River Basin Characterisation
Economics of Characterisation
Following the Water Environment and Water Services Act
(Scotland) SEPA was required by Article 5 of the WFD to
carry out an initial economic analysis of water uses by
December 2004.
This analysis provides information on:
- The economic importance of water uses,
- Trends in water demand, water supply, investments
in the water sector,
- The identification of gaps in the analysis,
and
- Assessing the recovery of the costs of water
services.
The economic analysis of water uses will pave the way
for follow-up work aimed at identifying the most
cost-effective programme of measures for achieving the
environmental objectives of the Directive. It will also
assist in justifying derogations (e.g. achieving
environmental objectives within a longer time frame, or
proposing less stringent objectives because of
disproportionate costs) and support the process of
designating heavily modified water-bodies.
The WFD required Scotland to produce a characterisation
of each River Basin District by December 2004. This
characterisation identifies all surface and groundwater
water bodies (the basic unit of management and reporting
under the Directive) that are currently at risk of failing
to meet specific WFD objectives. The objectives tested
included:
- Achievement of good ecological status for all
surface water bodies,
- Achievement of good groundwater status,
- Prevention of deterioration in status of surface
waters and groundwater,
- Achievement of objectives and standards for
Protected Areas,
- Reversal of any significant and sustained upward
trends in pollutant concentrations in groundwater,
and
- Cessation of discharges of Priority Hazardous
Substances into surface waters
This can be viewed on the
SEPA
website