As a “framework directive”, the Water Framework Directive (WFD) seeks to bring together all individual acts of legislation and international conventions relating to water utilisation and water conservation. It applies to all types of waters within the territory of the Community, i.e. surface waters (rivers, lakes, transitional waters and coastal wa-
ters) and groundwater. With the entry into force of the WFD, waters in the EU are to be managed in accordance with a single legal framework.