The decree n° 2009-1543 signed by the 1st Minister specifies that: 
- the technical frame of reference of the national Water Information System, mentioned in the decree n°2007-443 and developed by the “Office national de l’eau et des milieux aquatiques “, consists of a national master plan on water data (SNDE) with annexed technical documents;
- "Any person wishing to participate in the establishment of the information system on water must meet the technical frame of reference. ''
- This SNDE specifies:
o The objectives, the scope and the modalities of governance; 
o Collection procedures, conservation and dissemination of data and indicators; 
o The terms of implementation of these procedures; 
o The modalities for the preparation of methodologies and the frame of reference of data and services that these procedure must follow to ensure their interoperability;
o Detailed rules for the exchange of data with other systems of information not fully included in the perimeter of the water information system
