WFD list of priority substances

Introduction

The Water Framework Directive, voted by the European Parliament and the European Council in October 2000 and entered into force in December 2000, aims to establish a legal framework for the protection of water quality in European countries, river water as well as sea water, groundwater and coastal water. Specific measures have to be adopted at European level against pollution of water by individual pollutants or groups of pollutants presenting a significant risk to the aquatic environment and water used for the production of drink water. They aim at a progressive reduction during several stages of the level of pollution for 33 priority hazardous substances, which could threaten human health or ecosystems lifes. The goal is to decrease the amount of pollutant in the environment to the background value for naturally occuring substances and close to zero for man-made synthetic substances.