The Water Framework Directive (WFD) is a new regulatory framework which uses the river basin, as the unit at which management, planning and administrative decisions about water are made. It also requires that all interested parties be given a say in the use of water resources and impacts of potential changes to those resources. The WFD aims to achieve good ecological status in all water bodies across the EU by 2015.

Programme of work

Our research aims to evaluate how water resources can support multiple needs and values, the economic costs and benefits of water use, how Best Management Practices (BMPs) provide a basis for improving water quality, and how catchments can be managed using Programmes of Measures (POMs) to satisfy multiple objectives.

Our research has 3 themes:

• We are exploring both the benefits provided by, and the costs associated with, the utilisation of water resources in Scotland. This involves understanding the way people value water, so that the social value of its use can be maximised. We are considering the cost effectiveness of particular measures to meet quality requirements, the recovery of costs for water services (through the use of appropriate water pricing), whether environmental quality standards can be put in place within specified timescales, and whether exceptions to standards can be justified and under what circumstances.
• We are studying how effective BMPs are at improving water quality, whether they are economically viable, how and where they can be practically adopted (including possible effects on the landscape), and how to encourage their uptake. We aim to provide a range of practical methods to help improve water quality.
• We are examining how River Basins are managed to highlight the need for effective management strategies. We are developing and testing approaches which allow catchments to be managed to fulfil multiple objectives, particularly where the needs of potential users conflict. Scenarios are being developed to allow end-users to assess the impact of measures taken, and help in the development of individual River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs).

Many of the questions we face relate to the current and future status of water bodies. In the past, work has focussed on the chemical status, but increasingly the ecological status (i.e. what plant, fish and other life can be supported) is of interest. Therefore, this work will link closely to, and in many cases be based on results from, our other research into assessing water quality.

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Related Research

• Assessing Water Quality