December 2000 saw the introduction of one of the most significant pieces of water-related legislation in Europe to date: The Water Framework Directive (WFD) 2000/60/EC.

The WFD adopts a holistic approach which covers ALL waters including:

• Rivers
• Lakes
• Transitional Waters (Estuaries)
• Coastal Waters
• Groundwaters
• Dependant Wetlands

The WFD manages these waters in natural, geographical units called River Basins. To make management practical, neighbouring river basins have been grouped into River Basin Districts (RBDs). Ireland has about 400 river basins which have been grouped into 8 RBDs.

The targets set in the WFD are ambitious. By 2015 all waters should have achieved at least ‘good status’ and deterioration in existing water quality status is not acceptable.

The main aims of the WFD are to:

• Protect/enhance all surface and ground waters
• Achieve “good status” for all waters by December 2015
• Manage water bodies based on river basins (catchments)
• Use a “combined approach” of emission limit values and quality standards
• Involve the public
• Streamline legislation

The aims of the WFD will be achieved through the development of River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs). A timetable for the development of these RBMPs is set out below. All of the milestones have thus far been met in all of the RBDs in Ireland.

Key Date	Water Framework Directive (WFD) Key Tasks
22nd Dec 2003	Implementation of the WFD at a national level
22nd Jun 2004	Establishment of River Basin Districts (RBDs)
22nd Dec 2004	Characterisation of RBDs
22nd Mar 2005	Submission of National Summary Report on the Characterisation of RBDs to the European Commission
22nd Jun 2006	Establishment of Monitoring Programmes to be operational by 22nd Dec 2006
22nd Jun 2006	Publication of a Work Programme and Timetable for the production of River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs)
22nd Jun 2007	Publication of an overview of the Significant Water Management Issues (SWMI) identified in each RBD
22nd Jun 2008	Publication of draft RBMPs with six months for written comment
22nd Dec 2008	Publication of draft Programmes of Measures (POMs) and RBMP with 6 months for comment
22nd Jun 2009	End of consultation period
22nd Dec 2009	Publication of first RBMPs
2010	Introduction of Water Pricing Policies that take into account the principle of ‘cost recovery’ for water services
2012	Latest date for making operational the POMs
2015	Achievement of environmental objectives of 1st RBMP and adoption of the 2nd RBMP

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