Surface water monitoring within the European Union water framework directive

The water consumed by humans should have no negative impact on their health. In 1998, the European Council adopted Directive 98/83/EC of3 November 3, 1998, on the quality of water intended for human consumption, aimed at protecting public health. The directive considers the standards for drinking water and the conditions for providing the EU population with clean and healthy water. Clean drinking water supply is inextricably related to the state of surface water. The Water Framework Directive (WFD) of the European Union, which entered into force on December 22, 2000, addresses the issues of establishing a framework for protecting all waters (inland surface water, transitional, coastal and groundwater). This EU Directive considers both chemical aspects of water protection, and also its environmental aspects, such as flow regime, composition and abundance of aquatic organisms. EU countries pay much attention to surface water monitoring and related studies. Surface water monitoring requirements are different in different EU countries and may even vary within one country. Considerable monitoring efforts were made as part of Eurowaternet, or Eionet. For transboundary waters, a United Nations Economic Commission for Europe manual was issued.