The Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England and Wales) Regulations 2017

Setting less stringent environmental objectives E+W

17.  �??

(1) Less stringent environmental objectives than those required by regulation 13(2)(b) or (c), (4), (5)(c) or (6) may be set for a specific body of water where�??

(a) that body of water is so affected by human activity or its natural condition is such that the achievement of the environmental objectives set would be infeasible or disproportionately expensive, and

(b) all the conditions in paragraphs (2) to (5) are or will be met.

(2) The condition is that the environmental and socio-economic needs served by such human activity cannot be achieved by other means which are a significantly better environmental option not entailing disproportionate costs.

(3) The condition is that where the body of water is a body of surface water, the highest ecological and chemical status possible is achieved, given impacts that could not reasonably have been avoided due to the nature of the human activity or pollution.

(4) The condition is that where the body of water is a body of groundwater, the least possible changes to good groundwater status occur, given impacts that could not reasonably have been avoided due to the nature of the human activity or pollution.

(5) The condition is that no further deterioration occurs in the status of the affected body of water.

(6) Where a less stringent environmental objective is set under paragraph (1)�??

(a) that objective, and the reasons for it, must be set out in the relevant river basin management plan;

(b) the review of that objective in accordance with regulation 12(6) must include consideration of whether a less stringent objective should continue to be set.