Water UK

Water UK response to the third consultation on the implementation of the European Commission Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC)

14/11/03

The WFD is a revolutionary piece of legislation that should change the way we manage the water environment. If implemented in the spirit it was intended it will lead to sustainable water management, to an improved aqueous environment and provide long-term protection of drinking water supplies. If treated as ‘just another water quality directive’ it will lead to higher water prices whilst not providing many benefits.

In our response to Defra’s third consultation document on the Water Framework Directive (WFD) we stressed the need for progress with the implementation of the Directive and need for the Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) to reflect or identify measures necessary to meet the cost of compliance with the Directive.

In our response to Defra we have:

 • identified, reviewed and commented on a number of key issues which need to be addressed as a matter of urgency at the stage of the implementation of the Directive;

 • provided specific comments which we consider are vital to the successful implementation of the Directive;

 • reviewed and commented on the draft Regulation and the revised Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA); and

 • provided further technical details in Annex 1 to support our response to this consultation. These details include review of the: RIA - Costs and Gaps; “Next Steps”; timetable for implementation, including interface of the WFD programme with the AMP Process with specific comments on “Interim Determination” and “Logging up” with respect to implementation of the Directive.

For the detailed response click here.

Ends.

For more information please contact:

Steve Ntifo, Policy Adviser, 020 7344 1822 or Jacob Tompkins, Policy Development Adviser 020 7344 1817.