The Water Framework Directive (WFD), Directive 2000/60/EC, was adopted in 2000 as a single piece of legislation covering rivers, lakes, groundwater and transitional (estuarine) and coastal waters. Its objectives include the attainment of good status in water bodies that are of lesser status at present and retaining good status or better where such status exists at present.
The WFD requires the establishment of two primary monitoring programmes: the Surveillance Monitoring (SM) and the Operational Monitoring (OM) networks for surface waters and groundwater. In the case of groundwater monitoring a separate quantitative monitoring programme is required. The role of Investigative Monitoring is also outlined as appropriate within each water category section. These programmes are required to be operational by 2006.
The document comprises of 3 parts. Part 1 is the main report and provides an overview of the WFD monitoring programme for all water categories: Rivers, Lakes, Transitional and Coastal waters; Groundwater and Canals. It also deals with Quality Control and Quality Assurance; Precision and Confidence of Monitoring Programmes, and Data Management and Reporting.
Part II provides a detailed breakdown of the WFD monitoring programme for each water category. For each water category, subnets are defined; the elements to be covered are outlined and the frequency of monitoring is specified for each network. Part II also includes URL links to files detailing the sampling sites.
Part III summarises the links to the dynamic electronic appendices to the monitoring programme and instructions for those interested in obtaining updates of the programme.
EU Water Framework Directive Irish Monitoring Programme
Appendix 2.1 - Priority Substances and Relevant Pollutant List for Surface Waters and Groundwater
Appendix 7.1 EU WFD Rivers Monitoring Programme for Ireland V1.4, 3 May 2007
Appendix 8.1 Monitoring Programme for Lakes V 1.10
Appendix 10.4 - Groundwater Monitoring Locations V1.3
