With the European Water Framework Directive (EU WFD), which entered into force in 2000, water bodies are seen holistically as habitats and their water is not purely seen as consumer good. The Directive standardises the legal framework for the water policy of the European Union and aims at shaping water utilisation in a sustainable and environmentally compatible way.
The good status is the water status, which shall be reached in all surface and groundwater bodies.
Waters have to be protected, enhanced and regenerated in order to ensure that there won’t be any further deterioration of the status quo and that the “good status “ stipulated in the quality target ordinances will be reached in all bodies of water.
The European Water Framework Directive (EU WFD) lays down new requirements for the Water Monitoring Programme.
The river catchment area and the river basin district are superordinate hydrological terms.
Our rivers are living environments, which are to be preserved and protected.
