Water Consultation Process 2001-04
The Heritage Council strongly supports the availability of a sufficient supply of good-quality surface and ground water as needed for sustainable water use; the conservation and improvement of all surfaces; coastal and ground waters, and the conservation of aquatic habitats. We also support raising awareness among water-users of how natural environments respond to the pressures from a wide range of activities, including land use.
In 2001, the Heritage Council embarked on a consultative process to advise its future policy on Water Management and on the implementation of the EU's Water Framework Directive 2000 [pdf 867kb], which aims to reverse the continuing decline in the quality of Europe's water resources. A working group of expert opinion on water quality was established in 2001 and in 2003 the Heritage Council concluded a consultative public process with the publication of Seeking Your Views On Water Quality - Report on Feedback [pdf 1.3mb] and a public seminar.