2.3.6.1 History, Aims and Objectives
Within the larger European water policy framework, the Groundwater Directive
(80/68/EEC), along with other similar Directives, is often referred to as daughter
directives to the overarching WFD (Quevauviller 2014). Initially, the Groundwater
Directive aimed to prevent the pollution of groundwater by hazardous substances
and to check or eliminate the consequences of pollution already incurred.
The main goal of the Groundwater Directive is to ensure good water quality.
Similar to the WFD, the Groundwater Directive focuses on water quality, rather
than quantity.
2.3.6.2 Structure, Components and Implementation
The Groundwater Directive provides a binding agreement prohibiting any and all
direct discharge of hazardous substances. Authorization, as well as a detailed record
of the discharges has to be provided to the European Commission for both types of
substances.
The new Directive, established in 2006, requires member states to establish
quality standards to protect groundwater, based on identified appropriate levels
based on local or regional conditions and thresholds. The standards are based on
pollution trend studies, compliance, regular monitoring and reporting, and pollution
reversal trends.
2.3.6.3 Relevance to Drought Policy Implementation
The Groundwater Directive is relevant to drought policy directly, as it aims to
protect underground water reserves, by ensuring good water quality standards are
upheld across all groundwater resources.
The Groundwater Directive focuses on water quality rather than quantity, which
is still relevant to groundwater policy. As the need for groundwater aquifer monitoring will increase in coming decades and it is expected that the focus will
increase more on water quantity.
2.3.7 European Common Agricultural Policy
As the name already suggests, the European Common Agricultural Policy
(CAP) focuses primarily on the agricultural perspective to water scarcity and
drought, though it also has implications within the water management perspective
as well.
2 European Drought and Water Scarcity Policies
35
Within the larger European water policy framework, the Groundwater Directive
(80/68/EEC), along with other similar Directives, is often referred to as daughter
directives to the overarching WFD (Quevauviller 2014). Initially, the Groundwater
Directive aimed to prevent the pollution of groundwater by hazardous substances
and to check or eliminate the consequences of pollution already incurred.
The main goal of the Groundwater Directive is to ensure good water quality.
Similar to the WFD, the Groundwater Directive focuses on water quality, rather
than quantity.
2.3.6.2 Structure, Components and Implementation
The Groundwater Directive provides a binding agreement prohibiting any and all
direct discharge of hazardous substances. Authorization, as well as a detailed record
of the discharges has to be provided to the European Commission for both types of
substances.
The new Directive, established in 2006, requires member states to establish
quality standards to protect groundwater, based on identified appropriate levels
based on local or regional conditions and thresholds. The standards are based on
pollution trend studies, compliance, regular monitoring and reporting, and pollution
reversal trends.
2.3.6.3 Relevance to Drought Policy Implementation
The Groundwater Directive is relevant to drought policy directly, as it aims to
protect underground water reserves, by ensuring good water quality standards are
upheld across all groundwater resources.
The Groundwater Directive focuses on water quality rather than quantity, which
is still relevant to groundwater policy. As the need for groundwater aquifer monitoring will increase in coming decades and it is expected that the focus will
increase more on water quantity.
2.3.7 European Common Agricultural Policy
As the name already suggests, the European Common Agricultural Policy
(CAP) focuses primarily on the agricultural perspective to water scarcity and
drought, though it also has implications within the water management perspective
as well.
2 European Drought and Water Scarcity Policies
35