Integrated water resources management: the requirements of the European Union, the problem of environmental impact assessment, and implementation of the sustainable development principle

This paper deals with the European Council Directive establishing a framework for action in the field of water policy. The core principles of sustainable development and integrated river basin management are discussed. Both require for their implementation, evaluation of the impact of measures (e.g. water projects). A technique for the evaluation of the ecological impact of hydraulic sfructures on ecosystems affected by such projects is described. The principle of "ecological risk" assessment is presented, for which it is necessary to evaluate the present ecological state of the ecosystem affected by the intended project and the degree of damage caused by the intended measure or project. For the other relevant new planning principle, i.e. sustainable development, an example is given of how this principle can be implemented in the design of a water supply system. K e y w o r d s eco log ica l d a m a g e ; eco log ica l risk ana lys i s ; E u r o p e a n Counc i l Di rec t ive ; in tegrated r iver bas in m a n a g e m e n t ; mul t i -ob jec t ive dec i s ion m a k i n g ; poss ib i l i ty theory ; sus t a inab le d e v e l o p m e n t ; wa te r supp ly sys t ems