Geographical classification of water systems, 28/04/2023

The Flemish government strives for sustainable development of the water systems in Flanders. A water system is a coherent and functional set of surface water, groundwater, waterbeds and banks, including their communities of life and all associated physical, chemical and biological processes and associated technical infrastructure. The water policy of the Flemish government is elaborated in the "Decree on integrated water policy of 18 July 2003". The water systems are classified according to hydrological, geomorphological, ecological and functional properties. There are different levels of water system boundaries: river basin districts, river basins, sub-basins or basins and sub-basins. The Decree on Integrated Water Policy translates the classification into water systems into the organisational structure and planning for the integrated water policy.