Complying with the Water Framework Directive Regulations 2017: screening, scoping and detailed assessment
The Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England and Wales) Regulations 2017 (WFD Regulations) establish a legal framework for protecting and improving the quality of rivers, lakes, estuaries, coastal waters, and groundwater.
Many activities need approval before they can go ahead. If you are designing projects and activities that may impact the water environment, you must provide a WFD Regulations Compliance Assessment to support your application to the public body that regulates and grants permissions for your activity.
A WFD Regulations Compliance Assessment can have up to three stages and you will need to work through them sequentially, completing each stage depending on the potential impact of your activity. You should start with Stage 1 Screening, progressing to Stage 2 Scoping and Stage 3 Detailed Assessment as required.