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Published in 2005, the WFD Article 5: Characterisation and impacts analyses reports were the first step in identifying pressures and impacts in the river basin management planning process. This pressure and impact analysis reviewed the impact of human activity on surface waters and on groundwater and identified those water bodies that are at risk of failing to meet the WFDs environmental objectives.

‘at risk’ means that: the pressure and impact assessment shows that there is a likelihood that a water body will fail to meet the WFD´s environmental objectives by 2015 unless appropriate management action is taken.

“At risk” does not necessarily mean that the water bodies are already suffering poor status, but it does highlight areas where appropriate management measures should be applied to ensure that good status is maintained or to ensure it is achieved in the future.

The first identification of pressures and impact (Article 5) was the basis for the overview of Significant Water Management Issues (SWMI) that was reported in 2007 and was the basis for establishing the first RBMPs. The identification of significant pressure and impact were further developed in the RBMPs.