EU WMS Water Framework Directive

The European Water Framework Directive (WFD) entered into force in 2000 and aims to ensure the quality of surface and groundwater in Europe. The WFD provides that countries concerned shall draw up River Basin Management Plans (RBMP) by river basin district describing the location and quality of the water systems, objectives and measures. The Netherlands has four river basin districts: Rhine, Meuse, Schelde and Eems. The first Dutch RBMPs were published in 2009 and are reviewed every six years. The WFD is not without obligation. Achieving environmental targets is an obligation subject to economic sanctions. Therefore, the WFD requests reports on the status of surface water, groundwater and protected areas. This includes the reporting of geographical stocks. The Water Framework Directive contains the up-to-date geographical information regarding the WFD for surface waters under management at Rijkswaterstaat and the Dutch sub-basin and river basin district boundaries. For the national geographical information reported to the EU, reference is made to the Netherlands Water Framework Directive.