Water Framework Directive

Question 1

What does RBMP stand for?

Answer 1

River Basin Management Plan

Question 2

Why is the WFD so important?

Answer 2

-As it is a response to the increasing threat of pollution and the increasing demand from the public for cleaner rivers, lakes and beaches

Question 3

When was the Water Framework Directive (WFD) first adopted by the EU?

Answer 3

Adopted by the EU in 2000

Question 4

When was the WFD transposed into Irish law?

Answer 4

2003

Question 5

What does the Directive state should be managed?

Answer 5

That water quality should be managed by focusing on river basins / water catchments

Question 6

What did legislation focus on in the 1970s?

Answer 6

-Directives for abstraction of drinking water
-Fishing waters
-Shellfish waters
-Bathing waters
-Ground waters

Question 7

What legislation was made in 1990s?

Answer 7

-Urban wastewater treatment directive
-New drinking water quality directive
-Nitrates directive
-Directive for integrated pollution and prevention control

Question 8

What was legislation was formed in the 2000s?

Answer 8

Water Framework Directive

Question 9

What did the 1970s legislation use for water quality parameters?

Answer 9

By measuring
-pH
-DO
-E.coli

Question 10

What did legislation in 1990s focus on?

Answer 10

-Also water quality standards,
-But for the first time, setting emission standards

Question 11

What did the WFD bring into focus?

Answer 11

-Doing an integrated approach
-Combining standards for water quality but also protecting habitats and species

Question 12

What is a central tenet of the water quality directive?

Answer 12

Ecological protection
-Emission limits and quality standards are designed to support the ecological status

Question 13

What is the official title of the water framework directive?

Answer 13

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

Question 14

How many articles are in the WFD?

Answer 14

26

Question 15

How many Annexes (appendices) are in the WFD?

Answer 15

11

Question 16

What are the six aims of the WFD?

Answer 16

-Expanding the scope of water protection to all waters, surface waters and groundwater
-Achieving “good status” for all waters by a set deadline
-Water management based on river basins
-“Combined approach” of emission limit values and quality standards
-Getting the citizen involved more closely
-Streamlining legislation

Question 17

What is the timeline of the WFD?

Answer 17

-Initiation 2000
-Cycle 1 2009 - 2015 (Heavily effected by recession)
-Cycle II 2018 - 2021
Cycle III 2022 - 2027

Question 18

How many Special Areas of Conservation are dependent on good water quality?

Answer 18

358

Question 19

How many River basin districts are in Ireland?

Answer 19

8 (4 within the Irish State)

Question 20

How many designated bathing waters are in Ireland?

Answer 20

134

Question 21

How many shellfish waters are there in Ireland?

Answer 21

64

Question 22

How many km2 does the Irish RBD make up?

Answer 22

70,273km2

Question 23

What is article 5 of the WFD?

Answer 23

Characterisation of River Basin Districts

Question 24

What is the purpose of article 5?

Answer 24

-To establish baseline water quality status
-How they are impacted by human activities
-Identify bodies at risk of not meeting status
-Identify significant pressures impacting water bodies
-Informs the development of a programme of measures
-Allows for realistic and achievable goals

Question 25

What are the five classifications of ecological status for waterbodies?

Answer 25

-High
-Good
-Moderate
-Poor
-Bad

Question 26

What are qualifying elements?

Answer 26

-Biological elements
-Chemical and physiochemical elements
-Hydromorphological elements

Question 27

Overview of Cycle 1

Answer 27

-Lessons Learned
-Key measures

Question 28

Overview of cycle 2

Answer 28

Characterisation
Significant Pressures
Environmental Objectives
Prioritisation Process
Programme of Measures

Question 29

Overview of Cycle 3

Answer 29

Progress and future plans

Question 30

How did cycle 2 change how a river basin district has been defined?

Answer 30

-There is now a single River Basin District
-It is broken down into 46 management catchment units
-583 sub-catchments

Question 31

What is the new structure for governance in Cycle 2?

Answer 31

-Tier 1 - Policy and Oversight - Water Policy Advisory Committee
-Tier 2- EPA responsible for the catchment characterisation
-Tier 3- Local authorities are responsible for the implementation of measures on the ground

Question 32

What was the compliance rate for urban waste-water treatment directive in 2015?

Answer 32

84% compliance rate
€3.5 billion has been invested.

Question 33

What are derogation farmers?

Answer 33

Allows farmers to exceed the limit of 170kg of livestock manure nitrogen under strict conditions
(90% compliance in Cycle 1)

Question 34

What does CC-FAS stand for?

Answer 34

Cross Compliance Farm Advisory Scheme

Question 35

What does DWWTS stand for?

Answer 35

Domestic Wastewater Treatment Systems

Question 36

How many DWWTS failed inspections in 2015?

Answer 36

44%

Question 37

What are some examples of key measures of Cycle 1?

Answer 37

Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) Regulations
Farm Waste Management Scheme
Rural Environment Protection Scheme

Question 38

What does RDP stand for?

Answer 38

Rural Development Plan
2014 - 2020

Question 39

How many inspections did DWWTS fail in 2016?

Answer 39

49%

Question 40

What % of waterbodies are at risk from urban wastewater treatment plants?

Answer 40

20%

Question 41

What does NWRP stand for?

Answer 41

National Water Resources Plan