- 2.3.1 water body definition

  The requirements described above all relate to a body of surface water, or a body of groundwater. The WFD defines both of these terms, and as part of the definition notes that surface water bodies should be discrete but need not, for example, be a whole river, while groundwater bodies should be distinct. Draft Guidancehas been prepared within the CIS on the identification of discrete and distinct water bodies: Horizontal Guidanceon the application of the term 'water body' in the context of the Water Framework Directive (WFD Guidance Document No. 2). This addresses scaling issues and the importance of defining water bodies with reference not only to water body type and morphological change, but also to pressures and impacts. In the absence of finalised definitions of water bodies, this Guidanceaddresses the process of pressure and impact analysis which should be independent of any outstanding issues relating to water body definition.