PRESENT STATE OF THE WATER-QUALITY OF EUROPEAN RIVERS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR MANAGEMENT

This study presents an overview of the present state of the water qual ity of European rivers. Water quality has been classified according to organic pollution (expressed in oxygen concentration and biological o xygen demand), eutrophication (nitrogen and phosphorus levels) and cad mium concentration. European rivers show various states of pollution. Although most European rivers are well aerated, organic pollution is s till a problem and at regional level severe oxygen problems remain. Eu trophication is a serious problem in most rivers and has apparent detr imental effects on the riverine ecosystem. Cadmium pollution is poorly documented, but extremely high cadmium concentrations have been obser ved in some eastern European and Greek rivers. The availability of app ropriate data on river-water quality, especially in eastern European c ountries, is limited. Substantially improved monitoring is a prerequis ite to increasing essential knowledge of riverine ecosystems and to es tablishing a basis for river basin management on a European scale.