Chapter 2
Implementation of EU Water Framework
Directive (2000/60/EC)
in Romania—European Qualitative
Requirements
Gheorghe Romanescu, Cristian Constantin Stoleriu and Alin Mihu-Pintilie
Abstract The EC (European Community) enacted the Water Framework Directive
(2000/60/EC) on September 23rd, 2000. This was aimed at maintaining and improving the biological and chemical status of natural waters until 2015. The main water
resources in Romania are represented by surface waters such as rivers, lakes, and
ponds, with the Danube River as main hydrographical axis and as a transboundary
river. These water resources are influenced by the values of overland flows. About
94% of the drainage basins in Romania are located within the Danube catchment
area (29% of its surface). With its water resources, Romania is ranked the 13th
in Europe according to the yearly mean of water quantity distributed per resident
(1840 m
3 /person/year). In sum, there are several categories of waters in Romania,
such as: 55,535 km of permanent rivers (representing 70% of all water courses),
23,370 km of perennial rivers (30%); 117 natural lakes larger than 0.5 km
2 , with
52% of them located in Danube Delta; 255 reservoirs larger than 0.5 km
2 , 174 km of
transitional waters and 164 km of coastal waters. The ecological status of Romania’s
surface waters has been assessed as good and least good for about 64% of them,
and only 2% have been classified as poor or bad. As regards the chemical status,
about 93% of surface bodies of water have been declared good and only 7% in a bad
status. The total length of rivers overlapping protected areas represents 15.3% of the
total water courses length. There are 216 areas with protected habitats and species
(occupying 14,437.26 km
2 and 6.1% of Romania’s territory), where water is a major
factor.
Keywords Anthropic impact · International Hydrographical District of Danube ·
Pollution · Surface bodies · Water quality
G. Romanescu · C. C. Stoleriu (B)
Department of Geography, Faculty of Geography and Geology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University
of Iasi, Bd. Carol I 20A, 700505 Iasi, Romania
e-mail: cristoan@gmail.com
A. Mihu-Pintilie
Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, Science Research Department, Alexandru Ioan Cuza
University of Iasi, St. Lascar Catargi 54, 700107 Iasi, Romania
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
A. M. Negm et al. (eds.), Water Resources Management in Romania, Springer Water,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-22320-5_2
17
Implementation of EU Water Framework
Directive (2000/60/EC)
in Romania—European Qualitative
Requirements
Gheorghe Romanescu, Cristian Constantin Stoleriu and Alin Mihu-Pintilie
Abstract The EC (European Community) enacted the Water Framework Directive
(2000/60/EC) on September 23rd, 2000. This was aimed at maintaining and improving the biological and chemical status of natural waters until 2015. The main water
resources in Romania are represented by surface waters such as rivers, lakes, and
ponds, with the Danube River as main hydrographical axis and as a transboundary
river. These water resources are influenced by the values of overland flows. About
94% of the drainage basins in Romania are located within the Danube catchment
area (29% of its surface). With its water resources, Romania is ranked the 13th
in Europe according to the yearly mean of water quantity distributed per resident
(1840 m
3 /person/year). In sum, there are several categories of waters in Romania,
such as: 55,535 km of permanent rivers (representing 70% of all water courses),
23,370 km of perennial rivers (30%); 117 natural lakes larger than 0.5 km
2 , with
52% of them located in Danube Delta; 255 reservoirs larger than 0.5 km
2 , 174 km of
transitional waters and 164 km of coastal waters. The ecological status of Romania’s
surface waters has been assessed as good and least good for about 64% of them,
and only 2% have been classified as poor or bad. As regards the chemical status,
about 93% of surface bodies of water have been declared good and only 7% in a bad
status. The total length of rivers overlapping protected areas represents 15.3% of the
total water courses length. There are 216 areas with protected habitats and species
(occupying 14,437.26 km
2 and 6.1% of Romania’s territory), where water is a major
factor.
Keywords Anthropic impact · International Hydrographical District of Danube ·
Pollution · Surface bodies · Water quality
G. Romanescu · C. C. Stoleriu (B)
Department of Geography, Faculty of Geography and Geology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University
of Iasi, Bd. Carol I 20A, 700505 Iasi, Romania
e-mail: cristoan@gmail.com
A. Mihu-Pintilie
Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, Science Research Department, Alexandru Ioan Cuza
University of Iasi, St. Lascar Catargi 54, 700107 Iasi, Romania
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
A. M. Negm et al. (eds.), Water Resources Management in Romania, Springer Water,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-22320-5_2
17