Ammonium in rivers for 2005 by country

Page Last modified 07 Nov 2018

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Topics: Water and marine environment

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Organic matter, measured as Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), and ammonium, are key indicators of the oxygen condition of water bodies. Concentrations of these determinands normally increase as a result of the organic pollution caused by discharges from waste water treatment plants, industrial effluents and agricultural run-off.

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Severe organic pollution may lead to rapid de-oxygenation of river water, a high concentration of ammonia and the disappearance of fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Ammonium

Concentrations of total ammonium have decreased in European rivers over the last 15 years, corresponding to the general improvement in wastewater treatment. The decrease is due mainly to improved sewage treatment resulting from the implementation of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive.

The map shows pie charts of the average mean annual concentrations of ammonium measured at Eionet-Water River monitoring stations by country during 2005. The size of each segment of the pie charts is proportional to the number of stations with ammonium concentrations falling within defined concentration limits. The segments are coloured according to the different concentration levels.