Project Summary

Mott MacDonald Pettit in association with RPS Consulting Engineers and Jacobs Babtie, have been appointed to develop a River Basin Management System, including a programme of measures and a River Basin Management Strategy, designed to achieve at least good status for all waters and to maintain high status where it exists. This four year project began in August 2004.

The overall objectives of the South Western River Basin District project include the following:

• Strengthen compliance with EU Directives and national legislation
• Collect and analyse information to determine water quality and identify possible threats to water status
• Prevent further deterioration and protect/enhance water quality
• Develop a programme of measures to address all significant pressures and sources of impact on aquatic ecosystems and groundwater
• Encourage and facilitate public participation including the maintenance of a project website
• Promote sustainable water use

In order to achieve these objectives the following project tasks have been identified:

• Identify pressures on water bodies and assess risk of not achieving compliance with the Water Framework Directive
• Prepare a Characterisation Report
• Identify Heavily Modified (HMWB) and Artificial Water Bodies (AWB)
• Establish risk to waters from Hazardous Substances
• Establish data management system and GIS
• Prepare programme of measures
• Review of monitoring needs
• Design monitoring programme
• Prepare River Basin Management Strategy
• Assist public participation in the project
• Prepare printed reports
• Assist capacity building