WATER PROTECTION IN THE PULP INDUSTRY - AUSTRIAN AND CENTRAL-EUROPEANSITUATION

The pulp and paper industry in central Europe was for a long period on e of the biggest water polluters. During the last 10 years the polluti on load to the receiving waters has decreased to such an extent that a compromise between water protection and industrial development is in sight. This positive achievement started with a concentration at the p roduction in a relatively small number of mills with modem and cost ef fective production processes minimizing pollution discharge to the was tewater. Nearly all mills are equipped with biological wastewater trea tment plants. Many mills have abandoned chlorine for bleaching, thus s olving the AOX problem, some are on the way to doing this. These posit ive achievements are the result of a water protection and industrial d evelopment policy.