Water Framework Directive - daughter directives
The Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) set out requirements for the European Commission to propose further laws to protect against water pollution.
A 'daughter directive' aimed at protecting groundwater has recently been adopted at European level, and a further daughter directive has been proposed aimed at reducing pollution of surface water (rivers, lakes, estuaries and coastal waters) by pollutants on a list of priority substances.
Groundwater
The Water Framework Directive sets objectives for groundwater quality, including an objective to meet "good chemical status" by 2015, an objective on pollution trends, and an objective to prevent or limit the input of pollutants to groundwater. Clarification of the objectives, however, is left to the daughter directive.
A groundwater directive was proposed by the European Commission in September 2003. It focused on the objectives mentioned above but required further development to ensure that it was practical, effective, risk-based and proportionate.
Co-decision on the text for the new directive was reached in October 2006 and the directive was adopted on 12 December 2006. The UK Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) of the new Directive is available below.
Consultation on transposition of the new Groundwater Directive
Member States have until January 2009 to bring into force laws, regulations and administrative provisions to implement the new Directive. The new Directive will operate alongside 1980 Groundwater Directive until December 2013. The two Groundwater Directives adopt similar approaches to preventing goundwater pollution but there will need to be adjustments to the existing regime to accommodate the changes brought about by both the WFD and the new Directive. These adjustments are explained in further detail in the consultation documents regarding transposition of the new Directive into UK law which started on 9 May 2008 and will close after 12 weeks.
If you would like further information or you are interested in attending stakeholder meetings please contact graeme.henton@defra.gsi.gov.uk
As the Directive was later than expected, a Direction was made to the Environment Agency in early 2006 enabling them to put in place interim criteria for ‘good groundwater status’ and ‘trend identification and reversal’ pending adoption of a new groundwater directive.
Further information
Priority substances
As part of the Water Framework Directive, a European 'priority list' of substances posing a threat to or via the aquatic environment has been established.
There are currently 33 substances on this priority list, which was agreed in 2001 (Decision 2455/2001/EC), and the list will be reviewed on a regular basis. These substances are referred to as 'priority substances', and those which are thought to pose the greatest threat are further identified as 'priority hazardous substances'.
The objectives of the Water Framework Directive include the aim to achieve 'good chemical status' for surface water bodies by 2015. A body would obtain ‘good chemical status’ if it met all of the environmental quality standards for priority substances and certain other pollutants. Further Water Framework Directive obligations are aimed at:
A European Commission proposal for a daughter directive on the priority substances was published in July 2006. It includes environmental quality standards for the concentrations of the priority substances in surface water bodies.
In order for the proposal to come into force the text must be agreed by both the Council, made up of Member States, and the European Parliament, made up of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). The Commission’s proposal underwent the first reading of the European Parliament during 2007 and it proposed over 70 amendments. Some of these amendments were incorporated verbatim, in part or in spirit, by the Council in June 2007. The Council also proposed its own amendments and voted unanimously to support the amended text. The Council text is expected to undergo the second reading of the European Parliament shortly, when further amendments are likely to be proposed. If the Council considers that it cannot adopt these amendments and a compromise cannot be found then the proposal is expected to go to Conciliation in Autumn 2008.
Defra have been consulting widely regarding this proposal and held a priority list stakeholder meeting on 24 July 2007 when discussion took place on the Council text and the process of reaching agreement. Further meetings will take place as and when necessary.
Defra has commissioned consultants who have produced a draft partial Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) on the costs and benefits of the original Commission proposal. Defra carried out a 12-week formal public consultation on the original proposal and draft partial RIA between December 2006 and March 2007.
- Summary of consultation responses (PDF 100 KB)
Following agreement of the Council text and comments received from stakeholders to the consultation an update of the partial RIA has been produced. It should be noted that the cost estimates given in the updated paper are preliminary and provisional. Comments to inform the updated impact assessment are welcome.
Contacts
For further details, or if you are interested in attending stakeholder meetings or receiving email updates, contact: graeme.henton@defra.gsi.gov.uk.
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Page last modified: 28 May 2008
Page published: 23 March 2001