Policies abd Regulations

The catalogue identifies relevant open data sources, including Earth Observation (EO) satellite data, as well as environmental and socio-economic. These sources include local and remote sensors (such as satellite imagery, weather stations, and water quality monitoring devices), research outputs (such as census reports, land use maps, and economic indicators). Each resource is evaluated for quality, update frequency, accessibility, and any applicable legal constraints.

ID â–² Name Issuing organisation Geographical Scope Type Scientific domain Type of water Water management focus Parameter change rate assumption Description Status Effect Date Resource Recommendations
policies-21 Drinking Water Standards and Regulations Drinking Water Inspectorate England and Wales standards chemistry Microbiological and chemical parameters, national requirements https://www.dwi.gov.uk/drinking-water-standards-and-regulations/
policies-22 Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999 UK Parliament England and Wales Legistlation chemistry, biology surface and groundwater; treated water monitoring Quality key piece of environmental legislation in the United Kingdom designed to control and regulate pollution from industrial and other commercial activities. It aims to reduce pollution to air, water, and land, ensuring that industries and facilities are operated in a way that minimizes their environmental impact. Effective 15 November 1999 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1999/24/contents Purpose: Control pollution from industrial activities and implement the EU IPPC Directive. Permitting system: Industrial facilities must be permitted and meet environmental standards for emissions. Integrated approach: Emphasis on using Best Available Techniques (BAT) to reduce pollution. Monitoring and enforcement: Includes inspection, monitoring, and public transparency. Penalties: Fines and sanctions for non-compliance.
policies-23 Waste Framework Directive European Parliament & Council EU Legistlation Chemistry; biology surface and groundwater; treated water monitoring Quality Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008, commonly referred to as the Waste Framework Directive, is a key piece of European Union (EU) legislation that sets out the framework for waste management across EU member states. Its primary purpose is to ensure that waste is managed in a way that protects the environment, human health, and promotes resource efficiency. The Directive aims to minimize the environmental impact of waste, promote recycling, and encourage the transition towards a circular economy. Effective 19 November 2008 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32008L0098 Waste hierarchy: Prevention, preparation for reuse, recycling, other recovery, disposal. Recycling and recovery targets: Specific targets for recycling municipal waste, packaging waste, and others. Extended producer responsibility (EPR): Producers are responsible for their products’ end-of-life management. Waste management plans: Member States must prepare national and regional plans for waste management and prevention. End-of-waste criteria: Defines when waste ceases to be waste and becomes a resource. Hazardous waste: Stricter controls on hazardous waste. Waste shipment: Regulations for shipping waste within the EU and abroad.
policies-24 Environment Agency enforcement and sanctions policy UK Parliament England and Wales Legistlation physical states, chemistry, geology, and biology surface and groundwater; treated water monitoring Quality The Environment Agency's Enforcement and Sanctions Policy is a framework that guides the enforcement actions and sanctions that the Environment Agency (EA) in England, and its counterparts in Wales and Northern Ireland, can use to address non-compliance with environmental laws and regulations. The policy ensures that the EA uses a consistent, transparent, and proportionate approach when dealing with environmental offences, whether they relate to pollution, waste management, water quality, or other environmental concerns. Effective last updated 12 December 2024 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/environment-agency-enforcement-and-sanctions-policy/environment-agency-enforcement-and-sanctions-policy Key Objectives of the Policy Deterrence: Ensure that those who breach environmental laws are effectively deterred from doing so in the future. Restoration: Hold offenders accountable and ensure they take the necessary steps to restore the environment and remedy any damage caused. Public Confidence: Reinforce public confidence in environmental protection by demonstrating that the Environment Agency takes action against those who harm the environment.
policies-25 Habitats Directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC) European Parliament & Council EU Legistlation physical states, chemistry, geology, and biology surface and groundwater; treated water monitoring; management; protection Quality The Habitats Directive aims to protect over a thousand species, including mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish invertebrates, and plants, and 230 characteristic habitat types. The overall objective is to ensure that these species and habitat types are maintained, or restored, to a favourable conservation status within the EU. In addition to halting the further decline or disappearance of these species and habitats, the Directive aims to allow them to recover and thrive over the long-term. Effective https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/nature-and-biodiversity/habitats-directive_en Key Objectives Protection of Natural Habitats: The directive provides for the protection of a wide range of natural habitats, particularly those that are vulnerable or rare in Europe. These include habitats such as wetlands, forests, grasslands, and marine ecosystems. Conservation of Species: It aims to protect species of wild fauna and flora that are at risk, threatened, or endangered across Europe, including mammals, birds, amphibians, fish, reptiles, plants, and insects. Establishment of Natura 2000 Network: One of the most important aspects of the directive is the creation of the Natura 2000 network of protected areas. These are areas designated as being of European importance for the conservation of specific habitats and species.
policies-26 Environmental Liability Directive 2003/35/EC European Parliament & Council EU Legistlation physical states, chemistry, geology, and biology surface and groundwater, drinking water, wastewater and treated water monitoring, forecasting, projection, simulation, management Flow, level, pressure, quality, etc. Directive 2003/35/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, dated 26 May 2003, is a key piece of European Union (EU) legislation aimed at enhancing public participation in environmental decision-making processes. It specifically addresses public participation in the development of certain plans and programmes relating to the environment and introduces modifications to existing environmental assessment directives to improve access to justice. Effective https://eur-lex.europa.eu/resource.html?uri=cellar:4a80a6c9-cdb3-4e27-a721-d5df1a0535bc.0004.02/DOC_1&format=PDF Key Takeaways from the Directive: 1. Public participation is a right for citizens, NGOs, and other stakeholders in the development of plans and programmes relating to the environment. 2. It amends two key EU environmental directives (EIA and IPPC) to ensure public consultation and access to justice in environmental matters. 3. It reflects the EU’s commitment to transparency and accountability in environmental decision-making, in line with the Aarhus Convention. 4. It ensures that decisions affecting the environment can be challenged in court if public participation was inadequate or the decision violates environmental law.
policies-27 Directive on corporate sustainability due diligence (Directive 2024/1760) European Parliament & Council EU Legistlation physical states, chemistry, geology, and biology surface and groundwater, drinking water, wastewater and treated water monitoring, forecasting, projection, simulation, management Quality The Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence (Directive 2024/1760) is a proposed piece of European Union (EU) legislation aimed at enhancing corporate responsibility in relation to human rights and environmental sustainability across global supply chains. This directive is part of the EU's broader efforts to ensure that companies operating within the EU take responsibility for the impact their activities have on both people and the environment, both within the EU and abroad. effective 25 July 2024 https://commission.europa.eu/business-economy-euro/doing-business-eu/sustainability-due-diligence-responsible-business/corporate-sustainability-due-diligence_en The Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence (Directive 2024/1760) is a groundbreaking piece of legislation that seeks to hold EU companies accountable for their human rights and environmental impacts across global supply chains. It is part of the EU's broader push towards corporate responsibility and sustainability, helping to align business practices with environmental protection and human rights objectives. With the increasing importance of sustainable finance, ethical sourcing, and supply chain transparency, this directive will likely shape the future of corporate governance in the EU and beyond.
policies-28 The Agriculture Act 2020 UK Parliament England and Wales Legistlation physical states, chemistry, geology, and biology surface and groundwater; treated water monitoring; management; protection Quality This regulation transposes the EU Habitats Directive and Birds Directive into UK law, protecting habitats and species of European importance. Effective 11 November 0202 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2020/21/contents Key Provisions: Protects designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), and Special Protection Areas (SPAs). Farmers must ensure their activities do not harm protected sites or species, which may include restrictions on agricultural practices, such as land drainage or the use of pesticides.
policies-29 The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 UK Parliament England and Wales Legistlation physical states, chemistry, geology, and biology surface and groundwater; monitoring; management; protection Quality The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (commonly referred to as the Habitats Regulations 2017) are a key piece of UK legislation aimed at protecting biodiversity by safeguarding important habitats and species. These regulations were introduced to implement the European Union Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) and the Birds Directive (2009/147/EC), which are key components of EU environmental law, into UK law. After the UK left the EU, these regulations were retained under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, and they continue to provide a robust legal framework for the conservation of biodiversity. The primary aim of the regulations is to protect and conserve natural habitats and species of wild flora and fauna, particularly those of European significance. Effective 30 January 2018 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2017/1012/contents Key Protected Species and Habitats: The regulations protect a wide variety of species and habitats, including: European Protected Species (e.g., bats, otters, great crested newts, some species of orchids). Marine habitats such as reefs and mudflats. Freshwater and terrestrial habitats like heathlands, wetlands, and peat bogs. Specific bird species like the Hen Harrier, Red Kite, and various seabird species.
policies-30 The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 UK Parliament England and Wales Legistlation physical states, chemistry, geology, and biology surface and groundwater; monitoring; management; protection Quality The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (WCA) is a key piece of environmental legislation in the UK designed to protect wildlife, their habitats, and the countryside. It consolidates and strengthens earlier wildlife protection laws, setting out the legal framework for nature conservation, including the protection of species and habitats, regulation of land use, and the management of wildlife in the UK. The Act was amended by subsequent legislation, notably the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 and the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006, to reflect evolving environmental policies. It is regarded as one of the central pieces of legislation for wildlife protection in the UK. Effective 30 May 1981 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1981/69 Key Species Protected under the Act The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 provides protection to many species, including but not limited to: Birds: All wild birds (except for a few specific species) are protected, and certain species, such as the Golden Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, and Corncrake, are specially protected. Mammals: Species like otters, bats, badgers, and the water vole. Plants: Rare plants such as Lady’s Slipper Orchid and Marsh Saxifrage. Amphibians and Reptiles: For example, great crested newts, adders, and slow worms.