2) of this Directive and Article 5 and Annex IV of Directive 2006/118/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 3 ), subject to the application of paragraphs 6 to 7b of this Article and without prejudice to paragraph 8 thereof.
for protected areas
As regards Mayotte as an outermost region within the meaning of Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (hereinafter ‘Mayotte’), the time limit referred to in points (a)(ii), (a)(iii), (b)(ii) and (c) shall be 22 December 2021.
Member States may designate a body of surface water as artificial or heavily modified, when:
the changes to the hydromorphological characteristics of that body which would be necessary for achieving good ecological status would have significant adverse effects on:
the wider environment;
navigation, including port facilities, or recreation;
activities for the purposes of which water is stored, such as drinking-water supply, power generation or irrigation;
water regulation, flood protection, land drainage, or
other equally important sustainable human development activities;
the beneficial objectives served by the artificial or modified characteristics of the water body cannot, for reasons of technical feasibility or disproportionate costs, reasonably be achieved by other means, which are a significantly better environmental option.
Such designation and the reasons for it shall be specifically mentioned in the river basin management plans required under Article 13 and reviewed every six years.
►M6 The time limits laid down in paragraph 1 may be extended for the purposes of phased achievement of the objectives for bodies of water, provided that no further deterioration occurs in the status of the affected body of water when all the following conditions are met: ◄
Member States determine that all necessary improvements in the status of bodies of water cannot reasonably be achieved within the timescales set out in that paragraph for at least one of the following reasons:
the scale of improvements required can only be achieved in phases exceeding the timescale, for reasons of technical feasibility;
completing the improvements within the timescale would be disproportionately expensive;
natural conditions do not allow timely improvement in the status of the body of water.
Extension of the deadline, and the reasons for it, are specifically set out and explained in the river basin management plan required under Article 13.
Extensions shall be limited to a maximum of two further updates of the river basin management plan except in cases where the natural conditions are such that the objectives cannot be achieved within this period.
A summary of the measures required under Article 11 which are envisaged as necessary to bring the bodies of water progressively to the required status by the extended deadline, the reasons for any significant delay in making these measures operational, and the expected timetable for their implementation are set out in the river basin management plan. A review of the implementation of these measures and a summary of any additional measures shall be included in updates of the river basin management plan.
Member States may aim to achieve less stringent environmental objectives than those required under paragraph 1 for specific bodies of water when they are so affected by human activity, as determined in accordance with Article 5(1), or their natural condition is such that the achievement of these objectives would be infeasible or disproportionately expensive, and all the following conditions are met:
the environmental and socioeconomic needs served by such human activity cannot be achieved by other means, which are a significantly better environmental option not entailing disproportionate costs;
Member States ensure,
no further deterioration occurs in the status of the affected body of water;
the establishment of less stringent environmental objectives, and the reasons for it, are specifically mentioned in the river basin management plan required under Article 13 and those objectives are reviewed every six years.
Temporary deterioration in the status of bodies of water shall not be in breach of the requirements of this Directive if this is the result of circumstances of natural cause or force majeure which are exceptional or could not reasonably have been foreseen, in particular extreme floods and prolonged droughts, or the result of circumstances due to accidents which could not reasonably have been foreseen, when all of the following conditions have been met:
all practicable steps are taken to prevent further deterioration in status and in order not to compromise the achievement of the objectives of this Directive in other bodies of water not affected by those circumstances;
the conditions under which circumstances that are exceptional or that could not reasonably have been foreseen may be declared, including the adoption of the appropriate indicators, are stated in the river basin management plan;
the measures to be taken under such exceptional circumstances are included in the programme of measures and will not compromise the recovery of the quality of the body of water once the circumstances are over;
the effects of the circumstances that are exceptional or that could not reasonably have been foreseen are reviewed annually and, subject to the reasons set out in paragraph 4(a), all practicable measures are taken with the aim of restoring the body of water to its status prior to the effects of those circumstances as soon as reasonably practicable, and
a summary of the effects of the circumstances and of such measures taken or to be taken in accordance with paragraphs (a) and (d) are included in the next update of the river basin management plan.
Member States will not be in breach of this Directive when:
and all the following conditions are met:
all practicable steps are taken to mitigate the adverse impact on the status of the body of water;
the reasons for those modifications or alterations are specifically set out and explained in the river basin management plan required under Article 13 and the objectives are reviewed every six years;
the reasons for those modifications or alterations are of overriding public interest and/or the benefits to the environment and to society of achieving the objectives set out in paragraph 1 are outweighed by the benefits of the new modifications or alterations to human health, to the maintenance of human safety or to sustainable development, and
the beneficial objectives served by those modifications or alterations of the water body cannot for reasons of technical feasibility or disproportionate cost be achieved by other means, which are a significantly better environmental option.
Member States will not be in breach of this Directive when any negative short-term impact on one or more quality elements of a body of water caused by a new project or a modification to an existing project in that body of water is no longer detectable after one year or, for biological quality elements, after a maximum of three years beyond initiation of the execution of the project, and all the following conditions are met:
the negative impact is not the result of direct discharges, emissions or losses of a pollutant;
the potential for the negative impact to occur is reliably assessed ex ante by a competent authority, and it is concluded that there would be no negative impact for the body of water concerned or any connected body of water after one year or, for biological quality elements, after a maximum of three years;
an ex post verification is carried out;
all practicable measures are taken to mitigate any negative impacts on the body and any connected bodies of water; and
a summary of the main activities carried out in accordance with this paragraph, the relevant ex post verification results, and the measures taken to mitigate negative impacts, is included in the river basin management plan required under Article 13.
For the purposes of carrying out the ex -post verification under point (c) of the first subparagraph, existing monitoring arrangements set up pursuant to Annex V may be used and, where necessary, they shall be supplemented by additional ad-hoc monitoring.
Member States will not be in breach of this Directive when deterioration occurs in the status of a receiving body of surface water as a result of relocating, by human activity, water or sediment from the same or another body of surface water, or from a body of groundwater to the receiving body of surface water, without causing a net increase in pollutant load, and all the following conditions are met:
all practicable steps, in particular the treatment of the water or sediment, if feasible, to minimise the transfer of pollutant load are taken to mitigate the adverse impact on the status of the bodies of water impacted by the relocation;
the composition of the water or sediments to be relocated is established, and the relocation does not increase the overall risk to human health and the environment compared to the existing risk prior to the relocation;
the receiving body of surface water is confirmed as already not being in good chemical status with respect to most of the pollutants relocated, and in particular with respect to the most persistent and bioaccumulative pollutants relocated, and the ecological status or potential of the receiving body of water is not expected to fall into a lower class as a result of the relocation of those pollutants;
the relocation shall not result in an increase in the purification treatment required for the production of drinking water;
within the receiving body of water, a zone where relocation is prohibited has been established around any abstraction point for water intended for human consumption;
there are no significantly better environmental options for reasons of technical feasibility or disproportionate cost;
the relocation is subject to prior regulation or authorisation; and
a summary, including information related to points (a) to (g) of this paragraph and the reasons for the relocation, is included in the river basin management plan required under Article 13.
Article 5
Characteristics of the river basin district, review of the environmental impact of human activity and economic analysis of water use
Each Member State shall ensure that for each river basin district or for the portion of an international river basin district falling within its territory:
is undertaken according to the technical specifications set out in Annexes II and III and that it is completed at the latest four years after the date of entry into force of this Directive.
Article 6
Register of protected areas
Article 7
Waters used for the abstraction of drinking water
Member States shall identify, within each river basin district:
Member States shall monitor, in accordance with Annex V, those bodies of water which according to Annex V, provide more than 100 m3 a day as an average.
Article 8
Monitoring of surface water status, groundwater status and protected areas
Member States shall ensure the establishment of programmes for the monitoring of water status in order to establish a coherent and comprehensive overview of water status within each river basin district:
the volume and level or rate of flow to the extent relevant for ecological and chemical status and ecological potential, and
the ecological and chemical status and ecological potential;
The report shall take into account, inter alia, the following:
the voluntary nature of the use of such a joint monitoring facility;
the scope of the analyses to be performed by such a facility, including the range of substances and indicators to be covered from the lists established under this Directive, Directive 2006/118/EC and Directive 2008/105/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 8 );
the sources of funding for such a facility, which may include Union co-funding;
the operating model of such a facility, considering both centralised and decentralised options;
Following the report, the Commission shall, where appropriate, present a legislative proposal in order to establish a European Union joint monitoring facility.
Article 9
Recovery of costs for water services
Member States shall ensure by 2010
Member States may in so doing have regard to the social, environmental and economic effects of the recovery as well as the geographic and climatic conditions of the region or regions affected.
Article 10
The combined approach for point and diffuse sources
For the purpose of complying with the objectives, quality standards and threshold values established pursuant to this Directive, Member States shall ensure the establishment and implementation of the following:
emission controls based on best available techniques;
relevant emission limit values;
in the case of diffuse impacts, controls including, as appropriate, best environmental practices,
in accordance with Council Directive 91/676/EEC ( 9 ) and Directives 2009/128/EC ( 10 ), 2010/75/EU ( 11 ) and (EU) 2024/3019 ( 12 ) of the European Parliament and of the Council, as well as any other Union legislation relevant for addressing point source or diffuse pollution including any relevant legislation adopted in accordance with Article 16 of this Directive.
Article 11
Programme of measures
‘Basic measures’ are the minimum requirements to be complied with and shall consist of:
those measures required to implement Community legislation for the protection of water, including measures required under the legislation specified in Article 10 and in part A of Annex VI;
measures deemed appropriate for the purposes of Article 9;
measures to promote an efficient and sustainable water use in order to avoid compromising the achievement of the objectives specified in Article 4;
measures to meet the requirements of Article 7, including measures to safeguard water quality in order to reduce the level of purification treatment required for the production of drinking water;
controls over the abstraction of fresh surface water and groundwater, and impoundment of fresh surface water, including a register or registers of water abstractions and a requirement of prior authorisation for abstraction and impoundment. These controls shall be periodically reviewed and, where necessary, updated. Member States can exempt from these controls, abstractions or impoundments which have no significant impact on water status;
controls, including a requirement for prior authorisation of artificial recharge or augmentation of groundwater bodies. The water used may be derived from any surface water or groundwater, provided that the use of the source does not compromise the achievement of the environmental objectives established for the source or the recharged or augmented body of groundwater. These controls shall be periodically reviewed and, where necessary, updated;
for point source discharges liable to cause pollution, a requirement for prior regulation, such as a prohibition on the entry of pollutants into water, or for prior authorisation, or registration based on general binding rules, laying down emission controls for the pollutants concerned, including controls in accordance with Articles 10 and 16. These controls shall be periodically reviewed and, where necessary, updated;
for diffuse sources liable to cause pollution, measures to prevent or control the input of pollutants. Controls may take the form of a requirement for prior regulation, such as a prohibition on the entry of pollutants into water, prior authorisation or registration based on general binding rules where such a requirement is not otherwise provided for under Community legislation. These controls shall be periodically reviewed and, where necessary, updated;
for any other significant adverse impacts on the status of water identified under Article 5 and Annex II, in particular measures to ensure that the hydromorphological conditions of the bodies of water are consistent with the achievement of the required ecological status or good ecological potential for bodies of water designated as artificial or heavily modified. Controls for this purpose may take the form of a requirement for prior authorisation or registration based on general binding rules where such a requirement is not otherwise provided for under Community legislation. Such controls shall be periodically reviewed and, where necessary, updated;
a prohibition of direct discharges of pollutants into groundwater subject to the following provisions:
in accordance with action taken pursuant to Article 16, measures to eliminate pollution of surface waters by priority hazardous substances and to progressively reduce pollution by other substances which would otherwise prevent Member States from achieving the environmental objectives for the bodies of surface waters set out in Article 4;
any measures required to prevent significant losses of pollutants from technical installations, and to prevent and/or to reduce the impact of accidental pollution incidents for example as a result of floods, including through systems to detect or give warning of such events including, in the case of accidents which could not reasonably have been foreseen, all appropriate measures to reduce the risk to aquatic ecosystems.
Member States may also adopt further supplementary measures in order to provide for additional protection or improvement of the waters covered by this Directive, including in implementation of the relevant international agreements referred to in Article 1.
Where monitoring or other data indicate that the objectives set under Article 4 for the body of water are unlikely to be achieved, the Member State shall ensure that:
Where those causes are the result of circumstances of natural cause or force majeure which are exceptional and could not reasonably have been foreseen, in particular extreme floods and prolonged droughts, the Member State may determine that additional measures are not practicable, subject to Article 4(6).
As regards Mayotte, the time limits referred to in the first subparagraph shall be 22 December 2015 and 22 December 2018, respectively.
As regards Mayotte, the time limit referred to in the first subparagraph shall be 22 December 2021.
Article 12
Issues which cannot be dealt with at Member State level
Member States shall respond to each other in a timely manner and no later than three months after the notification referred to paragraph 1.
Article 13
River basin management plans
As regards Mayotte, the time limit referred to in the first subparagraph shall be 22 December 2015.
As regards Mayotte, the time limit referred to in the first subparagraph shall be 22 December 2021.
Article 14
Public information and consultation
Member States shall encourage the active involvement of all interested parties in the implementation of this Directive, in particular in the production, review and updating of the river basin management plans. Member States shall ensure that, for each river basin district, they publish and make available for comments to the public, including users:
a timetable and work programme for the production of the plan, including a statement of the consultation measures to be taken, at least three years before the beginning of the period to which the plan refers;
an interim overview of the significant water management issues identified in the river basin, at least two years before the beginning of the period to which the plan refers;
draft copies of the river basin management plan, at least one year before the beginning of the period to which the plan refers.
On request, access shall be given to background documents and information used for the development of the draft river basin management plan.
Article 14a
Access to justice
In line with the objective of contributing to the implementation of the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters ( 14 ), signed in Aarhus on 25 June 1998, Member States shall ensure that in accordance with the relevant national legal system, members of the public concerned have access to a review procedure before a court of law or another independent and impartial body established by law, to challenge the substantive or procedural legality of decisions, acts or omissions subject to Articles 4 and 11 and Article 13(1) of this Directive, where at least one of the following conditions is met:
they have a sufficient interest; or
they maintain the impairment of a right, where administrative procedural law of a Member State requires this as a precondition.
Article 15
Reporting
Member States shall send copies of the river basin management plans and all subsequent updates to the Commission and to any other Member State concerned within three months of their publication:
for river basin districts falling entirely within the territory of a Member State, all river management plans covering that national territory and published pursuant to Article 13;
for international river basin districts, at least the part of the river basin management plans covering the territory of the Member State.
Member States shall submit summary reports of:
undertaken for the purposes of the first river basin management plan within three months of their completion.
▼M8 —————
Article 16
Strategies against pollution of water
The Commission shall review the list of priority substances and the corresponding EQS for those substances set out in Part A of Annex I to Directive 2008/105/EC by 11 May 2032 and every six years thereafter, and, where appropriate, accompany the review with a legislative proposal to update the list of priority substances and the corresponding EQS in surface water, sediment or biota. In conducting the review, the Commission shall prioritise substances for action on the basis of risk to or via the aquatic environment, identified by:
risk assessment carried out under Directive 2001/83/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 15 ), Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 16 ), Directive 2009/128/EC and Regulations (EC) No 1107/2009 ( 17 ), (EU) No 528/2012 ( 18 ) and (EU) 2019/6 ( 19 ) of the European Parliament and of the Council; or
a simplified risk-based assessment procedure based on scientific principles, taking particular account of:
In the course of the review referred to in paragraph 2, the Commission shall categorise, where appropriate, the priority substances into one or more of the following categories:
priority hazardous substances;
substances behaving like ubiquitous persistent bioaccumulative and toxic substances (uPBTs);
substances that tend to accumulate in sediment or in biota, or in both.
In doing so, the Commission shall take into account the identification of substances of concern under other, relevant, Union legislation concerning hazardous substances, including Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 20 ), in relevant international agreements, and in relevant scientific reports. Particular account shall be taken of substances meeting the criteria in Article 57 of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 where the criteria of concern are relevant to the aquatic environment.
When identifying river basin specific pollutants for which it could be necessary to set EQS at Union level, the Commission shall take into account the following criteria:
the risk posed by the pollutants, including their hazard, their environmental concentrations and the concentration above which effects might be expected, as well as possible cumulative effects;
the disparity between the national EQS set for river basin specific pollutants by different Member States and the degree to which such disparity is justifiable;
the number of Member States already implementing EQS for the river basin specific pollutants under consideration.
For the purpose of assisting the Commission in its review of Annexes I and II to Directive 2008/105/EC, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) shall prepare scientific reports, which shall take account of the following:
the opinions of the Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) and the Committee for Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) of ECHA;
the results of the monitoring programmes established in accordance with Article 8 of this Directive;
the monitoring data collected in accordance with Article 8b(4) of Directive 2008/105/EC;
the outcome of the reviews of the Annexes to Directives 2006/118/EC and (EU) 2020/2184;
requirements to address soil pollution, including related monitoring data;
Union research programmes and scientific publications, including information resulting from remote sensing technologies, earth observation, such as Copernicus services, in situ sensors and devices, and citizen science data, leveraging the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence, advanced data analysis and processing;
comments and information from relevant stakeholders; and
recommendations from the working groups established under the Common Implementation Strategy for Directive 2000/60/EC.
By 11 May 2030 and every six years thereafter, ECHA shall prepare and make publicly available a report summarising the findings of the scientific reports prepared under this paragraph.
The Commission shall submit proposals, where appropriate, for controls to achieve:
the progressive reduction of discharges, emissions and losses of priority substances; and
in particular the cessation or phasing-out of discharges, emissions and losses of the priority hazardous substances as identified in accordance with paragraph 3, including, where appropriate, a timetable for doing so within 20 years of the designation of the substances as priority hazardous substances.
In doing so, the Commission shall identify the appropriate cost-effective and proportionate level and combination of product and process controls for both point and diffuse sources and take account of Union-wide uniform emission limit values for process controls. Where appropriate, action at Union level for process controls may be established on a sector-by-sector basis. Where product or process controls include a review of the relevant authorisations or substance approvals issued under Directive 2001/83/EC, Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, Directive 2009/128/EC, Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009, Directive 2010/75/EU, Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 or Regulation (EU) 2019/6, such reviews shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of those Directives and Regulations as indicated in Article 7a of Directive 2008/105/EC. Such reviews shall take into account the Commission’s assessment in accordance with Article 7a(1) of Directive 2008/105/EC. Each proposal for controls shall, where appropriate, specify arrangements for their review and updating and for the assessment of their effectiveness.
Article 17
Strategies to prevent and control pollution of groundwater
In proposing measures the Commission shall have regard to the analysis carried out according to Article 5 and Annex II. Such measures shall be proposed earlier if data are available and shall include:
criteria for assessing good groundwater chemical status, in accordance with Annex II.2.2 and Annex V 2.3.2 and 2.4.5;
criteria for the identification of significant and sustained upward trends and for the definition of starting points for trend reversals to be used in accordance with Annex V 2.4.4.
▼M8 —————
Article 18
Commission report
The report shall include the following:
a review of progress in the implementation of the Directive;
a review of the status of surface water and groundwater in the Community undertaken in coordination with the European Environment Agency;
a survey of the river basin management plans submitted in accordance with Article 15, including suggestions for the improvement of future plans;
a summary of the response to each of the reports or recommendations to the Commission made by Member States pursuant to Article 12;
a summary of any proposals, control measures and strategies developed under Article 16;
a summary of the responses to comments made by the European Parliament and the Council on previous implementation reports.
▼M8 —————
Participants should include representatives from the competent authorities, the European Parliament, NGOs, the social and economic partners, consumer bodies, academics and other experts.
Article 19
Plans for future Community measures
Article 19a
Report on an extended producer responsibility mechanism
By 11 May 2029, the Commission shall publish a report on the possibility to include in this Directive an extended producer responsibility mechanism. The report shall evaluate in particular the feasibility of requiring producers to contribute to the costs of monitoring programmes designed under Article 8 of this Directive if those producers place on the Union market products that contain any of the substances listed in Annex I to Directive 2006/118/EC or in Annex I to Directive 2008/105/EC.
Article 20
Technical adaptations and implementation of this Directive
The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 20a to amend Annexes I and III and Section 1.3.6 of Annex V in order to adapt the information requirements related to competent authorities, the content of the economic analysis and the selected monitoring standards, respectively, to scientific and technical progress.
Article 20a
Exercise of the delegation
Article 21
Committee procedure
Where the committee delivers no opinion, the Commission shall not adopt the draft implementing act and Article 5(4), third subparagraph, of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 shall apply.
Article 22
Repeals and transitional provisions
The following shall be repealed with effect from seven years after the date of entry into force of this Directive:
The following shall be repealed with effect from 13 years after the date of entry into force of this Directive:
The following transitional provisions shall apply for Directive 76/464/EEC:
the list of priority substances adopted under Article 16 of this Directive shall replace the list of substances prioritised in the Commission communication to the Council of 22 June 1982;
for the purposes of Article 7 of Directive 76/464/EEC, Member States may apply the principles for the identification of pollution problems and the substances causing them, the establishment of quality standards, and the adoption of measures, laid down in this Directive.
Article 23
Penalties
Member States shall determine penalties applicable to breaches of the national provisions adopted pursuant to this Directive. The penalties thus provided for shall be effective, proportionate and dissuasive.
Article 24
Implementation
When Member States adopt these measures, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. The methods of making such a reference shall be laid down by the Member States.
Article 25
Entry into force
DieThis Directive shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.
Article 26
Addressees
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.
ANNEX I
INFORMATION REQUIRED FOR THE LIST OF COMPETENT AUTHORITIES
As required under Article 3(8), the Member States shall provide the following information on all competent authorities within each of its river basin districts as well as the portion of any international river basin district lying within their territory.
Name and address of the competent authority — the official name and address of the authority identified under Article 3(2).
Geographical coverage of the river basin district — the names of the main rivers within the river basin district together with a precise description of the boundaries of the river basin district. This information should as far as possible be available for introduction into a geographic information system (GIS) and/or the geographic information system of the Commission (GISCO).
Legal status of competent authority — a description of the legal status of the competent authority and, where relevant, a summary or copy of its statute, founding treaty or equivalent legal document.
Responsibilities — a description of the legal and administrative responsibilities of each competent authority and of its role within each river basin district.
Membership — where the competent authority acts as a coordinating body for other competent authorities, a list is required of these bodies together with a summary of the institutional relationships established in order to ensure coordination.
International relationships — where a river basin district covers the territory of more than one Member State or includes the territory of non-Member States, a summary is required of the institutional relationships established in order to ensure coordination.
ANNEX II
1 SURFACE WATERS
1.1. Characterisation of surface water body types
Member States shall identify the location and boundaries of bodies of surface water and shall carry out an initial characterisation of all such bodies in accordance with the following methodology. Member States may group surface water bodies together for the purposes of this initial characterisation.
The surface water bodies within the river basin district shall be identified as falling within either one of the following surface water categories — rivers, lakes, transitional waters or coastal waters — or as artificial surface water bodies or heavily modified surface water bodies.
For each surface water category, the relevant surface water bodies within the river basin district shall be differentiated according to type. These types are those defined using either ‘system A’ or ‘system B’ identified in section 1.2.
If system A is used, the surface water bodies within the river basin district shall first be differentiated by the relevant ecoregions in accordance with the geographical areas identified in section 1.2 and shown on the relevant map in Annex XI. The water bodies within each ecoregion shall then be differentiated by surface water body types according to the descriptors set out in the tables for system A.
If system B is used, Member States must achieve at least the same degree of differentiation as would be achieved using system A. Accordingly, the surface water bodies within the river basin district shall be differentiated into types using the values for the obligatory descriptors and such optional descriptors, or combinations of descriptors, as are required to ensure that type specific biological reference conditions can be reliably derived.
For artificial and heavily modified surface water bodies the differentiation shall be undertaken in accordance with the descriptors for whichever of the surface water categories most closely resembles the heavily modified or artificial water body concerned.
Member States shall submit to the Commission a map or maps (in a GIS format) of the geographical location of the types consistent with the degree of differentiation required under system A.
1.2. Ecoregions and surface water body types
1.2.1. Rivers
System A
|
Fixed typology |
Descriptors |
|
Ecoregion |
Ecoregions shown on map A in Annex XI |
|
Type |
Altitude typology high: > 800 m mid-altitude: 200 to 800 m lowland: < 200 m Size typology based on catchment area small: 10 to 100 km2 medium: > 100 to 1 000 km2 large: > 1 000 to 10 000 km2 very large: > 10 000 km2 Geology calcareous siliceous organic |
System B
|
Alternative characterisation |
Physical and chemical factors that determine the characteristics of the river or part of the river and hence the biological population structure and composition |
|
Obligatory factors |
altitude latitude longitude geology size |
|
Optional factors |
distance from river source energy of flow (function of flow and slope) mean water width mean water depth mean water slope form and shape of main river bed river discharge (flow) category valley shape transport of solids acid neutralising capacity mean substratum composition chloride air temperature range mean air temperature precipitation |
1.2.2. Lakes
System A
|
Fixed typology |
Descriptors |
|
Ecoregion |
Ecoregions shown on map A in Annex XI |
|
Type |
Altitude typology high: > 800 m mid-altitude: 200 to 800 m lowland: < 200 m Depth typology based on mean depth < 3 m 3 to 15 m > 15 m Size typology based on surface area 0,5 to 1 km2 1 to 10 km2 10 to 100 km2 > 100 km2 Geology calcareous siliceous organic |
System B
|
Alternative characterisation |
Physical and chemical factors that determine the characteristics of the lake and hence the biological population structure and composition |
|
Obligatory factors |
altitude latitude longitude depth geology size |
|
Optional factors |
mean water depth lake shape residence time mean air temperature air temperature range mixing characteristics (e.g. monomictic, dimictic, polymictic) acid neutralising capacity background nutrient status mean substratum composition water level fluctuation |
1.2.3. Transitional Waters
System A
|
Fixed typology |
Descriptors |
|
Ecoregion |
The following as identified on map B in Annex XI: Baltic Sea Barents Sea Norwegian Sea North Sea North Atlantic Ocean Mediterranean Sea |
|
Type |
Based on mean annual salinity < 0,5 ‰: freshwater 0,5 to < 5 ‰: oligohaline 5 to < 18 ‰: mesohaline 18 to < 30 ‰: polyhaline 30 to < 40 ‰: euhaline Based on mean tidal range < 2 m: microtidal 2 to 4 m: mesotidal > 4 m: macrotidal |
System B
|
Alternative characterisation |
Physical and chemical factors that determine the characteristics of the transitional water and hence the biological population structure and composition |
|
Obligatory factors |
latitude longitude tidal range salinity |
|
Optional factors |
depth current velocity wave exposure residence time mean water temperature mixing characteristics turbidity mean substratum composition shape water temperature range |
1.2.4. Coastal Waters
System A
|
Fixed typology |
Descriptors |
|
Ecoregion |
The following as identified on map B in Annex XI: Baltic Sea Barents Sea Norwegian Sea North Sea North Atlantic Ocean Mediterranean Sea |
|
Type |
Based on mean annual salinity < 0,5 ‰: freshwater 0,5 to < 5 ‰: oligohaline 5 to < 18 ‰: mesohaline 18 to < 30 ‰: polyhaline 30 to < 40 ‰: euhaline Based on mean depth shallow waters: < 30 m intermediate: (30 to 200 m) deep: > 200 m |
System B
|
Alternative characterisation |
Physical and chemical factors that determine the characteristics of the coastal water and hence the biological community structure and composition |
|
Obligatory factors |
latitude longitude tidal range salinity |
|
Optional factors |
current velocity wave exposure mean water temperature mixing characteristics turbidity retention time (of enclosed bays) mean substratum composition water temperature range |
1.3. Establishment of type-specific reference conditions for surface water body types
For each surface water body type characterised in accordance with section 1.1, type-specific hydromorphological and physicochemical conditions shall be established representing the values of the hydromorphological and physicochemical quality elements specified in point 1.1 in Annex V for that surface water body type at high ecological status as defined in the relevant table in point 1.2 in Annex V. Type-specific biological reference conditions shall be established, representing the values of the biological quality elements specified in point 1.1 in Annex V for that surface water body type at high ecological status as defined in the relevant table in section 1.2 in Annex V.
In applying the procedures set out in this section to heavily modified or artificial surface water bodies references to high ecological status shall be construed as references to maximum ecological potential as defined in table 1.2.5 of Annex V. The values for maximum ecological potential for a water body shall be reviewed every six years.
Type-specific conditions for the purposes of points (i) and (ii) and type-specific biological reference conditions may be either spatially based or based on modelling, or may be derived using a combination of these methods. Where it is not possible to use these methods, Member States may use expert judgement to establish such conditions. In defining high ecological status in respect of concentrations of specific synthetic pollutants, the detection limits are those which can be achieved in accordance with the available techniques at the time when the type-specific conditions are to be established.
For spatially based type-specific biological reference conditions, Member States shall develop a reference network for each surface water body type. The network shall contain a sufficient number of sites of high status to provide a sufficient level of confidence about the values for the reference conditions, given the variability in the values of the quality elements corresponding to high ecological status for that surface water body type and the modelling techniques which are to be applied under paragraph (v).
Type-specific biological reference conditions based on modelling may be derived using either predictive models or hindcasting methods. The methods shall use historical, palaeological and other available data and shall provide a sufficient level of confidence about the values for the reference conditions to ensure that the conditions so derived are consistent and valid for each surface water body type.
Where it is not possible to establish reliable type-specific reference conditions for a quality element in a surface water body type due to high degrees of natural variability in that element, not just as a result of seasonal variations, then that element may be excluded from the assessment of ecological status for that surface water type. In such circumstances Member States shall state the reasons for this exclusion in the river basin management plan.
1.4. Identification of Pressures
Member States shall collect and maintain information on the type and magnitude of the significant anthropogenic pressures to which the surface water bodies in each river basin district are liable to be subject, in particular the following.
Estimation and identification of significant point source pollution, in particular by substances listed in Annex VIII, from urban, industrial, agricultural and other installations and activities, based, inter alia, on information gathered under:
Articles 15 and 17 of Directive 91/271/EEC;
Articles 9 and 15 of Directive 96/61/EC ( 27 );
and for the purposes of the initial river basin management plan:
Article 11 of Directive 76/464/EEC; and
Estimation and identification of significant diffuse source pollution, in particular by substances listed in Annex VIII, from urban, industrial, agricultural and other installations and activities; based, inter alia, on information gathered under:
Articles 3, 5 and 6 of Directive 91/676/EEC ( 30 );
Articles 7 and 17 of Directive 91/414/EEC;
Directive 98/8/EC;
and for the purposes of the first river basin management plan:
Directives 75/440/EEC, 76/160/EEC, 76/464/EEC, 78/659/EEC and 79/923/EEC.
Estimation and identification of significant water abstraction for urban, industrial, agricultural and other uses, including seasonal variations and total annual demand, and of loss of water in distribution systems.
Estimation and identification of the impact of significant water flow regulation, including water transfer and diversion, on overall flow characteristics and water balances.
Identification of significant morphological alterations to water bodies.
Estimation and identification of other significant anthropogenic impacts on the status of surface waters.
Estimation of land use patterns, including identification of the main urban, industrial and agricultural areas and, where relevant, fisheries and forests.
1.5. Assessment of Impact
Member States shall carry out an assessment of the susceptibility of the surface water status of bodies to the pressures identified above.
Member States shall use the information collected above, and any other relevant information including existing environmental monitoring data, to carry out an assessment of the likelihood that surface waters bodies within the river basin district will fail to meet the environmental quality objectives set for the bodies under Article 4. Member States may utilise modelling techniques to assist in such an assessment.
For those bodies identified as being at risk of failing the environmental quality objectives, further characterisation shall, where relevant, be carried out to optimise the design of both the monitoring programmes required under Article 8, and the programmes of measures required under Article 11.
2. GROUNDWATERS
2.1. Initial characterisation
Member States shall carry out an initial characterisation of all groundwater bodies to assess their uses and the degree to which they are at risk of failing to meet the objectives for each groundwater body under Article 4. Member States may group groundwater bodies together for the purposes of this initial characterisation. This analysis may employ existing hydrological, geological, pedological, land use, discharge, abstraction and other data but shall identify:
2.2. Further characterisation
Following this initial characterisation, Member States shall carry out further characterisation of those groundwater bodies or groups of bodies which have been identified as being at risk in order to establish a more precise assessment of the significance of such risk and identification of any measures to be required under Article 11. Accordingly, this characterisation shall include relevant information on the impact of human activity and, where relevant, information on:
2.3. Review of the impact of human activity on groundwaters
For those bodies of groundwater which cross the boundary between two or more Member States or are identified following the initial characterisation undertaken in accordance with paragraph 2.1 as being at risk of failing to meet the objectives set for each body under Article 4, the following information shall, where relevant, be collected and maintained for each groundwater body:
the location of points in the groundwater body used for the abstraction of water with the exception of:
the annual average rates of abstraction from such points,
the chemical composition of water abstracted from the groundwater body,
the location of points in the groundwater body into which water is directly discharged,
the rates of discharge at such points,
the chemical composition of discharges to the groundwater body, and
land use in the catchment or catchments from which the groundwater body receives its recharge, including pollutant inputs and anthropogenic alterations to the recharge characteristics such as rainwater and run-off diversion through land sealing, artificial recharge, damming or drainage.
2.4. Review of the impact of changes in groundwater levels
Member States shall also identify those bodies of groundwater for which lower objectives are to be specified under Article 4 including as a result of consideration of the effects of the status of the body on:
surface water and associated terrestrial ecosystems
water regulation, flood protection and land drainage
human development.
2.5. Review of the impact of pollution on groundwater quality
Member States shall identify those bodies of groundwater for which lower objectives are to be specified under Article 4(5) where, as a result of the impact of human activity, as determined in accordance with Article 5(1), the body of groundwater is so polluted that achieving good groundwater chemical status is infeasible or disproportionately expensive.
ANNEX III
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
The economic analysis shall contain enough information in sufficient detail (taking account of the costs associated with collection of the relevant data) in order to:
make the relevant calculations necessary for taking into account under Article 9 the principle of recovery of the costs of water services, taking account of long term forecasts of supply and demand for water in the river basin district and, where necessary:
make judgements about the most cost-effective combination of measures in respect of water uses to be included in the programme of measures under Article 11 based on estimates of the potential costs of such measures.
ANNEX IV
PROTECTED AREAS
|
1. |
The register of protected areas required under Article 6 shall include the following types of protected areas:
(i)
areas designated for the abstraction of water intended for human consumption under Article 7;
(ii)
areas designated for the protection of economically significant aquatic species;
(iii)
bodies of water designated as recreational waters, including areas designated as bathing waters under Directive 76/160/EEC;
(iv)
nutrient-sensitive areas, including areas designated as vulnerable zones under Directive 91/676/EEC and areas designated as sensitive areas under Directive 91/271/EEC; and |
|
2. |
The summary of the register required as part of the river basin management plan shall include maps indicating the location of each protected area and a description of the Community, national or local legislation under which they have been designated. |
ANNEX V
|
1. |
SURFACE WATER STATUS |
|
1.1. |
Quality elements for the classification of ecological status |
|
1.1.1. |
|
|
1.1.2. |
|
|
1.1.3. |
|
|
1.1.4. |
|
|
1.1.5. |
|
|
1.2. |
Normative definitions of ecological status classifications |
|
1.2.1. |
|
|
1.2.2. |
|
|
1.2.3. |
|
|
1.2.4. |
|
|
1.2.5. |
|
|
1.2.6. |
|
|
1.3. |
Monitoring of ecological status and chemical status for surface waters |
|
1.3.1. |
|
|
1.3.2. |
|
|
1.3.3. |
|
|
1.3.4. |
|
|
1.3.5. |
|
|
1.3.6. |
|
|
1.4. |
Classification and presentation of ecological status |
|
1.4.1. |
|
|
1.4.2. |
|
|
1.4.3. |
|
|
2. |
GROUNDWATER |
|
2.1. |
Groundwater quantitative status |
|
2.1.1. |
|
|
2.1.2. |
|
|
2.2. |
Monitoring of groundwater quantitative status |
|
2.2.1. |
|
|
2.2.2. |
|
|
2.2.3. |
|
|
2.2.4. |
|
|
2.3. |
Groundwater chemical status |
|
2.3.1. |
|
|
2.3.2. |
|
|
2.4. |
Monitoring of groundwater chemical status |
|
2.4.1. |
|
|
2.4.2. |
|
|
2.4.3. |
|
|
2.4.4. |
|
|
2.4.5. |
|
|
2.5. |
Presentation of groundwater status |
1. SURFACE WATER STATUS
1.1. Quality elements for the classification of ecological status
1.1.1. Rivers
Biological elements
Composition and abundance of aquatic flora
Composition and abundance of benthic invertebrate fauna
Composition, abundance and age structure of fish fauna
Hydromorphological elements supporting the biological elements
Hydrological regime
quantity and dynamics of water flow
connection to groundwater bodies
River continuity
Morphological conditions
river depth and width variation
structure and substrate of the river bed
structure of the riparian zone
General physico-chemical elements supporting the biological elements
Thermal conditions
Oxygenation conditions
Salinity
Acidification status
Nutrient conditions
1.1.2. Lakes
Biological elements
Composition, abundance and biomass of phytoplankton
Composition and abundance of other aquatic flora
Composition and abundance of benthic invertebrate fauna
Composition, abundance and age structure of fish fauna
Hydromorphological elements supporting the biological elements
Hydrological regime
quantity and dynamics of water flow
residence time
connection to the groundwater body
Morphological conditions
lake depth variation
quantity, structure and substrate of the lake bed
structure of the lake shore
General physico-chemical elements supporting the biological elements
Transparency
Thermal conditions
Oxygenation conditions
Salinity
Acidification status
Nutrient conditions
1.1.3. Transitional waters
Biological elements
Composition, abundance and biomass of phytoplankton
Composition and abundance of other aquatic flora
Composition and abundance of benthic invertebrate fauna
Composition and abundance of fish fauna
Hydro-morphological elements supporting the biological elements
Morphological conditions
depth variation
quantity, structure and substrate of the bed
structure of the intertidal zone
Tidal regime
freshwater flow
wave exposure
General physico-chemical elements supporting the biological elements
Transparency
Thermal conditions
Oxygenation conditions
Salinity
Nutrient conditions
1.1.4. Coastal waters
Biological elements
Composition, abundance and biomass of phytoplankton
Composition and abundance of other aquatic flora
Composition and abundance of benthic invertebrate fauna
Hydromorphological elements supporting the biological elements
Morphological conditions
depth variation
structure and substrate of the coastal bed
structure of the intertidal zone
Tidal regime
direction of dominant currents
wave exposure
General physico-chemical elements supporting the biological elements
Transparency
Thermal conditions
Oxygenation conditions
Salinity
Nutrient conditions
1.1.5. Artificial and heavily modified surface water bodies
The quality elements applicable to artificial and heavily modified surface water bodies shall be those applicable to whichever of the four natural surface water categories above most closely resembles the heavily modified or artificial water body concerned.
1.2. Normative definitions of ecological status classifications
Table 1.2. General definition for rivers, lakes, transitional waters and coastal waters
The following text provides a general definition of ecological quality. For the purposes of classification the values for the quality elements of ecological status for each surface water category are those given in tables 1.2.1 to 1.2.4 below.
|
Element |
High status |
Good status |
Moderate status |
|
General |
There are no, or only very minor, anthropogenic alterations to the values of the physico-chemical and hydromorphological quality elements for the surface water body type from those normally associated with that type under undisturbed conditions. The values of the biological quality elements for the surface water body reflect those normally associated with that type under undisturbed conditions, and show no, or only very minor, evidence of distortion. These are the type-specific conditions and communities. |
The values of the biological quality elements for the surface water body type show low levels of distortion resulting from human activity, but deviate only slightly from those normally associated with the surface water body type under undisturbed conditions. |
The values of the biological quality elements for the surface water body type deviate moderately from those normally associated with the surface water body type under undisturbed conditions. The values show moderate signs of distortion resulting from human activity and are significantly more disturbed than under conditions of good status. |
Waters achieving a status below moderate shall be classified as poor or bad.
Waters showing evidence of major alterations to the values of the biological quality elements for the surface water body type and in which the relevant biological communities deviate substantially from those normally associated with the surface water body type under undisturbed conditions, shall be classified as poor.
Waters showing evidence of severe alterations to the values of the biological quality elements for the surface water body type and in which large portions of the relevant biological communities normally associated with the surface water body type under undisturbed conditions are absent, shall be classified as bad.
1.2.1. Definitions for high, good and moderate ecological status in rivers
Biological quality elements
|
Element |
High status |
Good status |
Moderate status |
|
Phytoplankton |
The taxonomic composition of phytoplankton corresponds totally or nearly totally to undisturbed conditions. The average phytoplankton abundance is wholly consistent with the type-specific physico-chemical conditions and is not such as to significantly alter the type-specific transparency conditions. Planktonic blooms occur at a frequency and intensity which is consistent with the type-specific physico-chemical conditions. |
There are slight changes in the composition and abundance of planktonic taxa compared to the type-specific communities. Such changes do not indicate any accelerated growth of algae resulting in undesirable disturbances to the balance of organisms present in the water body or to the physico-chemical quality of the water or sediment. A slight increase in the frequency and intensity of the type-specific planktonic blooms may occur. |
The composition of planktonic taxa differs moderately from the type-specific communities. Abundance is moderately disturbed and may be such as to produce a significant undesirable disturbance in the values of other biological and physico-chemical quality elements. A moderate increase in the frequency and intensity of planktonic blooms may occur. Persistent blooms may occur during summer months. |
|
Macrophytes and phytobenthos |
The taxonomic composition corresponds totally or nearly totally to undisturbed conditions. There are no detectable changes in the average macrophytic and the average phytobenthic abundance. |
There are slight changes in the composition and abundance of macrophytic and phytobenthic taxa compared to the type-specific communities. Such changes do not indicate any accelerated growth of phytobenthos or higher forms of plant life resulting in undesirable disturbances to the balance of organisms present in the water body or to the physico-chemical quality of the water or sediment. The phytobenthic community is not adversely affected by bacterial tufts and coats present due to anthropogenic activity. |
The composition of macrophytic and phytobenthic taxa differs moderately from the type-specific community and is significantly more distorted than at good status. Moderate changes in the average macrophytic and the average phytobenthic abundance are evident. The phytobenthic community may be interfered with and, in some areas, displaced by bacterial tufts and coats present as a result of anthropogenic activities. |
|
Benthic invertebrate fauna |
The taxonomic composition and abundance correspond totally or nearly totally to undisturbed conditions. The ratio of disturbance sensitive taxa to insensitive taxa shows no signs of alteration from undisturbed levels. The level of diversity of invertebrate taxa shows no sign of alteration from undisturbed levels. |
There are slight changes in the composition and abundance of invertebrate taxa from the type-specific communities. The ratio of disturbance-sensitive taxa to insensitive taxa shows slight alteration from type-specific levels. The level of diversity of invertebrate taxa shows slight signs of alteration from type-specific levels. |
The composition and abundance of invertebrate taxa differ moderately from the type-specific communities. Major taxonomic groups of the type-specific community are absent. The ratio of disturbance-sensitive taxa to insensitive taxa, and the level of diversity, are substantially lower than the type-specific level and significantly lower than for good status. |
|
Fish fauna |
Species composition and abundance correspond totally or nearly totally to undisturbed conditions. All the type-specific disturbance-sensitive species are present. The age structures of the fish communities show little sign of anthropogenic disturbance and are not indicative of a failure in the reproduction or development of any particular species. |
There are slight changes in species composition and abundance from the type-specific communities attributable to anthropogenic impacts on physico-chemical and hydromorphological quality elements. The age structures of the fish communities show signs of disturbance attributable to anthropogenic impacts on physico-chemical or hydromorphological quality elements, and, in a few instances, are indicative of a failure in the reproduction or development of a particular species, to the extent that some age classes may be missing. |
The composition and abundance of fish species differ moderately from the type-specific communities attributable to anthropogenic impacts on physico-chemical or hydromorphological quality elements. The age structure of the fish communities shows major signs of anthropogenic disturbance, to the extent that a moderate proportion of the type specific species are absent or of very low abundance. |
Hydromorphological quality elements
|
Element |
High status |
Good status |
Moderate status |
|
Hydrological regime |
The quantity and dynamics of flow, and the resultant connection to groundwaters, reflect totally, or nearly totally, undisturbed conditions. |
Conditions consistent with the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements. |
Conditions consistent with the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements. |
|
River continuity |
The continuity of the river is not disturbed by anthropogenic activities and allows undisturbed migration of aquatic organisms and sediment transport. |
Conditions consistent with the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements. |
Conditions consistent with the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements. |
|
Morphological conditions |
Channel patterns, width and depth variations, flow velocities, substrate conditions and both the structure and condition of the riparian zones correspond totally or nearly totally to undisturbed conditions. |
Conditions consistent with the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements. |
Conditions consistent with the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements. |
General physico-chemical quality elements
|
Element |
High status |
Good status |
Moderate status |
|
General conditions |
The values of the general physico-chemical elements correspond totally or nearly totally to undisturbed conditions. Nutrient concentrations remain within the range normally associated with undisturbed conditions. Levels of salinity, pH, oxygen balance, acid neutralising capacity and temperature do not show signs of anthropogenic disturbance and remain within the ranges normally associated with undisturbed conditions. |
Temperature, oxygen balance, pH, acid neutralising capacity and salinity do not reach levels outside the ranges established so as to ensure the functioning of the type specific ecosystem and the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements. Nutrient concentrations do not exceed the levels established so as to ensure the functioning of the ecosystem and the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements. |
Conditions consistent with the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements. |
1.2.2. Definitions for high, good and moderate ecological status in lakes
Biological quality elements
|
Element |
High status |
Good status |
Moderate status |
|
Phytoplankton |
The taxonomic composition and abundance of phytoplankton correspond totally or nearly totally to undisturbed conditions. The average phytoplankton biomass is consistent with the type-specific physico-chemical conditions and is not such as to significantly alter the type-specific transparency conditions. Planktonic blooms occur at a frequency and intensity which is consistent with the type specific physico-chemical conditions. |
There are slight changes in the composition and abundance of planktonic taxa compared to the type-specific communities. Such changes do not indicate any accelerated growth of algae resulting in undesirable disturbance to the balance of organisms present in the water body or to the physico-chemical quality of the water or sediment. A slight increase in the frequency and intensity of the type specific planktonic blooms may occur. |
The composition and abundance of planktonic taxa differ moderately from the type-specific communities. Biomass is moderately disturbed and may be such as to produce a significant undesirable disturbance in the condition of other biological quality elements and the physico-chemical quality of the water or sediment. A moderate increase in the frequency and intensity of planktonic blooms may occur. Persistent blooms may occur during summer months. |
|
Macrophytes and phytobenthos |
The taxonomic composition corresponds totally or nearly totally to undisturbed conditions. There are no detectable changes in the average macrophytic and the average phytobenthic abundance. |
There are slight changes in the composition and abundance of macrophytic and phytobenthic taxa compared to the type-specific communities. Such changes do not indicate any accelerated growth of phytobenthos or higher forms of plant life resulting in undesirable disturbance to the balance of organisms present in the water body or to the physico-chemical quality of the water. The phytobenthic community is not adversely affected by bacterial tufts and coats present due to anthropogenic activity. |
The composition of macrophytic and phytobenthic taxa differ moderately from the type-specific communities and are significantly more distorted than those observed at good quality. Moderate changes in the average macrophytic and the average phytobenthic abundance are evident. The phytobenthic community may be interfered with, and, in some areas, displaced by bacterial tufts and coats present as a result of anthropogenic activities. |
|
Benthic invertebrate fauna |
The taxonomic composition and abundance correspond totally or nearly totally to the undisturbed conditions. The ratio of disturbance sensitive taxa to insensitive taxa shows no signs of alteration from undisturbed levels. The level of diversity of invertebrate taxa shows no sign of alteration from undisturbed levels. |
There are slight changes in the composition and abundance of invertebrate taxa compared to the type-specific communities. The ratio of disturbance sensitive taxa to insensitive taxa shows slight signs of alteration from type-specific levels. The level of diversity of invertebrate taxa shows slight signs of alteration from type-specific levels. |
The composition and abundance of invertebrate taxa differ moderately from the type-specific conditions. Major taxonomic groups of the type-specific community are absent. The ratio of disturbance sensitive to insensitive taxa, and the level of diversity, are substantially lower than the type-specific level and significantly lower than for good status. |
|
Fish fauna |
Species composition and abundance correspond totally or nearly totally to undisturbed conditions. All the type-specific sensitive species are present. The age structures of the fish communities show little sign of anthropogenic disturbance and are not indicative of a failure in the reproduction or development of a particular species. |
There are slight changes in species composition and abundance from the type-specific communities attributable to anthropogenic impacts on physico-chemical or hydromorphological quality elements. The age structures of the fish communities show signs of disturbance attributable to anthropogenic impacts on physico-chemical or hydromorphological quality elements, and, in a few instances, are indicative of a failure in the reproduction or development of a particular species, to the extent that some age classes may be missing. |
The composition and abundance of fish species differ moderately from the type-specific communities attributable to anthropogenic impacts on physico-chemical or hydromorphological quality elements. The age structure of the fish communities shows major signs of disturbance, attributable to anthropogenic impacts on physico-chemical or hydromorphological quality elements, to the extent that a moderate proportion of the type specific species are absent or of very low abundance. |
Hydromorphological quality elements
|
Element |
High status |
Good status |
Moderate status |
|
Hydrological regime |
The quantity and dynamics of flow, level, residence time, and the resultant connection to groundwaters, reflect totally or nearly totally undisturbed conditions. |
Conditions consistent with the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements. |
Conditions consistent with the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements. |
|
Morphological conditions |
Lake depth variation, quantity and structure of the substrate, and both the structure and condition of the lake shore zone correspond totally or nearly totally to undisturbed conditions. |
Conditions consistent with the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements. |
Conditions consistent with the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements. |
General physico-chemical quality elements
|
Element |
High status |
Good status |
Moderate status |
|
General conditions |
The values of the general physico-chemical elements correspond totally or nearly totally to undisturbed conditions. Nutrient concentrations remain within the range normally associated with undisturbed conditions. Levels of salinity, pH, oxygen balance, acid neutralising capacity, transparency and temperature do not show signs of anthropogenic disturbance and remain within the ranges normally associated with undisturbed conditions. |
Temperature, oxygen balance, pH, acid neutralising capacity, transparency and salinity do not reach levels outside the ranges established so as to ensure the functioning of the ecosystem and the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements. Nutrient concentrations do not exceed the levels established so as to ensure the functioning of the ecosystem and the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements. |
Conditions consistent with the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements. |
1.2.3. Definitions for high, good and moderate ecological status in transitional waters
Biological quality elements
|
Element |
High status |
Good status |
Moderate status |
|
Phytoplankton |
The composition and abundance of the phytoplanktonic taxa are consistent with undisturbed conditions. The average phytoplankton biomass is consistent with the type-specific physico-chemical conditions and is not such as to significantly alter the type-specific transparency conditions. Planktonic blooms occur at a frequency and intensity which is consistent with the type specific physico-chemical conditions. |
There are slight changes in the composition and abundance of phytoplanktonic taxa. There are slight changes in biomass compared to the type-specific conditions. Such changes do not indicate any accelerated growth of algae resulting in undesirable disturbance to the balance of organisms present in the water body or to the physico-chemical quality of the water. A slight increase in the frequency and intensity of the type specific planktonic blooms may occur. |
The composition and abundance of phytoplanktonic taxa differ moderately from type-specific conditions. Biomass is moderately disturbed and may be such as to produce a significant undesirable disturbance in the condition of other biological quality elements. A moderate increase in the frequency and intensity of planktonic blooms may occur. Persistent blooms may occur during summer months. |
|
Macroalgae |
The composition of macroalgal taxa is consistent with undisturbed conditions. There are no detectable changes in macroalgal cover due to anthropogenic activities. |
There are slight changes in the composition and abundance of macroalgal taxa compared to the type-specific communities. Such changes do not indicate any accelerated growth of phytobenthos or higher forms of plant life resulting in undesirable disturbance to the balance of organisms present in the water body or to the physico-chemical quality of the water. |
The composition of macroalgal taxa differs moderately from type-specific conditions and is significantly more distorted than at good quality. Moderate changes in the average macroalgal abundance are evident and may be such as to result in an undesirable disturbance to the balance of organisms present in the water body. |
|
Angiosperms |
The taxonomic composition corresponds totally or nearly totally to undisturbed conditions. There are no detectable changes in angiosperm abundance due to anthropogenic activities. |
There are slight changes in the composition of angiosperm taxa compared to the type-specific communities. Angiosperm abundance shows slight signs of disturbance. |
The composition of the angiosperm taxa differs moderately from the type-specific communities and is significantly more distorted than at good quality. There are moderate distortions in the abundance of angiosperm taxa. |
|
Benthic invertebrate fauna |
The level of diversity and abundance of invertebrate taxa is within the range normally associated with undisturbed conditions. All the disturbance-sensitive taxa associated with undisturbed conditions are present. |
The level of diversity and abundance of invertebrate taxa is slightly outside the range associated with the type-specific conditions. Most of the sensitive taxa of the type-specific communities are present. |
The level of diversity and abundance of invertebrate taxa is moderately outside the range associated with the type-specific conditions. Taxa indicative of pollution are present. Many of the sensitive taxa of the type-specific communities are absent. |
|
Fish fauna |
Species composition and abundance is consistent with undisturbed conditions. |
The abundance of the disturbance-sensitive species shows slight signs of distortion from type-specific conditions attributable to anthropogenic impacts on physico-chemical or hydromorphological quality elements. |
A moderate proportion of the type-specific disturbance-sensitive species are absent as a result of anthropogenic impacts on physicochemical or hydromorphological quality elements. |
Hydromorphological quality elements
|
Element |
High status |
Good status |
Moderate status |
|
Tidal regime |
The freshwater flow regime corresponds totally or nearly totally to undisturbed conditions. |
Conditions consistent with the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements. |
Conditions consistent with the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements. |
|
Morphological conditions |
Depth variations, substrate conditions, and both the structure and condition of the intertidal zones correspond totally or nearly totally to undisturbed conditions. |
Conditions consistent with the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements. |
Conditions consistent with the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements. |
General physico-chemical quality elements
|
Element |
High status |
Good status |
Moderate status |
|
General conditions |
The general physico-chemical elements correspond totally or nearly totally to undisturbed conditions. Nutrient concentrations remain within the range normally associated with undisturbed conditions. Temperature, oxygen balance and transparency do not show signs of anthropogenic disturbance and remain within the ranges normally associated with undisturbed conditions. |
Temperature, oxygenation conditions and transparency do not reach levels outside the ranges established so as to ensure the functioning of the ecosystem and the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements. Nutrient concentrations do not exceed the levels established so as to ensure the functioning of the ecosystem and the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements. |
Conditions consistent with the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements. |
1.2.4. Definitions for high, good and moderate ecological status in coastal waters
Biological quality elements
|
Element |
High status |
Good status |
Moderate status |
|
Phytoplankton |
The composition and abundance of phytoplanktonic taxa are consistent with undisturbed conditions. The average phytoplankton biomass is consistent with the type-specific physico-chemical conditions and is not such as to significantly alter the type-specific transparency conditions. Planktonic blooms occur at a frequency and intensity which is consistent with the type specific physico-chemical conditions. |
The composition and abundance of phytoplanktonic taxa show slight signs of disturbance. There are slight changes in biomass compared to type-specific conditions. Such changes do not indicate any accelerated growth of algae resulting in undesirable disturbance to the balance of organisms present in the water body or to the quality of the water. A slight increase in the frequency and intensity of the type-specific planktonic blooms may occur. |
The composition and abundance of planktonic taxa show signs of moderate disturbance. Algal biomass is substantially outside the range associated with type-specific conditions, and is such as to impact upon other biological quality elements. A moderate increase in the frequency and intensity of planktonic blooms may occur. Persistent blooms may occur during summer months. |
|
Macroalgae and angiosperms |
All disturbance-sensitive macroalgal and angiosperm taxa associated with undisturbed conditions are present. The levels of macroalgal cover and angiosperm abundance are consistent with undisturbed conditions. |
Most disturbance-sensitive macroalgal and angiosperm taxa associated with undisturbed conditions are present. The level of macroalgal cover and angiosperm abundance show slight signs of disturbance. |
A moderate number of the disturbance-sensitive macroalgal and angiosperm taxa associated with undisturbed conditions are absent. Macroalgal cover and angiosperm abundance is moderately disturbed and may be such as to result in an undesirable disturbance to the balance of organisms present in the water body. |
|
Benthic invertebrate fauna |
The level of diversity and abundance of invertebrate taxa is within the range normally associated with undisturbed conditions. All the disturbance-sensitive taxa associated with undisturbed conditions are present. |
The level of diversity and abundance of invertebrate taxa is slightly outside the range associated with the type-specific conditions. Most of the sensitive taxa of the type-specific communities are present. |
The level of diversity and abundance of invertebrate taxa is moderately outside the range associated with the type-specific conditions. Taxa indicative of pollution are present. Many of the sensitive taxa of the type-specific communities are absent. |
Hydromorphological quality elements
|
Element |
High status |
Good status |
Moderate status |
|
Tidal regime |
The freshwater flow regime and the direction and speed of dominant currents correspond totally or nearly totally to undisturbed conditions. |
Conditions consistent with the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements. |
Conditions consistent with the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements. |
|
Morphological conditions |
The depth variation, structure and substrate of the coastal bed, and both the structure and condition of the inter-tidal zones correspond totally or nearly totally to the undisturbed conditions. |
Conditions consistent with the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements. |
Conditions consistent with the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements. |
General physico-chemical quality elements
|
Element |
High status |
Good status |
Moderate status |
|
General conditions |
The general physico-chemical elements correspond totally or nearly totally to undisturbed conditions. Nutrient concentrations remain within the range normally associated with undisturbed conditions. Temperature, oxygen balance and transparency do not show signs of anthropogenic disturbance and remain within the ranges normally associated with undisturbed conditions. |
Temperature, oxygenation conditions and transparency do not reach levels outside the ranges established so as to ensure the functioning of the ecosystem and the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements. Nutrient concentrations do not exceed the levels established so as to ensure the functioning of the ecosystem and the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements. |
Conditions consistent with the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements. |
1.2.5. Definitions for maximum, good and moderate ecological potential for heavily modified or artificial water bodies
|
Element |
Maximum ecological potential |
Good ecological potential |
Moderate ecological potential |
|
Biological quality elements |
The values of the relevant biological quality elements reflect, as far as possible, those associated with the closest comparable surface water body type, given the physical conditions which result from the artificial or heavily modified characteristics of the water body. |
There are slight changes in the values of the relevant biological quality elements as compared to the values found at maximum ecological potential. |
There are moderate changes in the values of the relevant biological quality elements as compared to the values found at maximum ecological potential. These values are significantly more distorted than those found under good quality. |
|
Hydromorphological elements |
The hydromorphological conditions are consistent with the only impacts on the surface water body being those resulting from the artificial or heavily modified characteristics of the water body once all mitigation measures have been taken to ensure the best approximation to ecological continuum, in particular with respect to migration of fauna and appropriate spawning and breeding grounds. |
Conditions consistent with the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements. |
Conditions consistent with the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements. |
|
Physico-chemical elements |
|
|
|
|
General conditions |
Physico-chemical elements correspond totally or nearly totally to the undisturbed conditions associated with the surface water body type most closely comparable to the artificial or heavily modified body concerned. Nutrient concentrations remain within the range normally associated with such undisturbed conditions. The levels of temperature, oxygen balance and pH are consistent with the those found in the most closely comparable surface water body types under undisturbed conditions. |
The values for physico-chemical elements are within the ranges established so as to ensure the functioning of the ecosystem and the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements. Temperature and pH do not reach levels outside the ranges established so as to ensure the functioning of the ecosystem and the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements. Nutrient concentrations do not exceed the levels established so as to ensure the functioning of the ecosystem and the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements. |
Conditions consistent with the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements. |
|
►M8 — ◄ |
Concentrations close to zero and at least below the limits of detection of the most advanced analytical techniques in general use. |
Concentrations not in excess of the standards set in accordance with the procedure detailed in section 1.2.6 without prejudice to Directive 91/414/EC and Directive 98/8/EC. (< EQS) |
Conditions consistent with the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements. |
|
►M8 — ◄ |
Concentrations remain within the range normally associated with the undisturbed conditions found in the surface water body type most closely comparable to the artificial or heavily modified body concerned (background levels = bgl). |
Concentrations not in excess of the standards set in accordance with the procedure detailed in section 1.2.6 without prejudice to Directive 91/414/EC and Directive 98/8/EC. (< EQS) |
Conditions consistent with the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements. |
▼M8 —————
1.3. Monitoring of ecological status and chemical status for surface waters
The surface water monitoring network shall be established in accordance with the requirements of Article 8. The monitoring network shall be designed so as to provide a coherent and comprehensive overview of ecological and chemical status within each river basin and shall permit classification of water bodies into five classes consistent with the normative definitions in section 1.2. Member States shall provide a map or maps showing the surface water monitoring network in the river basin management plan.
On the basis of the characterisation and impact assessment carried out in accordance with Article 5 and Annex II, Member States shall for each period to which a river basin management plan applies, establish a surveillance monitoring programme and an operational monitoring programme. Member States may also need in some cases to establish programmes of investigative monitoring.
Member States shall monitor parameters which are indicative of the status of each relevant quality element. In selecting parameters for biological quality elements Member States shall identify the appropriate taxonomic level required to achieve adequate confidence and precision in the classification of the quality elements. Estimates of the level of confidence and precision of the results provided by the monitoring programmes shall be given in the plan.
Where the monitoring network involves earth observation and remote sensing rather than local sampling points, or other innovative techniques, the map of the monitoring network shall include information on the quality elements and the water bodies or groups of water bodies which have been monitored using such monitoring methods. Reference shall be made to CEN, ISO, or other international or national standards that have been applied to ensure that the temporal and spatial data obtained are as reliable as those obtained through the use of conventional monitoring methods at local sampling and measuring points.
Member States may apply passive sampling methods to monitor chemical pollutants, where appropriate, in particular for screening purposes and for long term assessment, on the condition that those sampling methods do not underestimate the concentrations of pollutants for which environmental quality standards apply, and thus reliably identify ‘failure to achieve good status’, and that chemical analysis of water, biota or sediment samples, according to the environmental quality standards applied, is conducted wherever such failure is observed. Member States may also apply effect-based monitoring methods subject to the same conditions.
1.3.1. Design of surveillance monitoring
Objective
Member States shall establish surveillance monitoring programmes to provide information for:
The results of such monitoring shall be reviewed and used, in combination with the impact assessment procedure described in Annex II, to determine requirements for monitoring programmes in the current and subsequent river basin management plans.
Selection of monitoring points
Surveillance monitoring shall be carried out of sufficient surface water bodies to provide an assessment of the overall surface water status within each catchment or subcatchments within the river basin district. In selecting these bodies Member States shall ensure that, where appropriate, monitoring is carried out at points where:
at such other sites as are required to estimate the pollutant load which is transferred across Member State boundaries, and which is transferred into the marine environment.
Selection of quality elements
Surveillance monitoring shall be carried out for each monitoring site for a period of one year during the period covered by a river basin management plan. The surveillance monitoring shall cover the following:
parameters indicative of all biological quality elements;
parameters indicative of all hydromorphological quality elements;
parameters indicative of all general physico-chemical quality elements;
priority substances which are discharged or otherwise deposited into the river basin or sub-basin;
river basin specific pollutants.
However, where the previous surveillance monitoring exercise showed that the body concerned reached good status and there is no evidence from the review of impact of human activity referred to in Annex II that the impacts on the body have changed, the surveillance monitoring shall be carried out once during the period covered by three consecutive river basin management plans.
1.3.2. Design of operational monitoring
Operational monitoring shall be carried out for all those bodies of water which on the basis of either the impact assessment carried out in accordance with Annex II or surveillance monitoring are identified as being at risk of failing to meet their environmental objectives under Article 4 and for those bodies of water into which priority substances are discharged or otherwise deposited or into which river basin specific pollutants are discharged or otherwise deposited in significant quantities. Monitoring points shall be selected for priority substances as specified in the legislation laying down the relevant environmental quality standard. In all other cases, including for priority substances where no specific guidance is given in such legislation, monitoring points shall be selected as follows:
The programme may be amended during the period of the river basin management plan in the light of information obtained as part of the requirements of Annex II or as part of this Annex, in particular to allow a reduction in frequency where an impact is found not to be significant or the relevant pressure is removed.
Selection of monitoring sites
Operational monitoring shall be carried out for all those bodies of water which on the basis of either the impact assessment carried out in accordance with Annex II or surveillance monitoring are identified as being at risk of failing to meet their environmental objectives under Article 4 and for those bodies of water into which priority list substances are discharged. Monitoring points shall be selected for priority list substances as specified in the legislation laying down the relevant environmental quality standard. In all other cases, including for priority list substances where no specific guidance is given in such legislation, monitoring points shall be selected as follows:
Selection of quality elements
In order to assess the magnitude of the pressure to which bodies of surface water are subject Member States shall monitor for those quality elements which are indicative of the pressures to which the body or bodies are subject. In order to assess the impact of these pressures, Member States shall monitor as relevant:
1.3.3. Design of investigative monitoring
Objective
Investigative monitoring shall be carried out:
and shall inform the establishment of a programme of measures for the achievement of the environmental objectives and specific measures necessary to remedy the effects of accidental pollution.
1.3.4. Frequency of monitoring
For the surveillance monitoring period, the frequencies for monitoring parameters indicative of physico-chemical quality elements given below should be applied unless greater intervals would be justified on the basis of technical knowledge and expert judgement. For biological or hydromorphological quality elements monitoring shall be carried out at least once during the surveillance monitoring period.
For operational monitoring, the frequency of monitoring required for any parameter shall be determined by Member States so as to provide sufficient data for a reliable assessment of the status of the relevant quality element. As a guideline, monitoring should take place at intervals not exceeding those shown in the table below unless greater intervals would be justified on the basis of technical knowledge and expert judgement.
Frequencies shall be chosen so as to achieve an acceptable level of confidence and precision. Estimates of the confidence and precision attained by the monitoring system used shall be stated in the river basin management plan.
Monitoring frequencies shall be adjusted, if necessary, to take account of the variability in parameters resulting from variation in both anthropogenic and natural conditions.
The times at which monitoring is undertaken shall be selected so as to take account of the impact of seasonal variations in substance use or water levels on the monitoring results, and thus ensure that the results effectively reflect any changes in the water body caused by anthropogenic pressure and by climatic variation. As regards priority substances whose concentration is likely to peak over short periods as a result of seasonal fluctuations in their use, monitoring shall, during those peak periods, be carried out at intervals shorter than for other substances, where necessary, to ensure that adequate information is obtained on the concentration of those substances.
|
Quality element |
Rivers |
Lakes |
Transitional |
Coastal |
|
Biological |
||||
|
Phytoplankton |
6 months |
6 months |
6 months |
6 months |
|
Other aquatic flora |
3 years |
3 years |
3 years |
3 years |
|
Macro invertebrates |
3 years |
3 years |
3 years |
3 years |
|
Fish |
3 years |
3 years |
3 years |
|
|
Hydromorphological |
||||
|
Continuity |
6 years |
|
|
|
|
Hydrology |
continuous |
1 month |
|
|
|
Morphology |
6 years |
6 years |
6 years |
6 years |
|
Physico-chemical |
||||
|
Thermal conditions |
3 months |
3 months |
3 months |
3 months |
|
Oxygenation |
3 months |
3 months |
3 months |
3 months |
|
Salinity |
3 months |
3 months |
3 months |
|
|
Nutrient status |
3 months |
3 months |
3 months |
3 months |
|
Acidification status |
3 months |
3 months |
|
|
|
►M8 River basin specific pollutants ◄ |
3 months |
3 months |
3 months |
3 months |
|
Priority substances |
1 month |
1 month |
1 month |
1 month |
1.3.5. Additional monitoring requirements for protected areas
The monitoring programmes required above shall be supplemented in order to fulfil the following requirements:
Drinking water abstraction points
Bodies of surface water designated in Article 7 which provide more than 100 m3 a day as an average shall be designated as monitoring sites and shall be subject to such additional monitoring as may be necessary to meet the requirements of that Article. Such bodies shall be monitored for all priority substances discharged and all other substances discharged in significant quantities which could affect the status of the body of water and which are controlled under the provisions of the Drinking Water Directive. Monitoring shall be carried out in accordance with the frequencies set out below:
|
Community served |
Frequency |
|
< 10 000 |
4 per year |
|
10 000 to 30 000 |
8 per year |
|
> 30 000 |
12 per year. |
Habitat and species protection areas
Bodies of water forming these areas shall be included within the operational monitoring programme referred to above where, on the basis of the impact assessment and the surveillance monitoring, they are identified as being at risk of failing to meet their environmental objectives under Article 4. Monitoring shall be carried out to assess the magnitude and impact of all relevant significant pressures on these bodies and, where necessary, to assess changes in the status of such bodies resulting from the programmes of measures. Monitoring shall continue until the areas satisfy the water-related requirements of the legislation under which they are designated and meet their objectives under Article 4.
1.3.6.
Methods used for the monitoring of type parameters shall conform to the international standards listed below in so far as they cover monitoring, or to such other national or international standards which will ensure the provision of data of an equivalent scientific quality and comparability.
Standards for sampling of biological quality elements
Generic methods for use with the specific methods given in the standards relating to the following biological quality elements:
|
EN ISO 5667-3:2012 |
Water quality — Sampling — Part 3: Preservation and handling of samples |
Standards for phytoplankton
|
EN 15204:2006 |
Water quality — Guidance standard on the enumeration of phytoplankton using inverted microscopy (Utermöhl technique) |
|
EN 15972:2011 |
Water quality — Guidance on quantitative and qualitative investigations of marine phytoplankton |
|
ISO 10260:1992 |
Water quality — Measurement of biochemical parameters —Spectrometric determination of the chlorophyll-a concentration |
Standards for macrophyte and phytobenthos
|
EN 15460:2007 |
Water quality — Guidance standard for the surveying of macrophytes in lakes |
|
EN 14184:2014 |
Water quality — Guidance for the surveying of aquatic macrophytes in running waters |
|
EN 15708:2009 |
Water quality — Guidance standard for the surveying, sampling and laboratory analysis of phytobenthos in shallow running water |
|
EN 13946:2014 |
Water quality — Guidance for the routine sampling and preparation of benthic diatoms from rivers and lakes |
|
EN 14407:2014 |
Water quality — Guidance for the identification and enumeration of benthic diatom samples from rivers and lakes |
Standards for benthic invertebrate
|
EN ISO 10870:2012 |
Water quality — Guidelines for the selection of sampling methods and devices for benthic macroinvertebrates in fresh waters |
|
EN 15196:2006 |
Water quality — Guidance on sampling and processing of the pupal exuviae of Chironomidae (order Diptera) for ecological assessment |
|
EN 16150:2012 |
Water quality — Guidance on pro rata multi-habitat sampling of benthic macro-invertebrates from wadeable rivers |
|
EN ISO 19493:2007 |
Water quality — Guidance on marine biological surveys of hard-substrate communities |
|
EN ISO 16665:2013 |
Water quality — Guidelines for quantitative sampling and sample processing of marine soft-bottom macro-fauna |
Standards for fish
|
EN 14962:2006 |
Water quality — Guidance on the scope and selection of fish sampling methods |
|
EN 14011:2003 |
Water quality — Sampling of fish with electricity |
|
EN 15910:2014 |
Water quality — Guidance on the estimation of fish abundance with mobile hydroacoustic methods |
|
EN 14757:2005 |
Water quality — Sampling of fish with multi-mesh gillnets |
Standards for hydromorphological parameters
|
EN 14614:2004 |
Water quality — Guidance standard for assessing the hydromorphological features of rivers |
|
EN 16039:2011 |
Water quality — Guidance standard on assessing the hydromorphological features of lakes |
Standards for physico-chemical parameters
Any relevant CEN/ISO standards
1.4. Classification and presentation of ecological status
1.4.1. Comparability of biological monitoring results
Member States shall establish monitoring systems for the purpose of estimating the values of the biological quality elements specified for each surface water category or for heavily modified and artificial bodies of surface water. In applying the procedure set out below to heavily modified or artificial water bodies, references to ecological status should be construed as references to ecological potential. Such systems may utilise particular species or groups of species which are representative of the quality element as a whole.
In order to ensure comparability of such monitoring systems, the results of the systems operated by each Member State shall be expressed as ecological quality ratios for the purposes of classification of ecological status. These ratios shall represent the relationship between the values of the biological parameters observed for a given body of surface water and the values for these parameters in the reference conditions applicable to that body. The ratio shall be expressed as a numerical value between zero and one, with high ecological status represented by values close to one and bad ecological status by values close to zero.
Each Member State shall divide the ecological quality ratio scale for their monitoring system for each surface water category into five classes ranging from high to bad ecological status, as defined in Section 1.2, by assigning a numerical value to each of the boundaries between the classes. The value for the boundary between the classes of high and good status, and the value for the boundary between good and moderate status shall be established through the intercalibration exercise described below.
The Commission shall facilitate this intercalibration exercise in order to ensure that these class boundaries are established consistent with the normative definitions in Section 1.2 and are comparable between Member States.
As part of this exercise the Commission shall facilitate an exchange of information between Members States leading to the identification of a range of sites in each ecoregion in the Community; these sites will form an intercalibration network. The network shall consist of sites selected from a range of surface water body types present within each ecoregion. For each surface water body type selected, the network shall consist of at least two sites corresponding to the boundary between the normative definitions of high and good status, and at least two sites corresponding to the boundary between the normative definitions of good and moderate status. The sites shall be selected by expert judgement based on joint inspections and all other available information.
Each Member State monitoring system shall be applied to those sites in the intercalibration network which are both in the ecoregion and of a surface water body type to which the system will be applied pursuant to the requirements of this Directive. The results of this application shall be used to set the numerical values for the relevant class boundaries in each Member State monitoring system.
The Commission shall prepare a draft register of sites to form the intercalibration network. ►M8 ————— ◄
▼M8 —————
The results of the intercalibration exercise and the values established for the Member State monitoring system classifications in accordance with points (i) to (viii) shall be published within six months of the adoption of the implementing act in accordance with Article 21.
1.4.2. Presentation of monitoring results and classification of ecological status and ecological potential
For surface water categories, the ecological status classification for the body of water shall be represented by the lower of the values for the biological and physico-chemical monitoring results for the relevant quality elements classified in accordance with the first column of the table set out below. Member States shall provide a map for each river basin district illustrating the classification of the ecological status foreach body of water, colour-coded in accordance with the second column of the table set out below to reflect the ecological status classification of the body of water:
|
Ecological status classification |
Colour code |
|
High |
Blue |
|
Good |
Green |
|
Moderate |
Yellow |
|
Poor |
Orange |
|
Bad |
Red |
For heavily modified and artificial water bodies, the ecological potential classification for the body of water shall be represented by the lower of the values for the biological and physico-chemical monitoring results for the relevant quality elements classified in accordance with the first column of the table set out below. Member States shall provide a map for each river basin district illustrating the classification of the ecological potential for each body of water, colour-coded, in respect of artificial water bodies in accordance with the second column of the table set out below, and in respect of heavily modified water bodies in accordance with the third column of that table:
|
Ecological potential classification |
Colour code |
|
|
Artificial Water Bodies |
Heavily Modified |
|
|
Good and above |
Equal green and light grey stripes |
Equal green and dark grey stripes |
|
Moderate |
Equal yellow and light grey stripes |
Equal yellow and dark grey stripes |
|
Poor |
Equal orange and light grey stripes |
Equal orange and dark grey stripes |
|
Bad |
Equal red and light grey stripes |
Equal red and dark grey stripes |
Member States shall also indicate, by a black dot on the map, those bodies of water where failure to achieve good status or good ecological potential is due to non-compliance with one or more environmental quality standards which have been established for that body of water in respect of specific synthetic and non-synthetic pollutants (in accordance with the compliance regime established by the Member State).
Member States may provide additional maps that present the ecological quality information for one or more of the following quality elements separately:
Member States may also provide maps or tables indicating the degree of change for those quality elements compared to the previous planning cycle.
1.4.3. Presentation of monitoring results and classification of chemical status
A body of water shall be recorded as achieving good chemical status where it has a good surface water chemical status as defined in Article 2(24). If not, the body shall be recorded as failing to achieve good chemical status.
Member States shall provide a map for each river basin district illustrating chemical status for each body of water, colour-coded in accordance with the second column of the table set out below to reflect the chemical status classification of the body of water:
|
Chemical status classification |
Colour code |
|
Good |
Blue |
|
Failing to achieve good |
Red |
Member States may provide additional maps that present the chemical status information for one or more of the following substances separately from the information for the rest of the substances identified in Part A of Annex I of Directive 2008/105/EC:
priority substances identified in Part A of Annex I of Directive 2008/105/EC as substances behaving like ubiquitous persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic substances (uPBTs);
newly identified priority substances in the latest review carried out by the Commission in accordance with Article 16(2) of this Directive;
priority substances for which revised and stricter EQS has been set in the latest review in accordance with Article 16(2) of this Directive;
substances identified as river basin specific pollutants according to Article 8d of Directive 2008/105/EC and based on the assessment of pressures and impacts on surface water bodies carried out in accordance with Annex II to this Directive.
Member States may also present the extent of any deviation from the EQS value for the substances referred to in points (a) to (d) of the first subparagraph in the river basin management plans. Member States providing such additional maps shall seek to ensure their inter-comparability at river basin and at Union level.
2. GROUNDWATER
2.1. Groundwater quantitative status
2.1.1. Parameter for the classification of quantitative status
Groundwater level regime
2.1.2. Definition of quantitative status
|
Elements |
Good status |
|
Groundwater level |
The level of groundwater in the groundwater body is such that the available groundwater resource is not exceeded by the long-term annual average rate of abstraction. Accordingly, the level of groundwater is not subject to anthropogenic alterations such as would result in: — failure to achieve the environmental objectives specified under Article 4 for associated surface waters, — any significant diminution in the status of such waters, — any significant damage to terrestrial ecosystems which depend directly on the groundwater body, and alterations to flow direction resulting from level changes may occur temporarily, or continuously in a spatially limited area, but such reversals do not cause saltwater or other intrusion, and do not indicate a sustained and clearly identified anthropogenically induced trend in flow direction likely to result in such intrusions. |
2.2. Monitoring of groundwater quantitative status
2.2.1. Groundwater level monitoring network
The groundwater monitoring network shall be established in accordance with the requirements of Articles 7 and 8. The monitoring network shall be designed so as to provide a reliable assessment of the quantitative status of all groundwater bodies or groups of bodies including assessment of the available groundwater resource. Member States shall provide a map or maps showing the groundwater monitoring network in the river basin management plan.
Where the monitoring network involves earth observation methods or remote sensing rather than local sampling points, or other innovative techniques, reference shall be made to CEN, ISO, or other international or national standards that have been applied to ensure that the temporal and spatial data obtained are as reliable as those obtained through the use of conventional monitoring methods at local sampling points.
2.2.2. Density of monitoring sites
The network shall include sufficient representative monitoring points to estimate the groundwater level in each groundwater body or group of bodies taking into account short and long-term variations in recharge and in particular:
2.2.3. Monitoring frequency
The frequency of observations shall be sufficient to allow assessment of the quantitative status of each groundwater body or group of bodies taking into account short and long-term variations in recharge. In particular:
2.2.4. Interpretation and presentation of groundwater quantitative status
The results obtained from the monitoring network for a groundwater body or group of bodies shall be used to assess the quantitative status of that body or those bodies. Subject to point 2.5. Member States shall provide a map of the resulting assessment of groundwater quantitative status, colour-coded in accordance with the following regime:
Good : green
Poor : red
2.3. Groundwater chemical status
2.3.1. Parameters for the determination of groundwater chemical status
Conductivity
Concentrations of pollutants
2.3.2. Definition of good groundwater chemical status
|
Element |
Good status |
|
Concentrations of pollutants |
The chemical composition of the groundwater body is such that the concentrations of pollutants, as specified below: — do not exhibit the effects of saline or other intrusions — do not exceed the groundwater quality standards as referred to in Annex I to Directive 2006/118/EC, the threshold values for groundwater pollutants and indicators of pollution set pursuant to Article 3 (1) (b), of that Directive and the Union wide threshold values set pursuant to Article 8 (3) of that Directive — are not such as would result in failure to achieve the environmental objectives specified under Article 4 for associated surface waters nor any significant diminution of the ecological or chemical quality of such bodies nor in any significant damage to terrestrial ecosystems which depend directly on the groundwater body |
|
Conductivity |
Changes in conductivity are not indicative of saline or other intrusion into the groundwater body |
2.4. Monitoring of groundwater chemical status
2.4.1. Groundwater monitoring network
The groundwater monitoring network shall be established in accordance with the requirements of Articles 7 and 8. The monitoring network shall be designed so as to provide a coherent and comprehensive overview of groundwater chemical status within each river basin and to detect the presence of long-term anthropogenically induced upward trends in pollutants.
On the basis of the characterisation and impact assessment carried out in accordance with Article 5 and Annex II, Member States shall for each period to which a river basin management plan applies, establish a surveillance monitoring programme. The results of this programme shall be used to establish an operational monitoring programme to be applied for the remaining period of the plan.
Estimates of the level of confidence and precision of the results provided by the monitoring programmes shall be given in the plan.
Where the monitoring network involves earth observation or remote sensing rather than local sampling points, or other innovative techniques, reference shall be made to CEN, ISO, or other international or national standards that have been applied to ensure that the temporal and spatial data obtained are as reliable as those obtained through the use of conventional monitoring methods at local sampling points.
2.4.2. Surveillance monitoring
Objective
Surveillance monitoring shall be carried out in order to:
Selection of monitoring sites
Sufficient monitoring sites shall be selected for each of the following:
Selection of parameters
The following set of core parameters shall be monitored in all the selected groundwater bodies:
Bodies which are identified in accordance with Annex II as being at significant risk of failing to achieve good status shall also be monitored for those parameters which are indicative of the impact of these pressures.
Transboundary water bodies shall also be monitored for those parameters which are relevant for the protection of all of the uses supported by the groundwater flow.
2.4.3. Operational monitoring
Objective
Operational monitoring shall be undertaken in the periods between surveillance monitoring programmes in order to:
Selection of monitoring sites
Operational monitoring shall be carried out for all those groundwater bodies or groups of bodies which on the basis of both the impact assessment carried out in accordance with Annex II and surveillance monitoring are identified as being at risk of failing to meet objectives under Article 4. The selection of monitoring sites shall also reflect an assessment of how representative monitoring data from that site is of the quality of the relevant groundwater body or bodies.
Frequency of monitoring
Operational monitoring shall be carried out for the periods between surveillance monitoring programmes at a frequency sufficient to detect the impacts of relevant pressures, including, where relevant, seasonal variation in the use of substances and of short- and long-term variations in recharge that might affect chemical status parameters, and at a minimum frequency of once per year, unless greater intervals would be justified on the basis of technical knowledge and expert judgement, in particular if it can be shown that over successive years, no exceedance or sustained upward trend has been detected for a particular parameter.
2.4.4. Identification of trends in pollutants
Member States shall use data from both surveillance and operational monitoring in the identification of long term anthropogenically induced upward trends in pollutant concentrations and the reversal of such trends. The base year or period from which trend identification is to be calculated shall be identified. The calculation of trends shall be undertaken for a body or, where appropriate, group of bodies of groundwater. Reversal of a trend shall be demonstrated statistically and the level of confidence associated with the identification stated.
2.4.5. Interpretation and presentation of groundwater chemical status
In assessing the chemical status of groundwater, the results of individual monitoring points within a groundwater body shall be aggregated for the body as a whole. The mean value of the results of monitoring at each point in the groundwater body or group of bodies shall be calculated for the following parameters:
chemical parameters for which quality standards have been set in Annex I to Directive 2006/118/EC;
chemical parameters for which national threshold values have been set pursuant to Article 3(1)(b) of Directive 2006/118/EC;
chemical parameters for which Union wide threshold values have been set pursuant to Article 8(3) of Directive 2006/118/EC.
The mean values referred to in the first paragraph shall be used to demonstrate compliance with good groundwater chemical status defined by reference to the quality standards and threshold values referred to in the first paragraph.
Subject to Section 2.5, Member States shall provide a map of groundwater chemical status, colour-coded as follows:
Member States may provide additional maps that present the chemical status information for one or more of the following substances separately from the information for the rest of the substances identified in Directive 2006/118/EC:
newly identified substances in the latest review in accordance with Article 8 of Directive 2006/118/EC;
substances for which revised and stricter quality standards (QS) or threshold values are established in accordance with Article 8 of Directive 2006/118/EC.
Member States may also present the extent of any deviation from the QS or threshold value for the substances referred to in points (a) and (b) of the first subparagraph in the river basin management plans. Member States providing such additional maps shall seek to ensure their inter-comparability at river basin and Union level.
Member States shall also indicate, by a black dot on the map, those groundwater bodies which are subject to a significant and sustained upward trend in the concentrations of any pollutant resulting from the impact of human activity. Reversal of such a trend shall be indicated by a blue dot on the map.
These maps shall be included in the river basin management plans.
2.5. Presentation of Groundwater Status
Member States shall provide in the river basin management plan a map showing for each groundwater body or groups of groundwater bodies both the quantitative status and the chemical status of that body or group of bodies, colour-coded in accordance with the requirements of points 2.2.4 and 2.4.5. Member States may choose not to provide separate maps under points 2.2.4 and 2.4.5 but shall in that case also provide an indication in accordance with the requirements of point 2.4.5 on the map required under this point, of those bodies which are subject to a significant and sustained upward trend in the concentration of any pollutant or any reversal in such a trend.
ANNEX VI
LISTS OF MEASURES TO BE INCLUDED WITHIN THE PROGRAMMES OF MEASURES
PART A
Measures required under the following Directives:
The Bathing Water Directive (76/160/EEC);
The Birds Directive (79/409/EEC) ( 33 );
The Drinking Water Directive (80/778/EEC) as amended by Directive (98/83/EC);
The Major Accidents (Seveso) Directive (96/82/EC) ( 34 );
The Environmental Impact Assessment Directive (85/337/EEC) ( 35 );
The Sewage Sludge Directive (86/278/EEC) ( 36 );
The Urban Waste-water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC);
The Plant Protection Products Directive (91/414/EEC);
The Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC);
The Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) ( 37 );
The Integrated Pollution Prevention Control Directive (96/61/EC).
PART B
The following is a non-exclusive list of supplementary measures which Member States within each river basin district may choose to adopt as part of the programme of measures required under Article 11(4):
legislative instruments
administrative instruments
economic or fiscal instruments
negotiated environmental agreements
emission controls
codes of good practice
recreation and restoration of wetlands areas
abstraction controls
demand management measures, inter alia, promotion of adapted agricultural production such as low water requiring crops in areas affected by drought
efficiency and reuse measures, inter alia, promotion of water-efficient technologies in industry and water-saving irrigation techniques
construction projects
desalination plants
rehabilitation projects
artificial recharge of aquifers
educational projects
research, development and demonstration projects
other relevant measures
ANNEX VII
RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT PLANS
|
A. |
River basin management plans shall cover the following elements:
|
|
B. |
The first update of the river basin management plan and all subsequent updates shall also include:
|
ANNEX VIII
INDICATIVE LIST OF THE MAIN POLLUTANTS
1. Organohalogen compounds and substances which may form such compounds in the aquatic environment.
2. Organophosphorous compounds.
3. Organotin compounds.
4. Substances and preparations, or the breakdown products of such, which have been proved to possess carcinogenic or mutagenic properties or properties which may affect steroidogenic, thyroid, reproduction or other endocrine-related functions in or via the aquatic environment.
5. Persistent hydrocarbons and persistent and bioaccumulable organic toxic substances.
6. Cyanides.
7. Metals and their compounds.
8. Arsenic and its compounds.
9. Biocides and plant protection products.
10. Materials in suspension.
▼M8 —————
13. Microorganisms, genes or genetic material reflecting the presence of microorganisms resistant to antimicrobial agents, in particular microorganisms pathogenic to humans or livestock.
▼M8 —————
ANNEX XI
MAP A
System A: Ecoregions for rivers and lakes
Iberic-Macaronesian region
Pyrenees
Italy, Corsica and Malta
Alps
Dinaric western Balkan
Hellenic western Balkan
Eastern Balkan
Western highlands
Central highlands
The Carpathians
Hungarian lowlands
Pontic province
Western plains
Central plains
Baltic province
Eastern plains
Ireland and Northern Ireland
Great Britain
Iceland
Borealic uplands
Tundra
Fenno-Scandian shield
Taiga
The Caucasus
Caspic depression
MAP B
System A: Ecoregions for transitional waters and coastal waters
Atlantic Ocean
Norwegian Sea
Barents Sea
North Sea
Baltic Sea
Mediterranean Sea
( 1 ) Directive 2008/105/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on environmental quality standards in the field of water policy, amending and subsequently repealing Council Directives 82/176/EEC, 83/513/EEC, 84/156/EEC, 84/491/EEC, 86/280/EEC and amending Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 348, 24.12.2008, p. 84, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2008/105/oj).
( 2 ) Directive (EU) 2020/2184 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2020 on the quality of water intended for human consumption (OJ L 435, 23.12.2020, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2020/2184/oj).
( 3 ) Directive 2006/118/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 on the prevention and control of groundwater pollution (OJ L 372, 27.12.2006, p. 19, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2006/118/oj)
( 4 ) Directive 2003/4/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2003 on public access to environmental information and repealing Council Directive 90/313/EEC (OJ L 41, 14.2.2003, p. 26, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2003/4/oj).
( 5 ) Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 March 2007 establishing an Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community (INSPIRE) (OJ L 108, 25.4.2007, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2007/2/oj).
( 6 ) Directive (EU) 2019/1024 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on open data and the re-use of public sector information (OJ L 172, 26.6.2019, p. 56, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2019/1024/oj).
( 7 ) Regulation (EC) No 401/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on the European Environment Agency and the European Environment Information and Observation Network (OJ L 126, 21.5.2009, p. 13, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2009/401/oj).
( 8 ) Directive 2008/105/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on environmental quality standards in the field of water policy, amending and subsequently repealing Council Directives 82/176/EEC, 83/513/EEC, 84/156/EEC, 84/491/EEC, 86/280/EEC and amending Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 348, 24.12.2008, p. 84, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2008/105/oj).
( 9 ) Council Directive 91/676/EEC of 12 December 1991 concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources (OJ L 375, 31.12.1991, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/1991/676/oj).
( 10 ) Directive 2009/128/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 establishing a framework for Community action to achieve the sustainable use of pesticides (OJ L 309, 24.11.2009, p. 71, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2009/128/oj).
( 11 ) Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 on industrial and livestock rearing emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control) (OJ L 334, 17.12.2010, p. 17, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2010/75/oj).
( 12 ) Directive (EU) 2024/3019 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2024 concerning urban wastewater treatment (OJ L, 2024/3019, 12.12.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2024/3019/oj).
( 13 ) OJ L 140, 5.6.2009, p. 114.
( 14 ) OJ L 124, 17.5.2005, p. 4, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/convention/2005/370/oj.
( 15 ) Directive 2001/83/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 November 2001 on the Community code relating to medicinal products for human use (OJ L 311, 28.11.2001, p. 67, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2001/83/oj).
( 16 ) Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), establishing a European Chemicals Agency, amending Directive 1999/45/EC and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1488/94 as well as Council Directive 76/769/EEC and Commission Directives 91/155/EEC, 93/67/EEC, 93/105/EC and 2000/21/EC (OJ L 396, 30.12.2006, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2006/1907/oj).
( 17 ) Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market and repealing Council Directives 79/117/EEC and 91/414/EEC (OJ L 309, 24.11.2009, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2009/1107/oj).
( 18 ) Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2012 concerning the making available on the market and use of biocidal products (OJ L 167, 27.6.2012, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2012/528/oj).
( 19 ) Regulation (EU) 2019/6 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on veterinary medicinal products and repealing Directive 2001/82/EC (OJ L 4, 7.1.2019, p. 43, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/6/oj).
( 20 ) Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures, amending and repealing Directives 67/548/EEC and 1999/45/EC, and amending Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (OJ L 353, 31.12.2008, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2008/1272/oj).
( 21 ) Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of the Commission’s exercise of implementing powers (OJ L 55, 28.2.2011, p. 13, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2011/182/oj).
( 22 ) OJ L 194, 25.7.1975, p. 26. Directive as last amended by Directive 91/692/EEC.
( 23 ) OJ L 334, 24.12.1977, p. 29. Decision as last amended by the 1994 Act of Accession.
( 24 ) OJ L 271, 29.10.1979, p. 44. Directive as last amended by the 1994 Act of Accession.
( 25 ) OJ L 222, 14.8.1978, p. 1. Directive as last amended by the 1994 Act of Accession.
( 26 ) OJ L 281, 10.11.1979, p. 47. Directive as amended by Directive 91/692/EEC.
( 27 ) OJ L 135, 30.5.1991, p. 40. Directive as last amended by Directive 98/15/EC (OJ L 67, 7.3.1998, p. 29).
( 28 ) OJ L 31, 5.2.1976, p. 1. Directive as last amended by the 1994 Act of Accession.
( 29 ) OJ L 281, 10.11.1979, p. 47. Directive as amended by Directive 91/692/EEC (OJ L 377, 31.12.1991, p. 48).
( 30 ) OJ L 375, 31.12.1991, p. 1.
( 31 ) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7. Directive as last amended by Directive 97/62/EC (OJ L 305, 8.11.1997, p. 42).
( 32 ) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979, p. 1. Directive as last amended by Directive 97/49/EC (OJ L 223, 13.8.1997, p. 9).
( 33 ) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979, p. 1.
( 34 ) OJ L 10, 14.1.1997, p. 13.
( 35 ) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985, p. 40. Directive as amended by Directive 97/11/EC (OJ L 73, 14.3.1997, p. 5).
( 36 ) OJ L 181, 8.7.1986, p. 6.
( 37 ) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.