Hazardous substances in rivers

Generic metadata

Classification

Identification

The data arising from EUROWATERNET indicate that there has been a significant decrease in heavy metal concentrations in some rivers in some EEA countries, and of some pesticides and some other organic substances in the UK. For those relatively few substances with data, at the national level average concentrations are generally below existing quality standards. Standards however may be exceeded at specific stations often below point discharges or at stations impacted by diffuse pollution (see sub-indicators). It is not known how representative the relative few stations and countries are of the general or compliance situation in EEA countries. The significant decrease in many EU countries reflects the success of the measures required under the Dangerous Substances Directive. Information on the remaining List I substances and on many of the new WFD Priority List substances is much more limited. Any decreases in non-EU countries are also likely to reflect the closure of polluting indicators during the economic transition process to EU membership.