ICE has published a dedicated issue (164 WM8) of its Water Management journal with contributions from Belgium, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Poland, Spain and the UK.
The issue records some of the many new ideas and innovative solutions developed in response to the 2000 EU water framework directive.
The directive
The 2000 EU water framework directive is one of the most significant legislative drivers for civil engineers of all time. It has delivered a step-change in water management practices throughout Europe over the past decade - and the benefits of which should soon become apparent.
Surface water status
Implemented in 2003, the directive committed EU member states to prepare detailed river-basin management plans to achieve 'good ecological and chemical status' of all their surface water bodies – including coastal waters – by 2015.
Michael Hartnett of the National University of Ireland and Anastasios Stamou of the National Technical University of Athens say in their editorial, ‘We are just a few years away from knowing if these plans will deliver the desired outcomes.
International collaboration
‘Some member states have had to substantially enhance their water quality monitoring programmes to ensure compliance with the directive. There has also been a considerable amount of transnational collaboration, bringing experts from different countries together to solve common problems‘.
For more information
Please contact the ICE Proceedings editor Simon Fullalove on +44 (0)20 7665 2448 or email editor@ice.org.uk