Integrity model for surface waters as decision support system: methodological proposal according to directive 2000/60/EC

Summary: The implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) 2000/60/EC to achieve a good status of surface water and groundwater bodies within the year 2015 suggests to follow the approach of the River Basin Management Planning implementation by using a model that works as support for decisions (DPSIR – Driving forces, Pressures, State, Impacts, Responses is an example). According to the model, the state of waters should be monitored and pressure sources, due to human impacts, identified. Therefore in this work the suggestions established by the WFD has been interpreted by developing a mathematical model named “Integrity Model” that represents a valid support for assessing the efficiency of the planned interventions that can directly or indirectly play a role in enhancing the quality of surface waters at the basin scale. Results of a preliminary application on Raba River Basin in the Southern area of Poland are presented.