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Results of the Danish Aquatic Monitoring and Assessment Programme in 2002
Climate adjusted nutrient discharges from wastewater and losses from cultivated areas have been reduced since 1989 resulting in some improvements in the environmental status of some of the Danish lakes and marine waters. This is the main conclusion of the Danish Aquatic Monitoring and Assessment Programme in 2002 as reported by The National Environmental Research Institute, Denmark (NERI).
NERI has the overall responsibility for the Danish Aquatic Monitoring and Assessment Programme 1998-2003 (NOVA-2003). The main objectives of NOVA-2003 are to:
- describe the status and development of the aquatic environment
- quantify the relevant pollution sources and their effects
- document the effect of measures introduced to protect the aquatic environment
- obtain the scientific foundation for future decisions regarding the aquatic environment
NERI annually evaluates the status, development and effects of pressures on the aquatic environment based on data collected by the Danish counties and NERI Technical Report No. 500 provides the results from 2002 of the Danish Aquatic Monitoring and Assessment Programme. The report describes the scientific conclusions of the status and development in the chemical quality of groundwater and atmosphere, and the chemical and biological status and development of streams, lakes and marine waters. The emphasis is on the nutrient contribution from different pollution sources and delivery pathways (wastewater, agriculture, atmosphere, root zones losses and groundwater) and the importance for the chemical and biological quality in the aquatic systems.
Since 1989 wastewater nutrient discharges have been markedly reduced. Climate corrected losses of nutrients from cultivated areas are also reduced following a marked reduction in the supply of fertiliser. These reductions have improved the environmental status of some lakes and marine waters. A reduction of the nitrate content in the upper, newly formed groundwater in sandy catchments has also been observed. The environmental quality in streams is determined mainly by the hydromorphological conditions and the input of organic matter, and the environmental conditions in streams have improved slightly during the last four years.
In spite of the improvements, most of the Danish water bodies did not meet their environmental quality objectives, and in the bottom water of the inner Danish marine waters the most comprehensive oxygen deficiency ever found was observed in 2002.
Further information:
NERI, Head of Section Lars M. Svendsen, lms@dmu.dk +45 8920 1778 & Project Manager Jens Møller Andersen, jea@dmu.dk, +45 8920 1741
Read the report: http://www.dmu.dk/Udgivelser/Faglige+rapporter/Nr.+500-549/
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