Guidance document on the application of water balances for supporting the implementation of the WFD

The guidance document was developed to support the development and use of water balances at the level of river basins and catchments in order to enable the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD). Maintaining and increasing the water balances refers to measures as integrated water resources management, water allocation mechanisms, defining water quantity targets and adoption of sustainability of water resources. The guidance document is oriented to water and river basin managers in the European Member States. It describes key components of water balances, ways to develop the water balances and how water balances can be used to support water management.