Assessing the European Water Stewardship Standard in the Context ...

5 Results 23
5 Results
In a first step the literature analysis is presented aligning the EWS standard with the WFD. In
a second step the results of the case study are presented giving feedback on the applicability
and the acceptance of the EWS standard. The applicability is evaluated by the results of the
performance analysis and questionnaire. The acceptance is assessed based on the expert
interviews.
5.1 Literature Analysis
The analysis of literature presents how the EWS Standard refers to the purpose (Art.1), the
environmental objectives (Art.4) of the WFD and the PoMs for the Elbe River basin (Art.11).
5.1.1 The EWS Standard and the EU Water Framework Directive
EWS Standard and the Purpose of the WFD (Art.1)
As defined in Article 1 of the WFD, the purpose of the Directive is “to establish a framework
for the protection of inland surface waters, transitional waters, coastal waters and
groundwater”. This purpose is divided into five more specific targets of Article 1: (a) prevent
further deterioration of aquatic ecosystems, (b) promote sustainable water use, (c) enhance
protection and improvement of the aquatic environment, (d) ensure the progressive reduction
of pollution and (e) contribute to mitigate effects of floods and droughts. In the following
portion it will be described in detail how the EWS standard is aligned with these targets.
The standard serves “to promote sustainable water use” (WFD, Art.1(b)) within its function as
a tool for SWM. This is covered by the four different principles of the standard: to achieve a
sustainable water abstraction (EWS, principle 1), to achieve and maintain a good status in
terms of chemical quality and biological elements (EWS, principle 2), to restore and preserve
water-cycle related high conservation value (HCV) areas (EWS, principle 3), and to achieve
equitable and transparent water governance (EWS, principle 4). These four principles are a
comprehensive approach to SWM that can potentially contribute to the conservation of water
resources on the long run. The principles will be applied by the respective users of the EWS
standards and therefore will contribute to prevent “further deterioration and protect and
enhance the status of aquatic ecosystems and with regard to their water needs, terrestrial
ecosystems and wetlands” (WFD, Art.1(a)).
The achievement and maintenance of a good water status in terms of chemical quality and
biological elements (EWS, principle 2) can support the objective of “enhanced protection and