Provision of Water Framework Directive (WFD) surveillance monitoring 2016

Tender description

The Water Framework Directive (WFD), Directive 2000/60/EC, was adopted in 2000 as a single piece of legislation covering rivers, lakes, groundwater and transitional (estuarine) and coastal waters. Its objectives include the attainment of good status in water bodies that are of lesser status at present and retaining good status or better where such status exists at present. Artificial Water Bodies (AWBs) such as canals are defined in Article 1 of the WFD as “a body of water created by human activity” and are recognised for their artificial nature and specific monitoring requirements to ensure their continued beneficial uses for navigation, recreation, environmental and amenity value. Waterways Ireland has been identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as the government body with responsibility for ensuring this monitoring is implemented. Up to May 2015, the canal monitoring was carried out by the Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) on behalf of Waterways Ireland. Waterways Ireland is now looking for a consultant to take care of the WFD monitoring programme for 2016. This encompasses the following, at various locations along the Royal Canal, the Grand Canal and the Shannon Erne: • Sample collection and Analysis o Physico-chemistry: Quarterly water quality sampling events o Biology: Yearly aquatic macrophyte & benthic macroinvertebrate surveys • Classification of Ecological Potential • Provision of report