Multiple Operator Biological Monitoring and Assessment Framework Agreement for Rivers & Lakes

Tender description

The EPA’s Office of Evidence and Assessment undertakes biological monitoring of rivers and lakes in fulfilment of the needs of the Water Framework Directive monitoring programme (Directive 2000/60/EC) and other Directives as required. The EPA is seeking technical assistance with the undertaking of some of its rivers and lakes monitoring and assessment work on an annual basis to supplement the EPA’s own monitoring resources. Under the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) (2000/60/EC), the types of water bodies requiring assessment include rivers, lakes, groundwater and transitional & coastal waters. The objective of the directive is to prevent any further deterioration in status of surface waters, groundwater and water dependent ecosystems and to restore polluted waterbodies to at least ‘good status’. Under national legislation, the EPA is responsible for the preparation of a national WFD monitoring programme to assess achievement of the objectives of the directive. In setting out the WFD monitoring programme for Ireland, the EPA assigned responsibility to itself for the monitoring of rivers and lakes for a variety of biological quality elements. This Biological Monitoring Programme is the primary source for assessing the degree of pollution in Irish rivers and lakes.