Transforming European Water Governance? Participation and River Basin Management under the EU Water Framework Directive in 13 Member States

Georgia is among the countries which have fresh groundwater distinguished for significant resources and drinking qualities of naturally high quality. Hydrogeological exploration and monitoring works for the purpose of identification, study and protection of fresh groundwater were not conducted in the period of 1990&#8211;2013. Considering the long-term termination of centralized researches and the intensively increasing anthropogenic pressures on the environment and on water in particular, the assessment and protection of groundwater resources becomes a very pressing issue. For this purpose, in 2013, on initiative of the Geology Department of LEPL National Environmental Agency of Georgia and the Czech Development Agency, restoration of the hydrogeological monitoring network and research of fresh groundwater using modern methodology began. The modern equipment was gradually installed on the water objects to obtain information about quantitative and qualitative characteristics in "online" mode and taking water samples for chemical and bacterial analysis twice a year. Currently, 56 water points (mainly wells) are being monitored. The database on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of fresh groundwater of Georgia is being expanding based on information received online from water points, fieldwork results, laboratory analyzes (chemical and bacteriological), and on the processing, analyzing and generalizing of the collected actual materials. As the issue concerns fresh groundwater (which is used by at least 90% of the population), it&#8217;s necessary to expand the state monitoring network. According to the EU Water Framework Directive, based on the basin management principles of water resources, conduct of researches is granted particular significance in the trans-boundary zone.The &#8222;European Union Water Initiative Plus for Eastern Partnership (EaP) Countries (EUWI+)&#8243;, which is the biggest commitment of the EU to the water sector in the EaP countries, helps Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine to bring their legislation closer to EU policy in the field of water management, as identified by the EU Water Framework Directive. The EUWI+ project addresses existing challenges in both development and implementation of efficient management of water resources.. Monitoring data are an important basis for water management, for risk, status and trend assessment and for the design and implementation of an effective and cost-efficient program of measures .Within the EUWI+ project, the following key activities were undertaken in Georgia: &#8222;Delineation and characterization of groundwater bodies and the design of a groundwater monitoring network in the Alazani-Iori and Khrami-Debed River Basin Districts in Georgia&#8220;, &#8222;Performed hydrogeological preliminary field works in the Alazani-Iori and Khrami-Debed River Basin&#8220;. Currently &#8222;Geophysical, isotope, hydrochemical, bacteriological and hydrodynamic assessment of twelve selected wells to be included in the national groundwater monitoring network in the Alazani-Iori River Basin District in Georgia&#8220; is in progress. The results of this study are a basis for the improvement of the groundwater monitoring network and the development of River Basin Management Plans. As a part of the EUWI+ project, several new monitoring stations are planned.The results are important in the process of implementation of integrated management of water resources, which should finally ensure sustainable management of water resources and reliable health protection of the population.

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Hydro-economic Modeling in River Basin Management: Implications and Applications for the European Water Framework Directive

Water Resources Management ◽

10.1007/s11269-006-9101-8 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 21 (7) ◽

pp. 1103-1125 ◽

Cited By ~ 121

Author(s):

I. Heinz ◽

M. Pulido-Velazquez ◽

J. R. Lund ◽

J. Andreu

Keyword(s):

Water Framework Directive ◽

River Basin ◽

River Basin Management ◽

Economic Modeling ◽

European Water Framework Directive ◽

Basin Management ◽

Management Implications ◽

European Water

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Water framework directive implementation in Greece: Introducing participation in water governance - the Case of the Evrotas River Basin management plan

Environmental Policy and Governance ◽

10.1002/eet.553 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 20 (5) ◽

pp. 336-349 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

Leeda Demetropoulou ◽

Nikolaos Nikolaidis ◽

Vasilis Papadoulakis ◽

Kostas Tsakiris ◽

Theodore Koussouris ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Framework Directive ◽

River Basin ◽

Water Governance ◽

River Basin Management ◽

Management Plan ◽

Basin Management ◽

River Basin Management Plan

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An integrated approach to water protection and management: the European Union model

International Journal of Law in the Built Environment ◽

10.1108/17561450911001289 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 1 (3) ◽

pp. 234-243 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Julie Adshead

Keyword(s):

European Union ◽

Water Framework Directive ◽

River Basin ◽

River Basin Management ◽

The European Union ◽

Basin Management ◽

Member States ◽

Modern Approach ◽

Content Type ◽

Integrated River Basin Management

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the European Union (EU) Water Framework Directive. It seeks first to determine whether its provisions align with modern thinking on integrated river basin management and second to assess the degree to which it has the potential to achieve legislative and inter‐agency integration throughout the Union.Design/methodology/approachThis is a desktop study. The paper draws upon theories and definitions of integrated river basin management and internal integration in existing literature and then proceeds to examine the provisions of the Water Framework Directive in the light of the models identified.FindingsThe framework for river basin management in the Water Framework Directive does not fully match the modern approach to integrated river basin management. The directive is limited by its primary focus upon the single medium of water, and its consequent failure to fully address wider land use planning issues. It, therefore, also fails to achieve integration between all relevant legislative instruments. It provides a framework for stakeholder involvement that could potentially serve the goal of inter‐agency integration. However, due to the high level of discretion in the hands of member states, there is likely to be a substantial divergence of practice across the EU.Originality/valueIn assessing the Water Framework Directive against modern notions of river basin management and the directive's stated integrative aspirations, the paper informs implementation and practice in member states.

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