Freshwater - Outlook 2020 (Lithuania)

Measures for reducing the pollution of water bodies are set out in the Council Directive concerning urban wastewater treatment (91/271/EEC) and the Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC). According to the rules for issuing, renewing and cancelling integrated pollution prevention and control permits, all water users taking over 100 m³ of water within a 24-hour period and discharging 5 m³ or more of waste water in the same period must obtain integrated pollution prevention and control permits and pay taxes for the use of natural resources and pollution of the environment. Diffuse pollution is controlled by a government resolution on special land and forest use conditions, also by legislation regulating the application of manure, surveillance of its impact on water bodies etc. The protection and management of water resources in Lithuania is considered an environmental policy priority and is organised on the basis of river basins. The European Union Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) was transposed into national law in 2003. Pursuant to the Water Framework Directive and the Water Act, water bodies will be managed and protected according to the natural hydrological rather than administrative boundaries of river basins. With a view to facilitating the management of water and water bodies, the Lithuanian river basins have been combined into four river basin districts. At present, river basin district management plans and implementation programmes are being developed for each river basin district.

The National Sustainable Development Strategy has set targets to reduce the nitrogen pollution load from point sources by 810 tonnes, phosphorus pollution by 85 tonnes and the seven-day biological oxygen demand by 1 050 tonnes before 2012, against 2004 levels.

Following the opening of modern waste water treatment plants in cities, Lithuania plans to stop discharging untreated or inadequately treated industrial and domestic waste water from 2020, thereby reducing the pollution of surface water with substances that promote eutrophication.

Introducing the principles of clean production and reusable water systems will reduce demand for water in production. Following implementation of environmental measures, water losses in 2020 should account for no more than 10 % of the total water supply.