Data centre overview

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Last modified: Nov 30, 2011

The Water Data Centre provides the European entry point for water related data as part of the Water Information System for Europe (WISE). It contains downloadable European datasets, interactive data- and map viewers and more..The data are typically reported by countries according to EU water directives or under the EEA regulation through the Eionet. The data are further compiled and used in indicators, assessments and policy developments that are accessible through the thematic links in WISE.

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Chlorophyll in transitional, coastal and marine waters (CSI 023) - Assessment published Jul 2011

In 2008, the highest summer chlorophyll-a concentrations were observed in coastal areas and estuaries where nutrient concentrations are high, namely in the Gulf of Riga, the Gulf of Finland and ...

Chlorophyll in transitional, coastal and marine waters (CSI 023) - Assessment published Jul 2011

Jul 06, 2011

In 2008, the highest summer chlorophyll-a concentrations were observed in coastal areas and estuaries where nutrient concentrations are high, namely in the Gulf of Riga, the Gulf of Finland and along the coast of France and Belgium. Although nutrient concentrations in some European sea areas decreased from 1985 to 2008 (see Core Set Indicator 21), these changes were not clearly reflected in chlorophyll-a concentrations: of the 546 stations reported to the EEA the majority of the stations (89%) indicated no statistically significant change. Changes were detected mainly in Finnish, Dutch, Norwegian, Swedish and Italian coastal waters. At the Finnish and Swedish monitoring stations chlorophyll-a concentrations showed both decreasing and increasing trends, whereas in Italy, Netherlands and Norway concentrations were mainly decreasing. An analysis of changes based on satellite imagery show significantly increasing trends of ocean colour (equivalent to chl-a)along the Mediterranean coast, whereas trends are significantly decreasing in large parts of the central Mediterranean and Black Seas. It also shows significantly increasing trends in the Baltic Sea, but here the analysis is less certain.

Nutrients in transitional, coastal and marine waters (CSI 021) - Assessment published Jul 2011

Jul 05, 2011

Decreasing nutrient concentrations were found in the North Sea and in the Baltic Sea. In the Mediterranean and Black Sea, the lack of temporally and spatially comprehensive time series does not allow an overall assessment. In 2008, the highest concentrations of oxidized nitrogen were found in the Gulf of Riga, and in Lithuanian, Swedish, German, Belgian, and Scottish coastal waters. Between 1985 and 2008, 12% of all the stations in the European seas reported to the EEA showed decreasing trends of oxidized nitrogen concentrations. These trends were more evident in the open Baltic Sea and in the Dutch and German coastal waters in the North Sea. In 2008, the highest orthophosphate concentrations were found at Finnish coastal stations in the Gulf of Finland, the Gulf of Riga, German, Belgian, French, and Scottish coastal waters. Between 1985 and 2008, 15% of all the stations in the European seas reported to the EEA showed a decrease in orthophosphate concentrations, mainly because of improved waste water treatment. This decrease was most evident in Norwegian, Lithuanian, Danish, Belgian and Dutch coastal water stations, and in the open waters of the North and Baltic Seas.

Nutrients in freshwater (CSI 020) - Assessment published Dec 2010

Dec 20, 2010

Average nitrate concentrations in European groundwaters increased from 1992 to 1998, and have remained relatively constant since then. The average nitrate concentration in European rivers decreased by approximately 9 % between 1992 and 2008 (from 2.4 to 2.2 mg/l N), reflecting the effect of measures to reduce agricultural inputs of nitrate. Average orthophosphate concentrations in European rivers have decreased markedly over the last two decades, being almost halved between 1992 and 2008 (47 % decrease). Also average lake phosphorus concentration decreased over the period 1992-2008 (by 26%), the major part of the decrease occurring in the first half of the period. The decrease in phosphorus concentrations reflect both improvement in wastewater treatment and reduction in phosphorus in detergents. Overall, reductions in the levels of freshwater nutrients over the last two decades primarily reflect improvements in wastewater treatment. Emissions from agriculture continue to be a significant source.

Member States reporting (Art 7) under the European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (E-PRTR) Regulation

Oct 17, 2011

The European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (E-PRTR) is a web-based register established by Regulation (EC) No 166/2006 which implements the UNECE PRTR Protocol, signed in May 2003 in Kiev.

Waterbase - Transitional, coastal and marine waters

Aug 10, 2011

Waterbase is the generic name given to the EEA databases on the status and quality of Europes rivers, lakes, groundwater bodies and transitional, coastal and marine waters, and on the quantity of Europes water resources

WISE River basin districts (RBDs) - version 1.4 (06/2011)

Jul 01, 2011

River Basin Districts (RBDs) and/or their subunits (RBDSUs) are the main units for the management of river basins and have been delineated by Member States under Article 3 and updated by reporting to Article 13 of the Water Framework Directive.

The pan-European region - country groupings in the report

Sep 05, 2011

Some of the indicators show data for country groupings

Marine aquaculture production relative to coastline length

Feb 02, 2011

The map show the marine aquaculture production relative to coastline length

Potential increase in crop production under the adaptation scenario

Jan 12, 2011

Potential increase in crop production under an adaptation scenario

Overview of the use of indicators in the DPSIR framework for the priority themes covered in SoE and water assessments based on 220 approved review templates — filtered on water-resources and water‑resource management topics

Aug 30, 2011

Overview of the aspects of the priority themes covered in SoE and water assessments based on 220 approved review templates — filtered on water‑resources and water-resource management topics

Aug 30, 2011

Overview of the origin of standards and/or methodologies for indicators used in SoE and water assessments based on 220 approved review templates — filtered on water-resources and water‑resource management topics

Aug 30, 2011

Floods Directive viewer

Jan 20, 2012

What is on this Floods Directive map? River Basin Districts (RBDs) are the main units for the management of river basins and have been delineated by Member States under Article 3 of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). For the Floods Directive, Member States were given the choice to use either the WFD River Basin Districts, or to designate other Units of Management (UoM) for specific river basins or stretches of coastal areas under article 3 of that Directive. For Ireland and Italy such smaller UoM were designated. For the other EU Member States the same RBD as for the WFD therefore applies. The geographic area of some RBDs span more than one country (such as the Danube) and these are known as International RBDs. These RBDs are shown in yellow/orange. Others are contained completely within a country and are known as National RBDs, and are shown in light purple/light blue.