vesienhoitodirektiiviä

The Water Framework Directive (WFD), officially Directive 2000/60/EC, is a cornerstone of European Union environmental policy aimed at protecting and improving the quality of its water bodies. It establishes a comprehensive framework for the management of inland surface waters, transitional waters, coastal waters, and groundwater. The primary objective of the WFD is to achieve "good status" for all these water categories by 2015, with provisions for extensions where necessary.

The directive defines "good status" based on ecological and chemical criteria. Ecological status considers the quality of the aquatic ecosystem, including its biological components (fish, invertebrates, plants) and physico-chemical elements. Chemical status is achieved when concentrations of certain priority substances do not exceed environmental quality standards.

Key principles of the WFD include an integrated approach to water management, river basin management planning, and public participation. Member States are required to establish river basin districts and develop management plans that outline measures to achieve or maintain good status. These plans address various pressures on water bodies, such as pollution from agriculture, industry, and urban areas, as well as water abstraction. The WFD also promotes the principle of cost recovery for water services and aims to reduce or phase out pollution from priority substances. It represents a significant shift towards a more holistic and preventative approach to water resource management within the EU.