Photo: Niels Åge Skovbo / COWI

Implementation of the EU Water Directive 

The EU's Water Framework Directive is about establishing a good ecological status in all EU internal waters. COWI has been assisting in its implementation. 

The aim of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) is to ensure that the aquatic environment in EU member states achieves what they term "a good status" by 2015.

Funen County in Denmark is one of the partners in the EU's testing of the Directive implementation, and in connection with this, COWI helped design a plan for the management of the Odense River basin. Funen's involvement is Denmark's contribution to the EU's testing of the implementation of the WFD ahead of its actual implementation in member states.
Photo: Tao Lytzen / COWI
Examining a stretch of water at Odense.


Cost efficiency

Achieving a "good ecological status" in all surface water bodies means reducing nutrient loss, reducing pollution, and reversing physically altered topography. While this can be achieved in a number of ways, the WFD stipulates cost-effective methods be employed to avoid an excessive cost on society.

COWI's plan identified cost-effective solutions for improving water, estimated certain implementation costs, and reviewed the geographic distribution of costs throughout the county.

Close cooperation

Working closely with the county, initiatives to improve water were defined and then the impact of each was investigated. Based on these findings, solutions ensuring environmental improvement along with economic viability and efficiency were sought.

The methodologies used to assess the implementation of the WFD will be shared with other EU member states to assist them in developing their own management plans.