Implementation report Water Framework Directive and Floods Directive - Questions and Answers

1. What is covered by the two Directives?

The Water Framework Directive requires all European surface water – lakes, rivers, transitional and coastal water, and groundwater – to reach “good status” by 2015. This deadline can be postponed if certain exemptions are invoked. The maximum deadline possible is 2027.

“Good status” is determined by a number of parameters that cover, for example, water quality, quantity, and flow.

The Floods Directive requires Member States to identify and map areas at risk of flooding, and to make plans to manage and reduce those flood risks.

2. What is the state of Europe’s water?

According to the European Environment Agency, in 2015 around 40% of surface water bodies were in “good ecological status”. Groundwaters are in a better situation, with 74% in good chemical status and 89% in good quantitative status.

This does not mean that all the other European water bodies are in a very bad state: the state of waters has usually improved in some aspects but since status is measured across a number of quality parameters, the overall status is not improving rapidly.

3. What are the main pressures on the water body status?

The main factors that have a negative influence on the status of water bodies are pollution from agriculture (including pesticides and nitrates), structural changes to water bodies (dams, impoundments, dredging, changes to the water level, etc.) and over-abstraction of water for irrigation or other uses.

Untreated or insufficiently treated waste-water is another factor, although this pressure is declining thanks to the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive and large-scale investments in treatment capacity.

Other pressures include chemical pollution from sources other than agriculture, such as flame retardants and mercury, which are found almost everywhere, and the increasing presence of pharmaceuticals in surface and groundwater.

4. The Water Framework Directive is now 19 years old. Is the legislation up to the job?

The European Commission is carrying out a “fitness check” of EU water legislation, including the Water Framework Directive, associated legislation dealing with Groundwater and Priority Substances, and the Floods Directive.

The check covers the efficiency, effectiveness, EU added value, coherence and relevance of the legislation. While it is clear that there is widespread support for the fundamental approach of integrated water resource management at the river basin scale, it is too early to say what the final verdict will be.

A Public Consultation is still open, and the Commission will also consult specialised stakeholders.

The final report will come out shortly after the summer. The next Commission will be able to draw the consequences from the Fitness Check, deciding if and what should be changed in the policy as it stands.

The same applies to the Floods Directive.