The South Eastern River Basin District (SERBD) Project was the first project established in Ireland to facilitate implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). The project commenced in April 2002 and is financed by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government through the National Development Plan.

The SERBD is one of the largest River Basin Districts in Ireland, covering approximately one fifth of the country. It has a land area of nearly 13,000 km2 and covers a total overall area of 14,000 km2 when the coastal and transitional waters are included.

The district includes the Barrow, Nore, Suir and Slaney River Basins along with smaller basins in the coastal areas of Wexford and Waterford. The boundary also extends one nautical mile off territorial waters.

There are 13 Local Authorities in the district namely Carlow, Cork, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Limerick, Offaly, North Tipperary, South Tipperary, Waterford, Waterford City, Wexford and Wicklow.

The SERBD Project has been successful in achieving all of the milestones in the WFD implementation process. In December 2004 an analysis of pressures and impacts on water in the SERBD, including an economic analysis of water use, was completed – Characterisation Report.

In December 2006 a WFD Monitoring Programme was made operational.

Also in 2006, a timetable and work programme for the completion of the River Basin Management Plan was published allowing six months for public consultation.

In June 2007 a report on the significant water and management issues in the SERBD was published allowing six months for public consultation – Water Matters Report.

In December 2008 a draft River Basin Management Plan must be published allowing six months for public consultation

In December 2009 the first River Basin Management Plan must be operational.