Quality element

Partial view of the water status, which gives rise to control operations, the results of which are used by an assessment to determine quality indicators. The quality element is described by a parameter or set of parameters (parameter group). The list of quality elements is defined in Annex 5 of the Water Framework Directive, to assess the ecological status* of surface waters. They include biological quality elements (i.e. fauna - fish, crustaceans - and flora - e.g. algae), hydromorphological quality elements, (i.e. discharge, bank condition, width of the river bed, continuity of flow, etc.) and general physical-chemical (temperature, oxygen, nutrients, etc.) and chemical quality elements (various substances).