Disproportionate cost

Refers to costs that justify derogation from the obligations imposed by the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC. The disproportionate costs are legitimized by the impact of the cost of work on water prices and economic activity, as compared to the economic value of environmental benefits and other expected advantages. The disproportion is considered on a case by case basis using criteria such as: the financial resources available in the area concerned by this measure and in the user group(s) who bear the cost (if it only concerns households, the disproportion limit is especially related to their ability to pay significantly more for water), and/or benefits of any kind expected from achieving good water status by 2015 (production of drinking water from groundwater without further treatment, restoration of wetlands involved in flood control, etc). If the basin stakeholders justify the cost of a measure as disproportionate, they are entitled to exemption. Spreading the financing of the measure until 2021 or 2027 even (instead of 2015) may be sufficient to make its cost acceptable.