The objectives of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) are to protect all high status waters, prevent further deterioration of all waters and to restore degraded surface and ground waters to good status by 2015. A major programme is under way to achieve this ambitious target.
National regulations implementing the directive have been put in place in 2003.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, local authorities and associated consultancies prepared the Article 5 Characterisation Report for the Irish River Basin Districts. This was submitted to Brussels in November 2004. The report provides a comprehensive outline of Ireland's water resources, an assessment of the risks of failing to meet the objectives of the WFD plus an economic analysis of water resources. The EPA published the first draft of the Irish Water Framework Directive Monitoring Programme in June 2006 and an update following public comment in October 2006. The monitoring programme became operational on 22 December 2006, with reporting sheets on the monitoring programme design sent to Brussels by 22 March 2007.
Visit the official Irish Water Framework website for detailed information on the implementation of the Water Framework Directive in Ireland
