Guidance on groundwater in drinking water protected areas : Guidance document No 16

This guidance explains the obligations for protected areas that apply to groundwater, in particular the requirements for drinking water protected areas (DWPAs) that are introduced under Article 7 of the water framework directive (WFD). It does not cover the requirements of the source directives under which individual protected areas are designated. The guidance explains the relationship between the objectives for protected areas and other WFD objectives. In particular it clarifies the requirements for DWPAs. This guidance should be read in conjunction with existing CIS guidance, such as the horizontal guidance on the delineation of water bodies and the companion guidance documents developed by the CIS Working Group C, Groundwater, in particular on groundwater monitoring. The purpose of this document is to: provide a common understanding of the technical and scientific implications of the WFD regarding protected areas; provide this in terms that can be understood by both regulators and those affected by the directive's implementation; clarify the groundwater aspects of the WFD's requirements for protected areas, where this is not already dealt with elsewhere, with a particular focus on the requirements for drinking water protected areas (DWPAs) and their associated safeguard zones; highlight issues that may affect the management of cross-boundary aquifers and water bodies.