Status of the water bodies 2009

Chemical status of the water bodies 2009

The surface water of Luxembourg are subdivided in 106 water bodies. The identification of water bodies is based on geographical and hydrological determinants. 3 surface water bodies are integrated in the river basin of the "Chiers", part of the river basin district of the Meuse. 103 surface water bodies are integrated in the river basin of the "Moselle", part of the river basin district of the Rhine.

The surface water of Luxembourg are subdivided in 102 water bodies. The identification of water bodies is based on geographical and hydrological determinants. 3 surface water bodies are integrated in the river basin of the "Chiers", part of the river basin district of the Meuse. 99 surface water bodies are integrated in the river basin of the "Moselle", part of the river basin district of the Rhine.

A groundwater body is a distinctive volume of groundwater inside one or more aquifers. The identification of a groundwater body is made by geological criteria. A groundwater body is a management unit in order to evaluate the environmental objectives (good status) according to article 6 of the national water law of the 19th December 2008.

The ecological status of the natural waterbodies is assessed in 5 classes going from 1 to 5 (high, good, moderate, poor, bad). The classification of the ecological status is based on the biological quality elements and the physico-chemical quality elements and in some cases also the hydromorphological quality elements.

Drinking water shortage (level « red »)

The surface water typology was determined on the basis of geographical , geological, morphological and hydrological characteristics. The Luxembourgish surface water typology comprises six types. For all six types the reference conditions, which would be achieved if there were no anthropogenic pressures impacting surface waters, are described in fact sheets. The reference conditions correspond to the high status of surface water bodies.

The global status of a surface water body is determined by its ecological and chemical status.

According to the Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60/EC ), macrophytes and diatoms are monitored as two sub-elements of the aquatic flora. Macrophytes are particularly sensitive to organic pollution, trophy and hydromorphology. The diatom assemblages are different in function of concentrations of nutrients and organic pollutants.