- 3.4. Identification of driving forces and pressures in the Danube River Basin District

The WFD requires information to be collected and maintained on the type and magnitude of significant anthropogenic pressures, and indicates a broad categorisation of the pressures into: - point sources of pollution, - diffuse sources of pollution, - effects of modifying the flow regime through abstraction or regulation, and - morphological alterations. Any other pressures, i.e. those not falling within these categories, must also be identified. In addition, there is a requirement to consider land use patterns (e.g. urban, industrial, agricultural, forestry) as these may be useful to indicate areas, in which specific pressures are located. The pressures and impacts assessment follows a four-step process: 1. describing the driving forces, especially land use, urban, industry, agriculture and other activities which lead to pressures, without regard to their actual impacts; 2. identifying pressures with possible impacts on the water body and on water uses, by considering the magnitude of the pressures and the susceptibility of the water body; 3. assessing the impacts resulting from the pressures; and 4. evaluating the likelihood of failing to meet the objective. (4.4. Identification of significant pressures in the Danube River Basin District - p.51)