2003 No. 3242

WATER RESOURCES, ENGLAND AND WALES

The Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England and Wales) Regulations 2003

Made

Laid before Parliament

Coming into force

The Secretary of State and the National Assembly for Wales, acting respectively in relation to river basin districts that are wholly in England and river basin districts that are wholly in Wales1, and jointly in relation to river basin districts that are partly in England and partly in Wales, being designated2 for the purposes of section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 19723 in relation to matters relating to water resources, in exercise of the powers conferred upon them by that section, hereby make the following Regulations:

Title, commencement, extent and application1

These Regulations—

a

may be cited as the Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England and Wales) Regulations 2003 and shall come into force on 2nd January 2004;

b

extend to England and Wales; and

c

apply only in relation to river basins districts identified by regulation 4(1)4.

InterpretationC12

1

In these Regulations—

  • “the Agency” means the Environment Agency;

  • F12“the appropriate agency” means—

    1. a

      in relation to a river basin district that is wholly in England, the Agency;

    2. b

      in relation to a river basin district that is wholly in Wales, the NRBW; and

    3. c

      in relation to a river basin district that is partly in England and partly in Wales, the Agency and the NRBW acting jointly;

  • “the appropriate authority” means—

    1. a

      in relation to a river basin district that is wholly in England, the Secretary of State;

    2. b

      in relation to a river basin district that is wholly in Wales, the Assembly; and

    3. c

      in relation to a river basin district that is partly in England and partly in Wales, the Secretary of State and the Assembly acting jointly;

  • F45...

  • “body of water” means a body of groundwater or a body of surface water;

  • F46“the Directive” means Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23rd October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy5;

  • “England” includes the territorial sea adjacent to England not forming any part of Wales;

  • “environmental objectives”, in relation to a river basin district, means the objectives required to comply with Article 4 of the Directive (environmental objectives) including any objectives required to comply with Article 7(2) and (3) of the Directive (waters used for the abstraction of drinking water)F47, and the EQS Directive;

  • F49“the EQS Directive” means Directive 2008/105/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on environmental quality standards in the field of water policy6;

  • F49“existing obligations” means the obligations (on environmental quality standards in the field of water policy) under Directive 2008/105/EC (“the original Directive”) before it was amended by Directive 2013/39/EU including, in particular, the achievement of good surface water chemical status in relation to the substances and the associated environmental quality standards listed in the original Directive;

  • F12“the NRBW” means the Natural Resources Body for Wales;

  • “programme of measures”, in relation to a river basin district, means the programme of measures required to comply with Article 11(2) to (6) of the Directive (programme of measures);

  • “public body” does not include a Minister of the Crown within the meaning of the Ministers of the Crown Act 19756F48, the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister for Wales or the Counsel General to the Welsh Government, but it does include—

    1. a

      a person otherwise holding an office—

      1. i

        under the Crown;

      2. ii

        created or continued in existence by public general Act of Parliament; or

      3. iii

        the remuneration in respect of which is paid out of money provided by Parliament; and

    2. b

      a statutory undertaker (being a person who by virtue of section 262 of the Town and Country Planning Act 19907 is, or is deemed to be, a statutory undertaker for any purpose);

  • “river basin district” means an area identified by regulation 4(1), being the main unit for the management of river basins for the purposes of the Directive and being made up of a river basin or neighbouring river basins, together with associated groundwater, transitional waters and coastal water; and

  • F49“the table of priority substances” means the table in Part A of Annex I to the EQS Directive;

  • “Wales” has the meaning given by section 155 of the Government of Wales Act 19988.

F111A

In these regulations, where the appropriate agency is required to make copies of a statement, summary, draft plan or plan (including an approved or revised plan) accessible to the public free of charge, references to doing so through its website mean—

a

where the NRBW is the appropriate agency, through its website;

b

where the Agency is the appropriate agency, through its website;

c

where the Agency and the NRBW acting jointly are the appropriate agency, through their respective websites.

F111B

In these regulations, where the appropriate agency is required to make copies of a statement, summary, draft plan or plan (including an approved or revised plan) accessible to the public free of charge, references to doing so at its principal office F50... mean—

a

where the NRBW is the appropriate agency, at its principal office F51...;

b

where the Agency is the appropriate agency, at its principal offices F53...;

c

where the Agency and the NRBW acting jointly are the appropriate agency, at their principal officesF52....

2

Any expression used in both these Regulations and the Directive and not otherwise defined in these Regulations has the same meaning for the purposes of these Regulations as it has for the purposes of the Directive, and the definitions contained in the Directive of expressions used in these Regulations are set out in Schedule 1 (references in those definitions to an Annex or an Article being to an Annex to, or an Article of, the Directive).

The general duties3

1

The Secretary of State, F54the Welsh MinistersF13, the NRBW and the Agency must exercise their relevant functions so as to secure compliance with the requirements of the Directive F55and the EQS Directive .

2

The Secretary of StateF14, the Welsh Ministers, the Agency and the NRBW must exercise their relevant functions in relation to each river basin district so as best to secure that the requirements F56of the Directive and the EQS Directive for the achievement of the environmental objectives, and in particular programmes of measures, are coordinated for the whole of that district.

3

In this regulation, “relevant functions” means functions under these Regulations and, so far as material, the enactments listed in Parts 1 and 2 of Schedule 2 (which relate to statutes and subordinate instruments respectively).

River basin districtsF364

1

The areas shown on the official map are identified as river basin districts for the purposes of these Regulations.

2

In this regulation, “the official map” means the map of river basin districts produced by the Agency and published on its website.

3

The NRBW must ensure that the official map is published on its website.

4

The Agency and the NRBW must ensure that the official map is made available to the public at their principal offices.

Characterisation of river basin districtsC25

1

The Agency must in accordance with Annex II to the Directive (characterisation, etc of waters) by 22nd December 2004—

a

carry out an analysis of the characteristics of each river basin district; and

b

conduct a review of the impact of human activity on the status of surface water and groundwater in each river basin district.

2

The results of the work required by paragraph (1) must be periodically reviewed and updated by the F15appropriate agency, initially by 22nd December 2013 and thereafter by each sixth anniversary of that date.

Economic analysis of water use in river basin districtsC36

1

The appropriate authority must ensure that an economic analysis of water use in each river basin district is carried out by 22nd December 2004 in accordance with Annex III to the Directive (economic analysis).

2

The appropriate authority must ensure that the analysis required by paragraph (1) is periodically reviewed and updated, initially by 22nd December 2013 and thereafter by each sixth anniversary of that date.

Bodies of water used for the abstraction of drinking waterC47

1

The F9appropriate agency must identify any bodies of water within each river basin district which—

a

are used for the abstraction of water intended for human consumption and either—

i

provide more than 10 cubic metres of such water per day as an average; or

ii

serve more than 50 persons; or

b

are intended to be used for the abstraction of water intended for human consumption to the extent referred to in sub-paragraph (a)(i) or (ii).

2

In this regulation, “water intended for human consumption” has the same meaning as in Council Directive 80/778/EC of 15th July 1980 relating to the quality of water intended for human consumption, as amended9.

Register of protected areasC48

1

TheF9appropriate agencymust for each river basin district—

a

by 22nd December 2004 prepare, and

b

thereafter keep under review and up to date,

a register of the protected areas lying (whether wholly or partly) within the district.

2

In this regulation, “protected area” means—

a

a body of water which has been identified under regulation 7; and

b

the areas and bodies of water for the time being designated or otherwise identified as requiring special protection under any Community instrument providing for the protection of surface water and groundwater or for the conservation of habitats or species directly depending on water, or any enactment implementing such a Community instrument, including, in particular—

i

areas designated for the protection of economically significant aquatic species;

ii

bodies of water designated as recreational waters;

iii

nutrient-sensitive areas; and

iv

areas designated for the protection of habitats or species where the maintenance or improvement of the status of water is an important factor in the protection of the habitats or species.

MonitoringC49

1

The F9appropriate agency must—

a

establish programmes for monitoring water status in order to establish a coherent and comprehensive overview of water status within each river basin district; and

b

take such other action as is necessary to give effect to the relevant monitoring provisions of the Directive.

2

The monitoring programmes must cover—

a

in relation to surface water—

i

the volume and level or rate of flow to the extent relevant to ecological and chemical status and ecological potential; and

ii

ecological and chemical status and ecological potential; and

b

in relation to groundwater, chemical and quantitative status.

3

The monitoring programmes must be made operational by 22nd December 2006.

4

The relevant monitoring provisions of the Directive referred to in paragraph (1) are set out in the following provisions of Annex V to the Directive—

a

points 1.3 to 1.3.6 (monitoring of ecological status, chemical status and ecological potential for surface waters);

b

points 1.4 to 1.4.3 (classification and presentation of ecological status, chemical status and ecological potential);

c

points 2.2 to 2.2.4 (monitoring of groundwater quantitative status);

d

points 2.4 to 2.4.4 (monitoring of groundwater chemical status); and

e

points 2.4.5 and 2.5 (interpretation and presentation of groundwater status).

F575

By 22nd December 2018, the appropriate agency must establish, for each river basin district, a monitoring programme in respect of substances 34 to 45 in the table of priority substances.

Environmental objectives and programmes of measuresC510

1

For the purposes of the river basin management plan for a river basin district which is required by regulation 11, the F16appropriate agency must by such date as the appropriate authority may direct prepare and submit to the authority proposals for—

a

environmental objectives for the district; and

b

a programme of measures to be applied in order to achieve those objectives.

2

In preparing proposals under paragraph (1), the F16appropriate agency must—

a

take account of the characterisation of, and economic analysis of water use in, the relevant river basin district (and any review of the same) carried out under regulations 5 and 6; and

b

take such steps as F17the appropriate agency thinks fit , or the appropriate authority may direct, to—

i

provide opportunities for the general public and those persons likely to be interested in or affected by F18the appropriate agency’s proposals to participate in discussion and the exchange of information or views in relation to the preparation of those proposals;

ii

publicise F19the appropriate agency’s draft proposals to those persons; and

iii

consult those persons in respect of those proposals.

3

The appropriate authority may, having considered any proposals for environmental objectives or for a programme of measures submitted to it and any representations received by the authority in relation to those proposals—

a

approve them, or any of them, in the form submitted;

b

approve them, or any of them, either with modifications or subject to such modifications as the authority may direct the F16appropriate agency to make; or

c

reject them, or any of them;

and, in any case falling within sub-paragraph (b) or (c), must state its reasons for doing so.

4

Where the appropriate authority rejects any proposals, it must direct the F16appropriate agency to resubmit proposals, by such time, if any, as the direction may specify with—

a

modifications of such nature as the direction may specify; and

b

any further modifications which the F16appropriate agency considers appropriate.

5

The appropriate authority must ensure that—

a

for each river basin district a programme of measures is—

i

established by 22nd December 2009;

ii

made operational by 22nd December 2012; and

iii

periodically reviewed and where appropriate updated, initially by 22nd December 2015 and thereafter by each sixth anniversary of that date; and

b

in relation to a programme of measures that is updated under sub-paragraph (a)(iii), any new or revised measures are made operational within three years of that updating.

F586

Without prejudice to the existing obligations, the appropriate authority must ensure that a programmes of measures updated by 22nd December 2015, or subsequently, under paragraph (5)(a)(iii) includes measures for the purpose of aiming to achieve good surface water chemical status by 22nd December 2021 in relation to substances 2, 5, 15, 20, 22, 23 and 28 in the table of priority substances.

F37Further programmes of measures in relation to certain priority substances10A

1

The appropriate agency must, by 22nd December 2018, establish a preliminary programme of measures for each river basin district in relation to substances 34 to 45 in the table of priority substances.

2

For the purposes of a programme of measures to be updated under regulation 10(5)(a)(iii) by 22nd December 2021, the appropriate agency must, by such date as the appropriate authority directs, prepare and submit to the appropriate authority proposals for a final programme of measures for the purposes of aiming to achieve good surface water chemical status in relation to substances 34 to 45 in the table of priority substances by 22nd December 2027 and preventing deterioration in the chemical status of each body of surface water in relation to those substances.

3

Regulation 10(2) applies to the preparation by the appropriate agency of its proposals under paragraph (2) as it does to proposals under regulation 10(1).

4

Without prejudice to the existing obligations, the appropriate authority must ensure that, for each river basin district, the programme of measures updated under regulation 10(5)(a)(iii) by 22nd December 2021 contains measures for the purposes of aiming to achieve good surface water chemical status in relation to substances 34 to 45 in the table of priority substances by 22nd December 2027 and preventing deterioration in the chemical status of each body of surface water in relation to those substances.

5

Regulation 10(3) and (4) applies in relation to proposals for a programme of measures submitted to the appropriate authority under paragraph (2) as it does to proposals submitted under regulation 10(1).

6

The appropriate authority must ensure that the measures referred to in paragraph (4) are made operational as soon as possible after 22nd December 2021, and at the latest by 22nd December 2024.

River basin management plansC511

1

The F20appropriate agency must by such date as the appropriate authority may direct prepare and submit to the appropriate authority a river basin management plan for each river basin district.

2

A river basin management plan must—

a

relate to such period as the appropriate authority directs; and

b

include the information specified in the relevant provisions of the Directive F60and the EQS Directive .

3

The relevant provisions of the Directive for the purposes of this regulation are—

a

Article 9(2) and (4) (recovery of the costs of water services);

b

Annex II, point 1.3(vi) (exclusion of elements from the assessment of ecological status);

c

the following provisions of Annex V—

i

points 1.3 and 1.3.4 (confidence and precision in monitoring surface water);

ii

point 2.4.1 (confidence and precision in monitoring groundwater); and

iii

points 2.4.5 and 2.5 (presentation of monitoring results for groundwater); and

d

Annex VII, Part A (elements to be covered in river basin management plans).

F593A

The relevant provisions of the EQS Directive for the purposes of this regulation are—

a

Article 3(5) (information about monitoring and analysis, including alternative matrices);

b

Article 4(2) (information relating to mixing zones);

c

Article 5(4) (updated inventories).

4

The appropriate authority must ensure that each river basin management plan is—

a

published by 22nd December 2009; and

b

periodically reviewed and where appropriate updated, initially by 22nd December 2015 and thereafter by each sixth anniversary of that date.

River basin management plans: public participationC612

1

The F21appropriate agency must in respect of the production of a river basin management plan—

a

not less than three years before the beginning of the plan period, publish a statement of—

i

the steps and consultation measures F22the appropriate agency is to take in connection with the preparation of the plan; and

ii

the dates by which those steps and measures are to be taken;

b

not less than two years before the beginning of the plan period, publish a summary of the significant water management matters F23which the appropriate agency considers arise for consideration in relation to the river basin district; and

c

not less than one year before the beginning of the plan period, publish a draft plan.

2

The F21appropriate agency must publish any matter required by paragraph (1) to be published in such manner as the F21appropriate agency considers appropriate for the purpose of bringing it to the attention of persons likely to be affected by it and must—

a

make copies of the statement, summary or draft plan accessible to the public free of charge through its website and at its principal office F61...;

b

publish a notice—

i

stating the fact of publication;

ii

specifying the arrangements made for making copies of the statement, summary or draft plan available for public inspection; and

iii

stating that any person may make representations to the F21appropriate agency in relation to the statement, summary or draft plan;

c

consult the persons referred to in paragraph (4);

d

take such steps as F24the appropriate agency thinks fit , or the appropriate authority may direct, to provide opportunities for the general public and the persons referred to in paragraph (4) to participate in discussion and the exchange of information or views in relation to the preparation of the draft plan; and

e

invite the public and the persons referred to in paragraph (4) to make representations in relation to the draft plan.

3

A notice required by paragraph (2)(b) must be published—

a

in the London Gazette; and

b

at least once in each of two successive weeks, in one or more newspapers circulating in the river basin district to which the plan relates.

4

The persons to be consulted are—

a

the appropriate authority;

b

the F1Water Services Regulation Authority ;

c

the appropriate nature conservation bodies;

d

every local authority any part of whose area is within the river basin district;

e

every local planning authority any part of whose area is within the river basin district;

f

where any part of the river basin district has been designated as a National Park, the National Park authority for that National Park;

g

the harbour authority for each harbour in the river basin district;

h

every navigation authority having functions in relation to any part of the river basin district;

i

every water undertaker or sewerage undertaker any part of whose area is within the river basin district;

F4j

F2“any inshore fisheries and conservation authority for an inshore fisheries and conservation district any part of which lies within the river basin district;

k

such persons as appear to the F21appropriate agency, in relation to the river basin district—

i

to be representative of the interests of those carrying on any business which relies upon the water environment;

ii

to have an interest in the protection of the water environment; or

iii

to have an interest in the promotion of flood management; and

l

such other persons as—

i

the F21appropriate agency thinks fit; or

ii

the appropriate authority may direct.

5

In this regulation—

a

“appropriate nature conservation bodies” means the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and—

i

in relation to a river basin district that is wholly in England, F62Natural England ; F25and

F26ii

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

iii

in relation to a river basin district that is partly in England and partly in Wales, English Nature F27in relation to the part in England ;

b

“harbour” and “harbour authority” have the meanings given by section 57 of the Harbours Act 196410;

F5ba

“inshore fisheries and conservation authority” means the inshore fisheries and conservation authority for an inshore fisheries and conservation district;

bb

“inshore fisheries and conservation district” means an inshore fisheries and conservation district established by an order under section 149(1) of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009;

c

“local authority” means the council of any county, county borough, district or London borough, the Common Council of the City of London or the Greater London Authority;

F6d

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

e

“local planning authority” has the meaning given by section 1 of the Town and Country Planning Act 199012;

f

“navigation authority” has the meaning given by section 221(1) of the Water Resources Act 199113; and

g

“the plan period”, in relation to a plan, means the period to which a direction under regulation 11(2)(a) requires it to relate.

6

The F21appropriate agency must take into account any representations relating to a statement, summary or draft plan published in accordance with paragraph (1) which are received by the F21appropriate agency within the period of six months beginning with the date of publication or such longer period as the appropriate authority may direct.

River basin management plans: submission for approvalC713

1

As soon as a river basin management plan is submitted to the appropriate authority, the F10appropriate agency must—

a

make copies of the plan accessible to the public free of charge through its website and at its principal office F63...; and

b

publish a notice—

i

stating the fact of submission; and

ii

specifying the arrangements made for making copies of the plan accessible to the public.

2

The F10appropriate agency must ensure that a plan submitted to the appropriate authority is accompanied by—

a

a statement of the steps taken by the F10appropriate agency to comply with regulation 12(1) and (so far as relating to the draft plan) regulation 12(2) to (4); and

b

a summary of the representations referred to in regulation 12(6) and of any changes made to the plan in light of those representations.

3

If the appropriate authority considers in relation to a plan that further action should be taken by the F10appropriate agency under regulation 12(2) to (4), the appropriate authority may direct theF10appropriate agency—

a

to take such further steps under those provisions as the appropriate authority may specify in the direction; and

b

to resubmit the plan within such period, if any, as the appropriate authority may specify in the direction.

4

Where the appropriate authority gives a direction to the F10appropriate agency under paragraph (3), it must state its reasons for doing so.

5

This regulation applies in relation to a river basin management plan resubmitted to the appropriate authority in accordance with a direction under paragraph (3) as it applies to the plan as originally submitted, with the modification that, for the reference in paragraph (3) to regulation 12(2) to (4), there is substituted a reference to this regulation.

River basin management plans: approvalC814

1

The appropriate authority may, having considered a river basin management plan submitted to it and any representations received by the authority in relation to that plan—

a

approve it, in whole or in part, in the form submitted;

b

approve it, in whole or in part, either with modifications or subject to such modifications as the appropriate authority may direct the F10appropriate agency to make; or

c

reject it;

and, in any case falling within sub-paragraph (b) or (c), must state its reasons for doing so.

2

Where the appropriate authority rejects a plan, it must direct the F10appropriate agency to resubmit the plan, by such time, if any, as the direction may specify, with—

a

modifications of such nature as the direction may specify; and

b

any further modifications which the F10appropriate agency considers appropriate.

3

Where the appropriate authority approves a plan, the F10appropriate agency must publish the approved plan in such manner as the F10appropriate agency thinks fit for the purpose of bringing the plan to the attention of the general public and of those persons likely to be interested in or affected by it and, in particular, must—

a

make copies of the approved plan accessible to the public free of charge through its website and at its principal office F64...; and

b

publish a notice—

i

stating that the plan has been approved; and

ii

specifying the arrangements made for making copies of the plan accessible to the general public.

River basin management plans: reviewC915

1

The F10appropriate agencymust review and update each river basin management plan (including a revised river basin management plan)—

a

by no later than six years from the date on which it was approved under regulation 14; or

b

by such earlier date as the appropriate authority may direct.

2

Following such a review, the F10appropriate agency must prepare and submit to the appropriate authority a revised river basin management plan by such date as the appropriate authority may direct.

3

Regulations 11(2) and (3) and 12 to 14 apply in relation to the preparation, submission and approval of a revised river basin management plan.

4

The revised plan must include the information specified in Part B of Annex VII to the Directive (additional information for inclusion in updated river basin management plans) in addition to the matters required to be included by regulation 11(2)(b) and (3).

Supplementary plansC1016

1

The F28appropriate agency may prepare supplementary plans for the purposes of supplementing the river basin management plan for a river basin district.

2

A plan prepared under paragraph (1) may, for example, relate to—

a

a particular description of body of water;

b

a particular catchment or geographical area;

c

a particular matter relating to, or aspect of, the water environment; or

d

a particular description of user of water resources.

3

The F65appropriate agency must, in relation to the preparation of a supplementary plan, consult such of the persons referred to in regulation 12(4) and such other persons likely to be interested in or affected by that plan as F29the appropriate agency thinks fit, and must take into account any views expressed by those consulted.

Duty to have regard to river basin management plans and supplementary plansC1017

The Secretary of State, F66the Welsh Ministers, the Agency F30, the NRBW and each public body must, in exercising their functions so far as affecting a river basin district, have regard to—

a

the river basin management plan for that district as approved under regulation 14; and

b

any supplementary plan prepared under regulation 16.

Publication of informationC1018

1

The F31appropriate agency must make accessible to the public at its principal office F32or (as the case may be) their principal offices —

a

the results of the work required by regulation 5 (characterisation of river basin districts);

b

maps showing bodies of water identified under regulation 7 (bodies of water used for the abstraction of drinking water);

c

the registers prepared under regulation 8 (register of protected areas);

d

the results of the programmes established under regulation 9 (monitoring);

e

the environmental objectives and programmes of measures proposed or approved under regulation 10 (environmental objectives and programmes of measures); and

f

any supplementary plan prepared under regulation 16 (supplementary plans).

2

Where the appropriate authority approves (with or without modifications) proposals made by the F31appropriate agency under regulation 10(1), the F31appropriate agency must publish a notice—

a

stating that the proposals have been approved; and

b

specifying the arrangements made for making the approved objectives and programme of measures accessible to the public.

3

The appropriate authority must make accessible to the public through its website and at its principal office the results of the analysis conducted under regulation 6 (economic analysis of water use in river basin districts).

F674

The appropriate authority must ensure that an interim report describing progress in the implementation of the planned programme of measures required to be produced under Article 15(3) of the Directive is made available via a central portal which is accessible to the public electronically in accordance with Article 7(1) of Directive 2003/4/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on public access to environmental information.

F38Coordination18A

1

This regulation applies where the results of a report under Article 7a of the EQS Directive show that additional measures at European Union or member State level may be necessary in order to facilitate compliance with the Directive in relation to a particular substance approved pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market8 or Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the making available on the market and use of biocidal products9.

2

The competent authority must apply Article 44 of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 or Article 48 of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012, as appropriate, to the relevant substance referred to in paragraph (1), or products containing that substance.

3

In applying the provisions referred to in paragraph (2), the competent authority must take into account any risk evaluations and socio-economic or cost-benefit analyses required under Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 or Regulation (EU) No 528/2012, including as regards the availability of alternatives.

4

The competent authority for the purposes of this regulation is the person defined as the competent authority for England or Wales—

a

in respect of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009, under regulation 3 of the Plant Protection Products Regulations 201110;

b

in respect of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012, under regulation 5 of the Biocidal Products and Chemicals (Appointment of Authorities and Enforcement) Regulations 2013.

Provision of information and assistanceC1019

1

A public body must, on being requested to do so by the F33appropriate agency, provide the F33appropriate agency with such information in its possession or under its control and such assistance as theF33appropriate agency may reasonably seek in connection with the exercise of any of the F33appropriate agency's functions under these Regulations.

2

Section 202 of the Water Resources Act 1991 (information and assistance in connection with the control of pollution) shall have effect as if functions under these Regulations were functions under the water pollution provisions of that Act.

Directions and guidance to public bodiesC1020

1

Section 40 of the Environment Act 199514 (directions to the new Agencies) shall have effect as if the power in subsection (2) to give directions included a power for the appropriate authority to give directions to any public body for the purposes of giving effect to the Directive.

2

Section 122 of the Environment Act 1995 (directions) shall apply in relation to any direction given by virtue of paragraph (1).

F342A

Article 11 of the Natural Resources Body for Wales (Establishment) Order 2012 (directions to the Natural Resources Body for Wales) shall have effect as if the power in paragraph (3) to give directions included a power for the appropriate authority to give directions to any public body for the purposes of giving effect to the Directive.

2B

Article 11A of the Natural Resources Body for Wales (Establishment) Order 2012 (further provision about directions) shall apply in relation to any direction given by virtue of paragraph (2A).

3

The appropriate authority may give guidance to the F35appropriate agency or to any other public body with respect to the practical implementation of the Directive, and the body to whom guidance is issued shall have regard to it.

Signed on behalf of the National Assembly for Wales

Dafydd Elis-ThomasThe Presiding Officer of the National Assembly
Elliot MorleyMinister of State,Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

SCHEDULE 1DIRECTIVE DEFINITIONS

Regulation 2(2)

Annotations:
Amendments (Textual)

  • “Aquifer” means a subsurface layer or layers of rock or other geological strata of sufficient porosity and permeability to allow either a significant flow of groundwater or the abstraction of significant quantities of groundwater.

  • “Body of groundwater” means a distinct volume of groundwater within an aquifer or aquifers.

  • “Body of surface water” means a discrete and significant element of surface water such as a lake, a reservoir, a stream, river or canal, part of a stream, river or canal, a transitional water or a stretch of coastal water.

  • “Coastal water” means surface water on the landward side of a line, every point of which is at a distance of one nautical mile on the seaward side from the nearest point of the baseline from which the breadth of territorial waters is measured15, extending where appropriate up to the outer limit of transitional waters.

  • “Ecological status” is an expression of the quality of the structure and functioning of aquatic ecosystems associated with surface waters, classified in accordance with Annex V.

  • F39“Good surface water chemical status” means the chemical status required to meet the environmental objectives for surface waters established in Article 4(1)(a), that is the chemical status achieved by a body of surface water in which concentrations of pollutants do not exceed the environmental quality standards established in Annex IX and under Article 16(7), and under other relevant EU legislation setting environmental quality standards at EU level.

  • “Groundwater” means all water which is below the surface of the ground in the saturation zone and in direct contact with the ground or subsoil.

  • “Groundwater status” is the general expression of the status of a body of groundwater, determined by the poorer of its quantitative status and its chemical status.

  • “Inland water” means all standing and flowing water on the surface of the land, and all groundwater on the landward side of the baseline from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured.

  • “Lake” means a body of standing inland surface water.

  • “Quantitative status” is an expression of the degree to which a body of groundwater is affected by direct and indirect abstractions.

  • “River” means a body of inland water flowing for the most part on the surface of the land but which may flow underground for part of its course.

  • “River basin” means the area of land from which all surface run-off flows through a sequence of streams, rivers and, possibly, lakes into the sea at a single river mouth, estuary or delta.

  • “Surface water” means inland waters, except groundwater; transitional waters and coastal waters except in respect of chemical status for which it shall also include territorial waters.

  • “Transitional waters” are bodies of surface water in the vicinity of river mouths which are partly saline in character as a result of their proximity to coastal waters but which are substantially influenced by freshwater flows.

  • “Water services” means all services which provide, for households, public institutions or any economic activity:

    1. a

      abstraction, impoundment, storage, treatment and distribution of surface water or groundwater,

    2. b

      waste-water collection and treatment facilities which subsequently discharge into surface water.

  • “Water use” means water services together with any other activity identified under Article 5 and Annex II having a significant impact on the status of water.

SCHEDULE 2ENACTMENTS IN RELATION TO WHICH DUTIES IN REGULATION 3 APPLY

Regulation 3(3)

PART 1STATUTES

1

Section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 197216.

2

The Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 197517.

F83

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F403

F3Parts 2 and 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (waste on land and contaminated land).

F404

Part 4 of the Water Industry Act 199120 (sewerage services).

F405

Parts 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 of the Water Resources Act 199121 (water resources management; control of pollution of water resources; flood defence; general control of fisheries; land and works powers; information provisions; miscellaneous and supplemental).

F416

The Land Drainage Act 1991.

7

The Environment Act 1995.

F438

F7Part 4 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (marine licensing).

F429

The Flood and Water Management Act 2010.

F44PART 2Subordinate instruments

Annotations:
Amendments (Textual)

10

The Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations 1989.

11

The Urban Waste Water Treatment (England and Wales) Regulations 1994.

12

The Surface Waters (Shellfish) (Classification) Regulations 1997 and the Surface Waters (Shellfish) Directions 2010.

13

The Water Protection Zone (River Dee Catchment) (Procedural and Other Provisions) Regulations 1999.

14

The Water Resources (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2003.

15

The Urban Waste Water Treatment (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2003.

16

The Environmental Damage (Prevention and Remediation) (Wales) Regulations 2009.

17

The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 201022.

18

The Water Resources (Control of Pollution) (Silage, Slurry and Agricultural Fuel Oil) (England) Regulations 201023.

19

The Water Resources (Control of Pollution) (Silage, Slurry and Agricultural Fuel Oil) (Wales) Regulations 201024.

20

The Natural Resources Body for Wales (Establishment) Order 2012.

21

The Bathing Water Regulations 2013.

22

The Nitrate Pollution Prevention (Wales) Regulations 201327.

23

The Keeping and Introduction of Fish (Wales) Regulations 2014.

24

The Keeping and Introduction of Fish (England and River Esk Catchment Area) Regulations 201529.

25

The Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations 201530.

26

The Environmental Damage (Prevention and Remediation) (England) Regulations 201531.

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations make provision for the purpose of implementing in river basin districts within England and Wales Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23rd October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy (O.J. No. L327, 22.12.2000, p. 1), known as the Water Framework Directive (“the Directive”). The Directive is accessible by using the weblink http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en.

The Regulations require a new strategic planning process to be established for the purposes of managing, protecting and improving the quality of water resources. That process applies to river basin districts identified by regulation 4. These are river basin districts that are wholly in England, wholly in Wales or partly in England and partly in Wales, but not river basin districts that are partly in Scotland.

General responsibility for ensuring that the Directive is given effect in those districts is placed on the “appropriate authority”. This means the Secretary of State in relation to river basin districts in England, the National Assembly for Wales in relation to such districts in Wales, and the Secretary of State and the Assembly acting jointly in relation to such districts that are partly in England and partly in Wales. Related general duties are placed on the Secretary of State and the National Assembly for Wales, and a general duty is also placed on the Environment Agency (“the Agency”) (regulation 3).

The Agency is required to carry out detailed monitoring and analysis in relation to each river basin district (regulations 5 and 9), and the appropriate authority must ensure that appropriate economic analysis is also carried out (regulation 6). Certain waters used for the abstraction of drinking water must be identified (regulation 7) and a register must be established of those waters and certain other protected areas (regulation 8).

This analytical and preparatory work must then inform the preparation by the Agency of proposals for environmental objectives and programmes of measures in relation to each river basin district (regulation 10). Those objectives will translate the generic environmental objectives set out in the Directive to the particular situation in each river basin district. The preparation of such proposals must include public involvement, and proposals themselves are subject to approval by the appropriate authority.

The results of the Agency’s technical work, the environmental objectives and proposals for programmes of measures must be brought together in the preparation of a river basin management plan for each river basin district (regulations 11 to 15). The Agency is to prepare draft plans, after public involvement (regulations 11 and 12). Those plans must contain details of the results of the prior technical and planning work that will have been done, along with the environmental objectives and programmes of measures proposed for each district. Plans are subject to approval by the appropriate authority and must be periodically reviewed (regulations 13 to 15). The Agency may also prepare supplementary plans, which are not subject to approval by the appropriate authority (regulation 16).

The Secretary of State, the Assembly, the Agency and other public bodies are required to have regard to river basin management plans and to any supplementary plans in exercising their functions in relation to river basin districts (regulation 17).

The Regulations also make supplementary provision in respect of the publication of information, the provision of information and assistance, and the giving of guidance or directions for the purpose of giving effect to the Directive (regulations 18 to 20).

A Regulatory Impact Assessment and a Transposition Note have been prepared in connection with these Regulations and a copy of each has been placed in the library of each House of Parliament. Copies can also be obtained from the Water Quality Division, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Zone 3/H16, Ashdown House, 123 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6DE and the Environment Division, National Assembly for Wales, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3NQ, or by using the weblinks http://defra.gov.uk/environment/water/wfd/index.htm or http://www.wales.gov.uk/index.