[2] The European Union first published legislation specifically for groundwater protection in 1979 (Directive 80/68/EEC) to limit the discharge of certain toxic substances from industrial sources.

[3][4] Between 1991 and 1995, calls to implement measures avoiding long-term deterioration of freshwater sources by the year 2000 were recognised, as well as requests from the European Council to revise Directive 80/68/EEC due to concerns that groundwater resources remained seriously endangered by both pollutants and growing water extraction.

Groundwater beneath more than 85% of European agricultural lands (including central and eastern Europe) was also estimated to exceed guide levels of nitrate concentration.

The directive specifies a minimum list of pollutants that must be considered to identify groundwater bodies that are at risk of not meeting good chemical standards as determined by the WFD.

Measures to reverse upward trends are expected to be implemented once pollutant concentration reaches 75% of the values specified by the GWD's quality standards.