According to the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD), action programs must be established for the so-called river basin districts to achieve the environmental objectives of the directive. However, the measures selected for this purpose must not only be ecologically effective but also meet the economic criterion of cost efficiency. Therefore, from a methodological perspective, it is recommended to evaluate the potentially suitable alternatives using cost-effectiveness analysis. Ultimately, a successful selection of measures is only possible if the application of the methods proves to be effective in the context of administrative practice. Against this background, Falk R. Lauterbach addresses the following guiding question in his study: Are cost-effectiveness analyses suitable within the framework of concrete administrative actions to select cost-efficient measures in accordance with the WFD?.