The 1964 water law

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French Water Management Framework

• The 1964 water law

A watershed approach 6 hydrological catchment
areas, usually called Water Basins
An original and decentralized institutional
organization based on permanent consultation
between elected representatives, water users and
state representatives
The Water Agencies considered as economic tools
their funds come from charges levied by the
agencies under the polluter-pays system
The 1992 water law
Reaffirmation of the decentralized planification.
The basic principle of this law is the overall
management of water, approaching water problems
with the widest overview
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Organisation of the Water Management in France

• Aims, objectives of the water national policy

Ministry of the environnement Water directorate
Information
Financial incentive role
Law enforcement
Water Agencies
Water Police
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Organisation of the Water Management in France
Hydrological catchment areas planification
Six water basin commitees
Six Water Agencies
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An Original and Decentralized Institutional
Organization
THE WATER BASIN COMMITTEE
"Water parliament" at the water large basin scale
Approving the 5-year strategic plan of the Water
Agency and particularly the bases for the levies
which finance these programmes,
Drawing up masterplans for the water resources
management and development,
Coordinating river development schemes.
Electing the President
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An Original and Decentralized Institutional
Organization
THE WATER AGENCIES
The administrative council
The President nominated by the State Government
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An Original and Decentralized Institutional
Organization
THE WATER AGENCIES
"Task force booster"
Public administrative bodies of the state,
endowed with a civil personality and financial
independence
Responsible for financially and technically
assisting the fight against water pollution and
the rational development of water resources
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An Original and Decentralized Institutional
Organization
THE WATER AGENCIES
"Task force booster"
In a framework of a 5-year intervention programme

• They do not themselves act as
• prime contractors,
• project sponsors.

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An Original and Decentralized Institutional
Organization
To sum up...
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THE BASIC TOOLS THE LEVIES
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THE BASIC TOOLS THE LEVIES
Pollution discharges
Modification of aquatic environment
Water abstraction and consumption
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An Economic Tool based on the Levies
The Pollution Levy
A decree lists the physical, chemical, biological
and microbiological elements to be considered in
assessing pollution levies.
That could be used for calculating the pollution
levy
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An Economic Tool based on the Levies
Domestic Pollution Levy
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An Economic Tool based on the Levies
Industrial Pollution Levy
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An Economic Tool based on the Levies
The Water Abstraction and Consumption Levy
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An Economic Tool based on the Levies
BREAKDOWN OF POLLUTION AND CATCHMENT AUTHORITY
LEVIES Net pollution after process/land treatment
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THE ACTION PROGRAMMES
Agencies funds come exclusively from charges paid
by the water users because - they either cause
water pollution, - or they draw on the water
supply for drinking water, industrial uses or
irrigation, - or they generate alterations of
the aquatic environment.
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THE ACTION PROGRAMMES
Main actions focusing on
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THE ACTION PROGRAMMES
The Fight against Pollution
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THE ACTION PROGRAMMES
For a Better Management of the Water Resources
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Conclusion
The French system of Basin Organizations, to be
set up and operated, needs the achievement of the
following principles
Water is managed in the framework of an overall
balanced strategy along the watershed areas. To
be implemented, this policy disposes of its own
financial means. Even if there is a solidarity
system financed through taxes, the customers or
"water users" still have to pay for public water
delivery costs. The strategy is defined and
operated through a partnership between
decision-makers. Police remains a government
concern.