To ensure healthy freshwater supply to our city dwellers and the protection of our freshwater bodies, we recommend:
- The Water Framework directive general objectives and 2027 target, the governance framework and the one-out-all-out principle should be maintained and reaffirmed.
- The Water Framework directive should better reflect the impact of climate change on water resources, and the sustainability challenges faced by cities in water management.
- The objectives of the Water Framework directive should be addressed through an integrated, systemic and holistic approach to improve water quality, rather than thinking each pressure element individually. The implementation of the ‘polluter-pays’ principle must be strengthened.
- The monitoring of the Water Framework directive should include an assessment of measures taken to reduce pressure elements. It should also address emerging pollutants to provide a more accurate picture of water quality.
