Implementation of EU Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) in Romania—European Qualitative Requirements

Abstract

The EC (European Community) enacted the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) on September 23rd, 2000. This was aimed at maintaining and improving the biological and chemical status of natural waters until 2015. The main water resources in Romania are represented by surface waters such as rivers, lakes, and ponds, with the Danube River as main hydrographical axis and as a transboundary river. These water resources are influenced by the values of overland flows. About 94% of the drainage basins in Romania are located within the Danube catchment area (29% of its surface). With its water resources, Romania is ranked the 13th in Europe according to the yearly mean of water quantity distributed per resident (1840 m3/person/year). In sum, there are several categories of waters in Romania, such as: 55,535 km of permanent rivers (representing 70% of all water courses), 23,370 km of perennial rivers (30%); 117 natural lakes larger than 0.5 km2, with 52% of them located in Danube Delta; 255 reservoirs larger than 0.5 km2, 174 km of transitional waters and 164 km of coastal waters. The ecological status of Romania’s surface waters has been assessed as good and least good for about 64% of them, and only 2% have been classified as poor or bad. As regards the chemical status, about 93% of surface bodies of water have been declared good and only 7% in a bad status. The total length of rivers overlapping protected areas represents 15.3% of the total water courses length. There are 216 areas with protected habitats and species (occupying 14,437.26 km2 and 6.1% of Romania’s territory), where water is a major factor.