Directive's aims
The main aim of the WFD is to improve, over a significant period of time (by 2015), the quality, and consequently health, of these water bodies to a set of standards. This will be achieved by the application of 4 environmental principles.
- No deterioration;
- protection and enhancement;
- sustainable water use; and
- progressive reduction of pollution.
Another stated aim is ‘mitigating against the effects of floods and droughts.’ As the Directive does not indicate how this is to be achieved, supplementary legislation is being considered as a means of facilitating it.
