Technical staff in all sectors, are becoming accustomed to the modern form of engineering shorthand i.e. abbreviations. Nathy Gilligan demonstrates how Water / Environment sector professionals can write a highly informative message using limited english and suggests the increasing use of abbreviations is here to stay.
TLA can mean ‘two- or three-letter acronym’, while ETLA, or ‘extended three-letter acronym’, stands for four-or-more-letter acronyms. To complicate it further, most three-letter abbreviations are actually initialisms i.e. all the letters are pronounced as letters, such as WFD (Water Framework Directive). Only a fraction of abbreviations fit the true definition of acronym, which requires it to be pronounced as a single word, as in WISE (Water Information System for Europe).
The following paragraphs summarise the situation with regard to the Water Framework Directive in an Irish context. All abbreviations used in this piece are explained at the end of the article.
Water Framework Directive – abbreviated
The EC led by DG Env, supported by the EEA, JRC and EUROSTAT, developed the CIS to harmonise MSs WFD implementation. Under the SCG, EU WGs address various aspects e.g. WG B on IRBM and WG D on REP. In support, the EC utilises forums such as EAF, EN, DG, SF and GIGs, futher supported by joint UKTAG and SNIFFER guidance. WFD reporting is via WISE with IE using EDEN as developed by the LGCSB, which maximises GIS in compliance with INSPIRE.
ROI implements the WFD at national level by the NAC and the NTCG, which are chaired by the EPA and DEHLG respectively. At regional level, seven RBDs cover the ROI, i.e. SERBD, SWRBD, ERBD, WRBD including three IRBDs, i.e. ShIRBD, NWIRBD and NBIRBD – with the latter two under the NSSHARE Project. RBDs are managed under the AC and other forums i.e. SG, MG, PAF or TC. These engage all stakeholders such as LAs, IFI, WI, FS, BNM, DCENR, DAFF, NPWS with SWAN representing eNGOs.
ROI is subdivided into approximately 105 WMUs, 4,470 RWBs, 220 LWBs, 200 TWBs, 110 CWBs, 380 GWBs, 31 HMWBs and 26 AWBs. For SWB, GS is a combination of GES and GCS and for GWBs, it combines GQS and GCS. CS is based on the EQSs for PSs and DSs while ES is based on Phys-Chem such as BOD, MRP and other BQEs. For HMWBs and AWBs, GES is replaced by GEP which stems from MEP. WFD operates a OOAO basis, hence the lowest QE defines ES. RMCEI-based monitoring is carried out entailing three types i.e. SM, OM and IM.
WFD is being implemented through the POM, which consist of BMs and SMs. BMs are primarily existing obligations such as the UWWTD, DWD, BWD, NiD etc, where the WSIP and NAP will be key. SMs entail extra-over requirements such as new COP, RR projects etc. An EAWU to assist the CEA has been integrated with the RBMP, which also have conducted an SEA and HDA. Projects emanating from the same will conduct an EIA (EIS incl.), EcA and/or AA as required.
POMS groups set up under the PCG addressed a number of pressures ranging from, MIR entailing IPPC and WWTP discharges, OSWTS impacts, through to MOs and risk to GW. POMS utilised expertise from national institutions like MI, GSI and international authorities such as EA and SEPA.
LSO cannot apply to the RPA, which consists of other protected areas such as DWPA, BW, NSA, N2K sites and GWDTE. In addition, stemming from the ECJ, S.I. 296 of 2009 sets out EQOs and requires SB-MPs for 27 FPM populations in SACs which are all at UCS, except one. The objective is to achieve FCS, which is being implemented through the NCWG with TCCs for each RBD.
Following the FW Morph POMS national RA for Channelisation and ILU pressures, RHAT is adopted by ROI, NIEA and LA(NI) for RWBs and MImAS for LWB and TraC WBs. For OPW FRSs and ADM, Hydromorphology is a new QE, particularly for HS. The EDM and the EREP supported by EMPs and SOPs will dovetail FRM operations with FW Morph and the NBP.
Conclusion
So, does the above get the message across clearly and, of course, succinctly? My personal favourite abreviation is GWDTE (Ground Water Dependent Terrestrial Ecosystem). It is undoubtedly a mouthful at first, but as with all abbreviations, it rolls off the tongue when you get used to it. For the professionals in the water/environment sectors, my advice is to get used to abbreviations, as they are here to stay. Just remember, for communication purposes, if your stakeholders are to understand your message, then minimise the abbreviations!
What do you think about abbreviations and acronyms? Do they help or hinder the reader’s understanding of text? And if you use them, do you risk infuriating your readers who might not be familiar with all of the shorthand? Do let us know in the comment section below.
Nathy Gilligan BE, MSc, CEng, MIEI, is head of the Environment Section in the Office of Public Works within Flood Risk Management Services. He is a chartered civil engineer with a master’s degree in environmental protection. Contact him at 093 35456/087 6355856 or email nathy.gilligan@opw.ie.
Abbreviations Used
| AA |
Appropriate Assessment |
| AC |
Advisory Council |
| ADM |
Arterial Drainage Maintenance |
| AWB |
Artificial Water Body |
| BM |
Basic Measures |
| BNM |
Bord Na Mona |
| BOD |
Biochemical Oxygen Demand |
| BQE |
Biological Quality Element |
| BW |
Bathing Waters |
| BWD |
Bathing Waters Directive |
| CEA |
Cost Effectiveness Analysis |
| CIS |
Common Implementation Strategy |
| COP |
Codes Of Practice |
| CS |
Chemical Status |
| CWB |
Coastal Water Body |
| DAFF |
Department Agriculture Fisheries & Food |
| DCENR |
Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources |
| DEHLG |
Department of Environment, Heritage & Local Government |
| DG |
Drafting Group |
| DG Env |
Directorate-General for the Environment |
| DS |
Dangerous Substance |
| DWD |
Drinking Water Directive |
| DWPA |
Drinking Water Protected Areas |
| EA |
Environmental Agency UK |
| EAF |
Expert Advisory Forum |
| EAWU |
Economic Analysis of Water Use |
| EC |
European Commission |
| EcA |
Ecological Assessment |
| ECJ |
European Court of Justice |
| EDEN |
Environmental Data Exchange Network |
| EDM |
Environmental Drainage Maintenance |
| EEA |
European Environment Agency |
| EIA |
Environmental Impact Assessment |
| EIS |
Environmental Impact Statement |
| EMP |
Environmental Management Protocol |
| EN |
Expert Network |
| eNGO |
environmental Non Government Organisation |
| EPA |
Environmental Protection Agency |
| EQO |
Environmental Quality Objective |
| EQS |
Environmental Quality Standard |
| ERBD |
Eastern River Basin District |
| EREP |
Environmental River Enhancement Programme |
| ES |
Ecological Status |
| ETLA |
Extended Three Letter Acronym |
| EU |
European Union |
| EUROSTAT |
Statistical Office of the European Communities |
| FCS |
Favourable Conservation Status |
| FPM |
Freshwater Pearl Mussel |
| FRM |
Flood Risk Management |
| FRS |
Flood Relief Scheme |
| FS |
Forest Service |
| FW |
FreshWater |
| GCS |
Good Chemical Status |
| GEP |
Good Ecological Potential |
| GES |
Good Ecological Status |
| GIG |
Geographical Intercalibration Group |
| GIS |
Geographic Information System |
| GQS |
Good Quantitative Status |
| GS |
Good Status |
| GSI |
Geological Survey of Ireland |
| GW |
Ground Water |
| GWB |
Ground Water Body |
| GWDTE |
GroundWater Dependent Terrestrial Ecosystems |
| HDA |
Habitats Directive Assessment |
| HMWB |
Heavily Modified Water Body |
| HS |
High Status |
| IE |
Ireland (EU country code) |
| IFI |
Inland Fisheries Ireland |
| ILU |
Intensive Land Use |
| IM |
Investigative Monitoring |
| INSPIRE |
INfrastructure for SPatial InfoRmation in Europe |
| IPPC |
Integrated Pollution Prevention & Control |
| IRBD |
International River Basin District |
| IRBM |
Integrated River Basin Management |
| JRC |
Joint Research Centre |
| LA(NI) |
Loughs Agency (N.I.re) |
| LA |
Local Authority |
| LGCSB |
Local Government Computer Services Board |
| LSO |
Less Stringent Objectives |
| LWB |
Lake Water Body |
| MEP |
Maximum Ecological Potential |
| MG |
Management Group |
| MI |
Marine Institute |
| MImAS |
Morphological Impact Assessment System |
| MIR |
Municipal and Industrial Regulation |
| MO |
Mobile Organics |
| Morph |
Morphology |
| MRP |
Molybdate Reactive Phosphorous |
| MS |
Member State |
| N2K |
Natura 2000 sites (SACs and SPAs) |
| NAC |
National Advisory Committee |
| NAP |
Nitrates Action Programme |
| NBIRBD |
Neagh Bann International River Basin District |
| NBP |
National Biodiversity Plan |
| NCWG |
National Conservation Working Group |
| NI |
Northern Ireland |
| NiD |
Nitrates Directive |
| NIEA |
Northern Ireland Environmental Agency |
| NPWS |
National Parks and Wildlife Service |
| NSA |
Nitrate Sensitive Area |
| NSSHARE |
North South Share Aquatic REsources |
| NTCG |
National Technical Co-ordination Group |
| NWIRBD |
North Western International River Basin District |
| OM |
Operational Monitoring |
| OOAO |
One Out All Out |
| OPW |
Office of Public Works |
| OSWTS |
On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems |
| PAF |
Public Authorities Forum |
| PCG |
Programmes of measures and standards Co-ordination Group |
| Phys-Chem |
Physio - Chemical |
| POM |
Programme of Measures |
| POMS |
Programme of Measures & Standards |
| PS |
Priority Substance |
| QE |
Quality Element |
| RA |
Risk Assessment |
| RBD |
River Basin District |
| RBMP |
River Basin Management Plan |
| REP |
Reporting |
| RHAT |
River Hydromorphology Assessment Technique |
| RMCEI |
Recommended Minimum Criteria for Environmental Inspections |
| ROI |
Republic Of Ireland |
| RPA |
Register of Protected Areas |
| RR |
River Restoration |
| RWB |
River Water body |
| SAC |
Special Area of Conservation |
| SB-MP |
Sub-Basin Management Plan |
| SCG |
Strategic Co-ordination Group |
| SEA |
Strategic Environmental Assessment |
| SEPA |
Scottish Environmental Protection Agency |
| SERBD |
South Eastern River Basin District |
| SF |
Stakeholder Forum |
| SG |
Steering Group |
| ShIRBD |
Shannon International River Basin District |
| SI |
Statutory Instrument |
| SM |
Surveillance Monitoring |
| SM |
Supplementary Measures |
| SNIFFER |
Scotland and Northern Ireland Forum For Environmental Research |
| SOP |
Standard Operating Procedure |
| SWAN |
Sustainable WAter Network |
| SWB |
Surface Water Body |
| SWRBD |
South Western River Basin District |
| TC |
Technical Council |
| TCC |
Technical Conservation Committee |
| TLA |
Three Letter Acronym |
| TraC |
Transitional and Coastal |
| TWB |
Transitional Water Body |
| UCS |
Unfavourable Conservation Status |
| UKTAG |
United Kingdom Technical Advisory Group |
| UWWTD |
Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive |
| WB |
Water Body |
| WFD |
Water Framework Directive |
| WG |
Working Group |
| WG B |
EU Working Group on Integrated River Basin Management |
| WG D |
EU Working Group on Reporting |
| WI |
Waterways Ireland |
| WISE |
Water Information System for Europe |
| WMU |
Water Management Unit |
| WRBD |
Western River Basin District |
| WSIP |
Water Services Investment Programme |
| WWTP |
WasteWater Treatment Plant |