Welcome to UKTAG - Water Framework Directive Site

The WFD-UKTAG is the United Kingdom Technical Advisory Group (UKTAG) supporting the implementation of the European Community (EC) Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60/EC). It is a partnership of the UK environment and conservation agencies. It also includes partners from the Republic of Ireland.

UKTAG was established in 2001 to provide coordinated advice on technical aspects of the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD).

This web-site provides information on:

• UKTAG and its partners
• UKTAG's work programme
• UKTAG guidance, documents and draft working papers
• Research relevant to the implementation of the WFD
• Events and current initiatives coordinated by UKTAG or its partner agencies
• Links to organisations implementing the WFD in the UK, Republic of Ireland and across Europe

This website is one of the information sources which provides background information on the consultations for classification and environmental standards carried out by the UK Administrations. Papers which are referred to in these consultations can be found through the links below:

• Phase 1 Report - Environmental standards and conditions for surface waters
• Phase 2 Report - Environmental standards and conditions for surface waters
• Recommendations on the classification schemes for surface waters
• Guidance on the classification of Ecological Potential for Heavily Modified Water Bodies and Artificial Water Bodies
• Proposals for a groundwater classification system and its application in regulation
• Proposals for environmental quality standards for Annex VIII substances
• Guidance on determining whether Natura 2000 Protected Areas are meeting the requirements of Article 4 (1c) for the 1st RBMP

UKTAG's work includes:

1. Development of guidance on:

• Identifying and characterising water bodies (including lakes, rivers, estuaries, coastal waters and groundwater) according to their physical characteristics
• Assessing the risk of these water bodies failing to achieve the WFD's environmental objectives

[The WFD requires this assessment of risk to be based on the analysis of water body characteristics and on a pressures and impacts analysis. The initial assessments were reported to Europe in March 2004.]

2. Contributing, along with experts from the European Commission, other Member States, accession countries and stakeholder groups, to the development of common approaches to implementation (also known as the Common Implementation Strategy).

3. Development of classification systems to support future monitoring and implementation of the WFD as well as inter-calibration across Europe.

4. Development of UK environmental standards and conditions to underpin classifcation and programme of measures

5. Development of a framework for monitoring. UK competent authorities must initiate their monitoring regimes by December 2006.

6. Development of a framework for setting environmental objectives under the WFD  with the UK and Europe