Public policy

Administrative decision of general interest (e.g. ministerial order of 29 February 1992 laying down a number of rules for all cattle farms subject to authorization) or individual (e.g. Prefect's order setting out the specific rules that the classified facility operated by Mr. X must comply with). Orders can be issued by ministers (ministerial or inter-ministerial orders), prefects (prefectural or prefect's orders) or mayors (municipal orders). The

A system for collecting data from several measuring stations having at least a targeting specific data (i.e. network for hydrometric measurements, piezometric measurement network) and which are carried out measurements or draw samples for later analysis. Each network meets common rules aimed at ensuring the consistency of observations, including the density and purpose of the measuring stations, the selection of compulsory parameters and the choice of measurement protocols, the determining of a periodicity to be complied with. All these rules are described in a protocol.

Postponement of the 2015 deadline to achieve "good status" of waters, in accordance with the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC. The greatest postponement, set at 2027, must be justified by at least one of the following reasons: technical feasibility, natural conditions, disproportionate costs, force majeure events (for temporary exemptions) or the development of projects responding to reasons of public interest.

Document prepared for the basin or group of basins and for the duration of a six-year management cycle (2010-2015, 2016-2021, 2022-2027, etc), which identifies the key measures to be implemented for achieving the objectives defined in the river basin management plan (SDAGE), including the environmental objectives of the

A goal required by the Water Framework Directive (WFD). The latter sets out four key environmental objectives that are: the non-deterioration of water bodies, the achievement of "good status" or "good potential" of water bodies by 2015, the reduction or elimination of pollution by "

Portion of a stream, canal, aquifer, lake or homogeneous coastal zone. This is a basic breakdown of aquatic environments to become the assessment unit of the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC. A surface water body is a discrete and significant element of surface water such as a lake, a reservoir, a stream, river or canal, part of a stream, river or canal, a transitional water or a stretch of littoral water. For waterways, delineation of water bodies is primarily based on the size of the stream and the concept of hydro-ecoregion. Water bodies are grouped into homogeneous types that are the basis for the definition of the concept of