I know that landfills and other waste disposal operations disposing of harmful substances are controlled by groundwater legislation, but what will be the effect of new changes to this legislation? The Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) states in Article 4(1) (b)(ii): "Member states shall protect, enhance and restore all bodies of groundwater...with the aim of achieving good groundwater status..." This must be achieved by 2015. There is no definition provided for what constitutes "good" and no quality values are given. Groundwater is defined by Article 2(2) as meaning "...all water which is below the surface of the ground in the saturation zone and in direct contact with the ground or subsoil".
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