After an initial phase of development, which started in 1992 under the name of the National Network of Water Data (RNDE), and after various transitory decrees, the concept of the present national WIS was established by the Act on water and aquatic environments (LEMA) of 30 December 2006, L213-2. 
In its article 88, the LEMA specifies that the “Office national de l’eau et des milieux aquatiques” (ONEMA, now integrated into the AFB), which is a state administrative institution, will among others:
-	…" ensure the implementation and technical coordination of an information system for the collection, conservation and dissemination of data on water, aquatic environments, their uses and distribution of water and sanitation utilities. Local authorities or their groupings are associated with their application to the constitution of this information system”.
Decree n°2007-443 related to the ONEMA specifies in its article 1 that: “in relation with the information system, the AFB collects the data and indicators related to water, aquatic environments and their use and about water supply and sanitation utilities. It defines the technical frame of reference to enable interoperability of its components of collection, conservation and dissemination, and makes them available in conditions fixed by Decree”.
Decree n° 2009-1543 signed by the Prime Minister specifies that: 
-	The technical frame of reference 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 comply with the technical frame of reference.''
-	This SNDE specifies:
o	The objectives, scope and 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 procedures must follow to ensure their interoperability;
o	Detailed rules for the exchange of data with other information systems not fully included in the perimeter of the water information system.