- WFD implementation in Ireland

As part of a substantial restructuring of EU water policy and legislation, a Directive establishing a new framework for Community action in the field of water policy 2000/60/EC was agreed by the European Parliament and Council in September 2000 and came into force on 22nd December 2000. The Directive, generally known as the Water Framework Directive rationalises and updates existing water legislations and provides for water management on the basis of River Basin Districts (RBD's).

The main activities for the implementation of the WFD will take place in the context of River Basin Management Projects led by local authorities. The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is promoting the establishment by local authorities of such projects to address all inland and coastal waters.


The overall objective of river basin projects is to establish an integrated monitoring and management system for all waters within a RBD, to develop a dynamic programme of management measures and to produce a River Basin Management Plan, which will be continually updated.
The Water Framework Directive was transposed into Irish Legislation by the European Communities (Water Policy) Regulations 2003, (Statutory Instrument 722) on 22nd December 2003.