The Water Framework Directive is the most important piece of European water legislation to date. Its implementation in Ireland has been administered through Government funded River Basin District Projects. The Water Environment sections of RPS in Belfast, Limerick and Letterkenny were the lead consultants for 6 of the 8 projects in Ireland, covering all aspects of the Directive. Our expertise in the water environment, strategic planning, GIS, and environmental engineering has been crucial to their successful completion, culminating in the publication of River Basin Management Plans this year. These Plans will be adopted by Local Authorities and become an integral part of future catchment management, under the watchful eye of the European Commission.

Over the last 6 years, our environmental scientists have worked with internationally renowned academics and experts to develop classification tools for determining the Ecological Status of our waters, as required by the Water Framework Directive. This step is essential in setting the objectives for protecting and improving our water resource, and in planning how they are to be achieved The recently published Biology and Environment, Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy is dedicated to the Water Framework Directive in Ireland. It contains several papers co-authored by RPS scientists relating to cross-border coordination in managing international River Basin Districts, the use of biological parameters in classifying status of our waters, and identifying the ecological requirements of sensitive habitats and species. Please use the links below to view these papers.

North South Co-ordination in Ireland River Basins

The Ecological Requirements of
Water Dependend Species

Conceptual Basis of Ecological Status

Contact:
Grace Glasgow
T: +44 (0)28 9066 7914
E: grace.glasgow@rpsgroup.com