Europe's Water Framework Directive: discovering hidden benefits.

The water utility companies in the UK are regulated by the economic regulator to ensure that they do not abuse their monopoly powers and operate under high efficiency targets to minimise costs to their customers. The requirements for improved environmental performance are set by the Environment Agency and, once agreed, incorporated in a five-year plan. Prior to the Water Framework Directive the companies had little choice but to meet a rigorous programme to achieve higher discharge standards as end-of-pipe solutions. The catchment-based approach of the WFD, coupled with the requirement to achieve 'good status' for receiving waters and the requirement for stakeholder involvement, has introduced much needed flexibility into the process which is expected to lead to better and more cost effective solutions to water quality problems.