Freshwater - Outlook 2020 (Latvia)

Priority areas in relation to water quality and resources, as set out in the Environmental Policy Strategy 2009–15 are:

• eutrophication of inland surface water (rivers and lakes) and marine water, particularly in the southern part of the Gulf of Riga
• transboundary pollution in international river catchment basin
• unsustainable water use due to an inadequate and outdated water supply network.

In accordance with national guidelines and Water Framework Directive river basin management plans, the indicators used to characterise the effectiveness of national environmental policy will be:

• a decrease in water consumption (per capita annually) from 85 m^{3 to} to 80 m³
• a decrease in surface water abstraction from 104 million m³ to 99 million m³
• a decrease in groundwater abstraction from 108 million m³ to 103 million m³
• up to 79 % of water bodies rated as high and good quality (for inland surface waters)
• an increase in the proportion of the population provided with centralised waste water collection and treatment services (up to 62 % of the total population).

However, once available, the results should be carefully analysed. At present, due to the complicated economical and financial situation, it is difficult to reliably forecast future trends in water quality and resources. There is no clear picture of how the situation will be after structural changes affecting the main driving forces have made an impact on the above environmental issues.