Publications

Average concentrations of nutrients in European groundwaters and surface waters (1992-2010) Fig. 1a: Nitrate in groundwater; Fig. 1b Nitrate in rivers; Fig. 1c Orthophosphate in rivers; and Fig. 1d: Total phosphorus in lakes: Concentrations are expressed as annual mean concentrations. Only complete series after inter/extrapolation are included (see indicator specification). The number of groundwater bodies/river stations/lake stations included per country is given in parenthesis.
Located in Data and maps › Maps and graphs
Waterbase - UWWTD: Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive: Urban Waste Water treatment Directive concerns the collection, treatment and discharge of urban waste water and the treatment and discharge of waste water from certain industrial sectors. The objective of the Directive is to protect the environment from the adverse effects of the above mentioned waste water discharges.
Located in Data and maps › Datasets
Winter oxidized nitrogen (NO2 + NO3) concentrations in European seas in 2008: The map shows the winter oxidized nitrogen concentrations in the European coastal and open waters in 2008. The low category refers to values within the lowest 20th percentile and the high category refers to values within the upper 20th percentile of concentrations in a regional sea
Located in Data and maps › Maps and graphs
Biological elements in rivers and lakes: This viewer with 4 maps shows the ecological status (i.e. status or potential) of macroinvertebrates and phytobenthos in European rivers (i.e. rivers and canals) potentially impacted by general degradation and of macrophytes and phytobenthos in European lakes (i.e. lakes and reservoirs) potentially impacted by eutrophication, respectively. The ecological status class of a country's waterbodies (or stations) is assessed by each country according to their national classification system, following the Water Framework Directive. The assessment may be based by one or more samples measured during the year of reporting. The ecological status in rivers or lakes is displayed as classified cartograms in a country-level map: it displays the distribution of status classes per country as one pie chart for each country. This can be used to compare the situation in your country with that in other countries. When the map is zoomed in to a more detailed scale individual station points are visible instead of classified cartograms.
Located in Environmental topics › Water › Interactive maps and data viewers by category
Nutrients emission intensity of manufacturing industries in Europe between 2004-2010 (EU20 + Norway and Switzerland): The chart displays changes in nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) emission intensity of manufacturing industry between 2004 and 2010. Nutrient emission intensity is expressed as kilogram of nutrients equivalent discharged in water per unit of production of manufacturing industries (expressed as one million Euro gross value added).
Located in Data and maps › Maps and graphs
Decoupling of nutrients emission in water from gross value added in manufacturing industries in Europe between 2004 and 2010 (EU17 + Norway): The chart displays changes in emission in water of nutrient equivalents from manufacturing, and the economic output of manufacturing expressed as the gross value added (GVA) in Europe between 2004 and 2010. Changes are expressed in %, where values for 2004=100 %.
Located in Data and maps › Maps and graphs
Nutrients in transitional, coastal and marine waters (CSI 021) - Assessment published Mar 2013: In 2010, the highest concentrations of oxidized nitrogen were found in the Baltic Sea, in the Gulf of Riga and Kiel Bay, and in Belgian, Dutch and German coastal waters in the Greater North Sea. Reported stations in the Northern Spanish and Croatian coastal waters also showed high concentration levels. The highest orthophosphate concentrations were found in the Baltic Sea, in the Gulf of Riga and Kiel Bay, and in Irish, Belgian, Dutch and German coastal waters in the Greater North Sea. Coastal stations along Northern Spain and Southern France also showed high concentration levels. Between 1985 and 2010, overall nutrient concentrations have been either stable or decreasing in stations reported to the EEA in the Greater North Sea, Celtic Seas and in the Baltic Sea. However, this decrease has been more pronounced for nitrogen. Assessments for the overall Mediterranean and Black Sea regions were not possible, data only being available for stations in France and Croatia. For oxidized nitrogen concentrations, 14% of all the reported stations showed decreasing trends, whereas only 2% showed increasing trends. Decreases were most evident in the Baltic Sea (coastal waters of Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Finland, and open waters) and in southern part of the coast of the Greater North Sea. Increasing trends were mainly found in Croatian coastal stations. For orthophosphate concentrations, 10% of all the reported stations showed a decrease. This was most evident in coastal and open water stations in the Greater North Sea, and in coastal stations in the Baltic Sea. Increasing orthophosphate trends, observed in 6% of the reported stations, were mainly detected in Irish, Danish and Finnish coastal waters (Gulf of Finland and Gulf of Bothnia) and in open waters of the Baltic Proper.
Located in Data and maps › Indicators › Nutrients in transitional, coastal and marine waters
Marine and coastal environment — SOER 2010 thematic assessment: European marine regions include the north-east Atlantic and Arctic oceans, and the Mediterranean, Black and Baltic seas. Human activities — such as fishing, aquaculture and agriculture — and climate change cause large and severe impacts on Europe's coastal and marine ecosystems. The EU objective of halting biodiversity loss by 2010 has not been met in either the coastal or the marine environment. Recognising the need for an integrated ecosystem-based approach to reduce pressures, the EU Integrated Maritime Policy allows for the development of sea-related activities in a sustainable manner. Its environmental pillar, the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, aims to deliver 'good environmental status' of the marine environment by 2020, and the Common Fisheries Policy will be reformed in 2012 with the aim of achieving sustainable fisheries. Complementary policy efforts include the EU Water Framework Directive and other freshwater legislation, and the Habitats and Birds Directives.
Located in The European environment – state and outlook 2010 › Thematic assessments
Freshwater quality — SOER 2010 thematic assessment: The continuing presence of a range of pollutants in a number of Europe's freshwaters threatens aquatic ecosystems and raises concerns for public health. Current reporting under the EU Water Framework Directive shows that a substantial proportion of Europe's freshwaters are at risk of not achieving the aim of 'good status' by 2015. Driven by the EU Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD), improvements in the collection and treatment of wastewater in some regions of Europe have led to a reduction in the discharge of some pollutants to fresh and coastal waters. Challenges remain, however, because UWWTD implementation remains incomplete and other significant sources of water pollution exist, especially agriculture and urban storm flows. The implementation of effective and timely measures, required under the WFD, needs to encompass a greater focus on controls 'at source' and the efficient use of resources including water, energy and chemicals.
Located in The European environment – state and outlook 2010 › Thematic assessments
Exceedance of critical loads of nutrient nitrogen, 2004 EMEP NO3-N and NH4-N deposition data: Located in Data and maps › Maps and graphs