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One of the principal factors responsible for water body degradation is nutrient enrichment, particularly in the form of nitrogen and phosphorus, as a result in particular of the use of fertilisers in agriculture, urban wastewater discharges and the discharge of waste from agro-industry and other industrial sectors.
Table 3 shows the issues relating to pressure and drivers identified in each river basin district (RBD) in the reports on significant water management issues drawn up in 2008 in the second stage of public involvement in RBD management plans under the Law on Water and the Water Framework Directive (WFD).
Table 3 Issues relating to drivers and pressures identified in each river basin district
Issues identified |
River basin district
|
|||||||
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
Nitrate and phosphorus enriched water |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Organic pollution (CBO5, ammoniacal nitrogen) |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
Eutrophication (nitrates, phosphorus, phosphorus compounds, chlorophyll-a, occurrence of algal blooms) |
|
|
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Microbiological pollution |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
Changes in flow regime |
X |
X |
X |
|
|
X |
X |
|
Changes in flora and fauna communities |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
X |
X |
|
Groundwater contamination |
X |
X |
X |
|
X |
X |
X |
X |
Flooding |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
X |
Water scarcity |
|
X |
X |
X |
|
X |
X |
X |
Biodiversity reduction |
|
|
|
|
|
X |
X |
X |
Metal pollution |
|
X |
|
|
X |
X |
X |
|
Water quality degradation due to sediment suspension |
|
|
|
|
|
X |
X |
|
Pollution with hazardous and priority substances (biocidal and plant protection products) |
|
|
|
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
Habitat destruction/fragmentation |
|
|
|
|
|
X |
X |
|
Saline intrusion in groundwater |
X |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
X |
Coastal area degradation |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
|
|
X |
Aquifer overexploitation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
X |
Competition between species for space and food with consequent community disequilibrium |
|
|
|
|
|
X |
X |
|
Inputs from Spain |
X |
n.a. |
X |
n.a. |
X |
n.a. |
X |
n.a. |
Changes in sediment dynamics (erosion and silting up) |
X |
|
X |
X |
|
|
|
|
Competition between non-native and indigenous species |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
X |
Figure 5 River basin district in continental Portugal
RH1 – Minho and Lima
RH2 – Cávado, Ave and Leça
RH3 – Douro
RH4 – Vouga, Mondego, Lis and Ribeiras do Oeste
RH5 – Tejo
RH6 – Sado and Mira
RH7 – Guadiana
RH8 – Ribeiras do Algarve
Source: INAG, 2009
It should be noted that nitrate and phosphorus enriched water was identified as significant in all RBDs, as was inputs from Spain, which were identified in all international RBDs. Groundwater contamination, flooding, microbiological pollution and organic pollution (CBO5, ammoniacal nitrogen) were identified in seven out of the eight continental RBDs.
References
For references, please go to https://www.eea.europa.eu/soer/2010/countries/pt/freshwater-drivers-and-pressures-portugal or scan the QR code.
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