The Aquatic Environment in Denmark 1996-1997

Foreword

Since 1990, the results of the monitoring programme of the Action Plan for the Aquatic Environment have been reported in the form of an annual review of the aquatic environment.

Nutrients

Inputs and concentrations of nutrients and their impact on the aquatic environment are included in the monitoring programme of the Action Plan for the Aquatic Environment. Consequently, these subjects are the core matters of this report.

Environmental contaminants and heavy metals

In order to produce a more complete picture of the state of the aquatic environment, information has also been obtained about environmental factors beyond the monitoring programme of the Plan. They, for instance, include heavy metals and contaminants.

Since 1994, the reports have been thematic. In this report, the theme is the environmental conditions of and developments in Danish freshwater systems and estuaries and fjords.

Unfavourable physical conditions and waste water from sparsely populated areas

Unfavourable conditions and the input of waste water from sparsely populated areas have great impact on the state of the environment. For this reason it is unlikely that reductions of the nutrient loading of the aquatic environment agreed as a part of the Action Plan for the Aquatic Environment will have any significant influence on the environmental conditions of streams.

Phosphorus loading from the countryside has strong influence on lakes

In lakes, current and previous discharges of phosphorus from the open country in particular have decisive influence on the state of the environment. In the long term, the reduction of the phosphorus targets of the Action Plan for the Aquatic Environment will have a favourable influence on the environment in lakes. However, large phosphorus accumulations in lake sediments which are constantly being released into the lake water, will delay the effect of the reduction of the phosphorus loading of the lakes.

In addition, the report summarises the state of the remainder of the aquatic environment and, furthermore, it includes a list of inputs of substances to the aquatic environment.