How are the new classification systems different from previous classification systems?

New classification schemes will be used to describe the state of the water environment under the Water Framework Directive. It is anticipated that when the new classification schemes are in place, they will eventually replace the current General Quality Assessment (GQA).

Classification systems such as the General Quality Assessment (GQA) have concentrated mainly on a small number of chemical and biological indicators. The Directive asks European countries to look at the water environment as a whole, integrating water quality, quantity and physical habitat with ecological indicators. New classification systems are being developed for rivers, lakes, estuaries, coastal waters and groundwater. The health of the animal and plant groups that live in surface waters will now be the main factor that describes the state of those waters. Environmental standards are needed to help assess if the environmental conditions are good enough to support the biology.