Water framework directive (WFD)

• keeping water clean is important for humans, nature, agriculture, industry, recreation and drinking water
• WFD is a european agreement formed in 2000 to make sure Europe's water is good and clean (high quality) by 2027
• goals depend on type of water in country but all goals must lead to healthy clean water
• intense land use in NL and the spread of substances lead to high environmental and user pressures
• the most important threats for water in NL are discharges of chemical substances from industries, high amounts of nutrients, sewer overflow and discharges from filtered sewage, and dirty water entering NL through rivers from surrounding countries
• climate change, heavy rainfall, long-term high temperatures and drought have negative impacts on water quality
• (economic) implications include fines from europe and no permits for new activities that reduce water quality