Public policy

Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy, commonly known as the Water Framework Directive (WFD). It sets out environmental objectives and deadlines to improve the ecological and chemical status of surface water bodies as well as the quantitative status and chemical status of groundwater bodies. Some water bodies created by human activity or having their characteristics fundamentally modified by human activity, may be designated respectively as artificial water bodies (AWB) or heavily modified water bodies (HMWB). In this case, their characteristics and ecological functioning are described by an ecological potential. The WFD especially sets the general goal to achieve "

Station measuring groundwater quality at a water abstraction point where samples are taken for physico-chemical and bacteriological analyses ... to determine water quality.

In the strict sense, it is taking a sample (sampling) for analysis or testing. More generally, water withdrawals include all abstractions related to activities generated by agriculture, industry (including energy), drinking water supply, or others (authorized spring of mineral water, production of artificial snow). In this case, the withdrawals are grouped into 3 subtypes corresponding to the affected environment: surface water withdrawals, groundwater abstractions, seawater withdrawals.

Order established by the department prefect to implement measures to conserve biotopes such as ponds, marshes, swamps, heathland, dunes, groves, hedgerows, lawns and any natural formation not exploited by humans since these biotopes are necessary for reproduction, feeding, rest, survival of protected species. The biotope protection order is particularly adapted to deal with emergency situations of destruction or significant modification of an area.