Water Framework Directive | Verde - Complete Environmental Solutions

Alien species and the EU Water Framework Directive: a comparative assessment of European approaches

Although the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) does not refer explicitly to alien species (AS), it is clear that invasive AS (IAS) are considered a pressure on WFD water bodies. This article discusses the results of a questionnaire sent to all EU Member States, demonstrating considerable variability in the way that AS data are used in implementing the WFD. Responses were received from 18 co...
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Public Consultation – Ireland’s 2022-2027 River Basin Management Plan

The Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (DHPLG) has published a document outlining the Significant Water Management Issues for the third River Basin Management Plan for Ireland for public consultation. Why is this consultation being launched? Ireland is currently in the early stages of preparing the third cycle River Basin Management Plan (RBMP) under the Water Framework Di...
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Water Framework Directive fit for purpose – evaluation

A fitness check of the Water Framework Directive, its associated Directives, and the Floods Directive concludes that they are overall fit for purpose, with some room for enhanced effectiveness. Despite improvements in the protection of water bodies and flood risk management, the evaluation points to insufficient level of implementation by Member States and by sectors with a heavy impact on wate...
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“EU rivers and wetlands are dying as a result of pollution and destructive infrastructure” – WWF

Further to our blog post EU Commission reviews progress made in water quality and flood risk management, the WWF European Policy Office issued its opinion on the findings. Europe’s rivers are suffering. Despite the EU’s strong water legislation, the European Commission’s latest report on its implementation, published today, paints a bleak picture. Although some progress has been made, Member St...
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EU Commission reviews progress made in water quality and flood risk management

The European Commission today published its assessment of both Member States’ River Basin Management Plans and Flood Risk Management Plans for the period 2015 to 2021.The Commission report on the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (assessment of the second River Basin Management Plans) and the Floods Directive (first Flood Risk Management Plans) looks at how Member States have impleme...
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Roll out of Sustainability Support & Advisory Programme announced

The Minister for Agriculture, Food & Marine, Michael Creed TD, has announced the roll-out of an innovative collaboration between Government and industry delivering 30 new ‘Agricultural Sustainability Advisors’ to work with farmers across the country. These advisors will oversee the implementation of a Programme aimed at encouraging sustainable farming, while meeting stringent water quality re...
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Main pressures on water in the EU are nutrient loading and abstraction

The new CAP has greater ambitions for climate action and environmental care including water, according to Gerard Shortle, DG Environment, European Commission. Speaking at National Agri-Environment conference in Galway recently he said the main pressures on water in the EU are nutrient loading (N&P) and abstraction. "There is a decreasing tend in nutrient loading - more so for phosphorus th...
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Public Consultation on General Scheme of Water Environment (Abstractions) Bill 2018

A 6-week process of public consultation on the General Scheme of the Water Environment (Abstractions) Bill 2018 commenced on Friday, 31 August and a summary of the proposals, plus the General Scheme, is now published on the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government’s website. The Water Environment (Abstractions) Bill 2018 provides for the introduction of a regime for the control of t...
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Engineers Ireland State of Ireland 2018 – A Review of Infrastructure in Ireland. Water Resources

Engineers Ireland launched their 'State of Ireland 2018 - A Review of Infrastructure in Ireland' report yesterday which was carried out by two expert advisory panels made up of 40 engineering experts, in conjunction with a survey of 1,000 Chartered Engineers across Ireland. The report found that only 20% of engineers in Ireland think the country’s water and wastewater systems are in good condit...
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Report shows EU’s lakes, rivers, & waters fail to meet minimum environmental water quality standards

EU Member States have made marked efforts to improve water quality, by improving wastewater treatment and lowering the runoff of pollutants from farmland, according to the EEA report European waters — assessment of status and pressures 2018. Measures have also been taken to make barriers passable to migrating fish and restore degraded aquatic ecosystems. While Europe’s ground water bodies, like...
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