The Water Framework Directive

The Water Framework Directive is described variously as: "the most Exciting .... the most Substantial .... Innovative ...Holistic etc, etc.... piece of EU legislation." It's easy to get carried away!

Promises, promises...

What it seeks to do (notice the choice of words) is to establish "Good Ecological Status" (GES) to all water bodies in the EU by a certain date. "GES" is a very lofty aspiration as it embodies good biological status with good physical status. The problem is that if you cost the whole thing out to achieve this across the UK, it could swallow up money faster than a dozen Olympics, so there are a number of "Out" clauses. The essence of these is that if something is not cost effective then you don't have to do it, or you can find a cheaper but less effective solution.

River District Basins...

The country is divided into eleven "River District Basins". The Wye and Usk are firmly in the Severn RDB, which like the Dee spans England and Wales. A tiered system of representation is set up with a panel that have the almost impossible task of representing the whole region. The panel is a cross section of governmental organisations and statutory bodies, industry, water companies, land user groups, water consumers and NGOs. If you like, it's polluters vs. those trying to combat the problem. WUF's director is one of the NGOs representing fisheries' interests.

Significant Water Management Issues (SWMIs)

A key task is to determine and assess SWMIs for the Severn RBD, a largely academic exercise led with information from the Agency

There is some good news, however: the situation for Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) is that the requirements for (wait for it)... "Favourable Conservation Status" is, de facto, the requirements for "GES". On this there should be no compromise and the date for achievement of GES is 2008! Both the Usk and Wye are SACs and therefore there are considerable efforts being made to move towards this watery utopia.

Of course the subject is huge and we have included some links below for those wishing to know more:

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/waterquality/955573/1458449/1458605/?version=1&lang=_e http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/water-framework/index_en.html