ABSTRACT
The basis of the French water quality objectives policy is the 1964 Law on Water. The goal is to achieve, for all water courses, water quality objectives within a given time horizon, which objectives are to provide the basis on which decisions concerning investments and discharge authorizations can be made. The initial state of water quality must be assessed, and the probable costs to the different economic activities to achieve the objectives must be indicated. The water quality objectives policy, which is a subbasin level policy under departmental control, has several major advantages. The water quality objectives policy contains potential contradictions with the national discharge standards orientation of the Classified Establishments Service (SCE). A change in attitude is required by the SCE if water management decisions are to depend, at least partly, on local conditions, as is implied by the water quality objectives policy.
