The EU water framework directive as a framework for sustainable groundwater management in Niedersachsen, Germany

The EU water framework directive (WFD) leads to a restructuring of all aspects of water management within EU countries. The WFD requires the pursuit of good water quality for all types of water bodies within a tight time frame and compulsory reporting intervals within river basin boundaries. For Niedersachsen the activities are being described to fulfil the requirements of the first phase of characterizing the status of groundwater bodies. The delineation of 129 such entities follows hydraulic plus hydrogeological patterns. The characterization is made for both the chemical and the quantitative status. Pressures on the chemical status of the groundwater system derive from the influence of diffuse sources mainly from agriculture; point sources play a minor role. In addition, a few groundwater bodies are being stressed by high abstraction rates.