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 were then made to find patterns throughout Europe. Communities of different organisms were compared to observe whether they coincided throughout Europe or were rare. After the deadline, in 2016, a new amendment was added (European Commission and Water Information System for Europe (WISE) 2016).
River and lake types were later subdivided using only geomorphological and physical traits. This did not show any correlation to species distribution. WFD established fish, macroinvertebrates, macrophytes, phytoplankton and phytobenthic diatoms as bioindicators. They appeared in all kinds of continental and coastal waters. Thereafter, indices for them were developed or adapted for most of the countries of the European Union. Better subdivision is still being enforced in 2017 (BOE (Boletín Oficial del Estado) 2016). Each index or traditional chemical indicator has a specific EQR (ecological quality ratio). As already stated, the final water quality depends entirely on the worst value obtained.

Later, a priority substance regulation was added (European Parliament and Council of the European Union 2001, 2013) reducing limits of concentration of dangerous products in European Rivers. These were heavy metals, pesticides or organochlorides and other substances affect life. They also can produce bioaccumulation and are thus monitored at known impact sites. For instance, at industrial effluent outlets.

The WFD aimed to “[create] a programme of actions to be implemented by the year 2000 aiming at sustainable management and protection of freshwater resources” (point 3) with one important pitfall. Rivers of an intermittent or temporary regime were not considered. These river types, mostly found in Mediterranean climates, are still exploited, thus, resources, and should be under the legislative umbrella of the WFD. Projects like the SMIRES (Science and Management of Intermittent Rivers and Ephemeral Streams) COST Action and the Life TRivers try to create a clear management framework for these overlooked waterbodies.

References

BOE (Boletín Oficial del Estado). 2016. BOE Num. 16. Real Decreto 1/2016, de 8 de Enero, Por El Que Se Aprueba La Revisión de Los Planes Hidrológicos de Las Demarcaciones Hidrográficas Del Cantábrico Occidental, Guadalquivir, Ceuta, Melilla, Segura y Júcar, y de La Parte Española de Las Demarca.
European Commission. 2000. “Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 Establishing a Framework for Community Action in the Field of Water Policy.” Official Journal of the European Communities 327: 2–72.
European Commission, and Water Information System for Europe (WISE). 2016. Introduction to the New EU Water Framework Directive. http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/water-framework/info/intro_en.htm.
European Parliament, and Council of the European Union. 2001. “Decision N 2455/2001/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 November 2001 Establishing the List of Priority Substances in the Field of Water Policy and Amending Directive 2000/60/EC.” Official Journal of the European Communities 331 (1): 32–46.
European Parliament, and Council of the European Union.. 2013. Directive 2013/39/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 August 2013 Amending Directives 2000/60/EC and 2008/105/EC as Regards Priority Substances in the Field of Water Policy. Official Journal of the European Union. Vol. 2013.
 

 

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