The Water Framework Directive and Diatoms
(Image from: link ) In the year 2000 the Water Framework Directive or WFD (European Commission 2000) was created to homogenize freshwater quality care throughout Europe. One of the main objectives was the expansion of water protection to all water bodies. Another aim was to get to a specific water quality in a given time and to regulate a basin-based water management. Europe homogenized pollution limits, prices, citizen involvement and a simplification of legislation. To obtain an ecological water status standard, it was no longer to be obtained only chemically. It also used bioindicators. The goal of this international effort was to improve water quality of European rivers. A deadline of a “good”-status in 2015 was placed, always using the “one out, all out” approach. If one indicator had less than “good” quality, the site is regarded as less than good. To establish it, firstly, undisturbed or “reference” sites were selected and described. Intercalibration exercises