Beyond the Pipeline: A Holistic Look at Sustainable Wastewater Management

In 2000, the EU issued the Water Framework Directive (WFD) which provides a framework that outlines common approaches, objectives, principles and measures for water resources management in the EU countries. Currently, there are three models of water management in Europe, including: (i) Hydrological model: water resources management policies and authorities are based on river basins; (ii) Administrative model: policies and management are based on regional administrative boundaries; (iii) Hybrid model: management methods are a combination of both administrative and hydrological models. The British and French systems have characteristics of hydrological models, the German system has characteristics of administrative models and the Dutch system has a combination of both administrative and basin models.

England has developed an integrated water resources management policy for its river basins. The Environment Agency (EA) is the central government body responsible for long-term water resources planning and for the conservation, enhancement, allocation and sustainable use of water resources in England and Wales. The EA has offices at national and regional levels. The EA has regional offices for each of the eight major river basins in England and Wales.

In France, the responsibility for water resources management is divided among several agencies: The French Ministry of the Environment is responsible at the national level for the protection, management and improvement of the aquatic environment; river systems and water quality. The Ministry of the Environment programs and coordinates State intervention in relevant areas. The National Water Commission plays an important role in national water policy and drafts legislative and executive documents. The Commission is chaired by a Member of Parliament and includes representatives of the National Assembly, the Senate and the National Federation. Water management agencies in hydrological basins. France is divided into six main basins and each basin is directly managed by a Basin Commission. The Water Agency acts as an executive body for the management of water resources, while the Water Commission acts as a “Parliament on water issues”. Both organizations are involved in the preparation of the Master Plan for Water Resources Development and Management (SDAGE) and are supervised by the Ministry of Environment.