Environmental Investigations No. 4 2000 Redegørelse fra Miljøstyrelsen The Aquatic Environment in Denmark 1996-1997 State of Danish freshwaters and inlets in 1996 and 1997 CONTENTS: Foreword 1. Introduction 2. Point sources 3. Freshwater 4. Water courses 5. Lakes 6. Fjords 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. 1. Introduction Oxygen depletion and dead fjords, algae soup in the lakes and dried-out watercourses, as well as nitrate and insecticide loading of watercourses and drinking water. There are many examples of problems in the Danish aquatic environment. The Action Plan for the Aquatic Environment is part of the efforts made to secure clean water in the future. 1.1 Targets and tools of the Action Plan for the Aquatic Environment The creation and objects of the Action Plan for the Aquatic Environment In 1987, the Folketing passed the “Action Plan against Pollution with Nutrients of the Danish Aquatic Environment”, popularly known as the Action Plan for the Aquatic Environment. Its objective is to reduce the total loading of the aquatic environment by nitrogen and phosphorus from agriculture, municipal sewage treatment plants and individual industrial loads from a level of 290,000 tonnes of nitrogen and 15,000 tonnes of phosphorus when the plan was passed, to 145,000 tonnes and 3,000 tonnes, respectively. This is the equivalent of 50% and 80% reductions, respectively. The means of the Action Plan for the Aquatic Environment The means of achieving the agreed reduction objectives included mandatory purification of waste water, storage and spreading of domestic animal manure etc. In addition to these requirements, the Plan contains declarations on a general reduction of the loading by freshwater and salt-water fish farms, as well as the limitation of nitrogen emissions into the atmosphere. The Plan is based on an expansion of sewage treatment plants, and on efforts to ensure that the agricultural sector reduces the loss of nutrients to the aquatic environment, on a voluntary basis and by means of good farming practice. Despite the fact that the sewage treatment plants have since then been expanded as prescribed, and though the agricultural sector generally speaking lives up to the binding demands, it has not been possible to meet the reduction objectives of the Action Plan for the Aquatic Environment. 1.2 The elements of the monitoring programme Purpose The overriding purpose of the monitoring programme is to prove the effects of the regulations and investments which are the consequence of the measures specified in the report on the Action Plan for the Aquatic Environment. The nutrient loading from various sources of ground water, watercourses, lakes, and marine waters are established through systematic collection of data, and the water quality and its development are assessed in the various phases of the water cycle. The monitoring programme will of course also contribute to improving and proving the effects of additional measures to improve the aquatic environment, including the meeting of objectives in the counties' plans for the wetland areas. The monitoring programme was launched in 1989. The contents of the programme for 1989-1992 are described in the Environmental Project No. 115 (The Danish EPA, 1989). The contents of the current programme which covers the years from 1993 to 1997 are described in the Danish EPA’s Report No. 1, 1993. The monitoring programme supplements the counties' supervision, and data from this supervision will be collected and used in connection with the annual reports. Ground water The environmental conditions of the ground water were the theme of the monitoring programme report of 1995. The purpose of ground water monitoring is i) to monitor the development of the quality and utilisation of ground water resources, ii) to study the ground water contents of nutrients and other substances, natural as well as those originating from the pollution of various types of aquifers; iii) to monitor the development of the ground water quality from near- surface and deeper lying aquifers, partly over time and partly as a result of man-made intervention in the form of pollution and water extraction, and thus to contribute to securing ground water in quantities and of a quality suitable for the production on drinking water and at all times to meet all quality requirements. Watercourses and springs Monitoring of watercourses and springs primarily aims at following the development of nutrient transportation and ecological conditions in Danish watercourses, as well as following effects of changes in the nutrient load. It also aims at learning more about the water quality of watercourses, while at the same time establishing the quantities of nitrogen, phosphorus and organic matter which are passed into Danish waters via watercourses. Lakes The monitoring programme includes studies of a total of 37 lakes which are representative of the country as a whole with regard to environmental conditions and type of lake. The purpose of lake monitoring is to assess the nutrient loads and environmental conditions of the lakes, to monitor developments and to increase our knowledge of the reaction of the lakes to changes in the nutrient loads. The marine environment The environmental conditions in Danish lakes must be described as unsatisfactory, being in general heavily polluted with nutrients. However, there is a small improvement in about half of the monitored lakes thanks to a reduction of phosphorus discharge from waste water. Loading of lakes The open land is the largest source of nutrient loading of Danish lakes. Open land accounted for an average of 57% of the Tot-Nutrient input and 73% of the Tot-Nitrogen input in monitored lakes during 1992-1996. Discharge of phosphorus via waste water in 1992-1996 accounted for only about 10% of the Tot-Phosphorus load. Previously, waste water loading from towns and industry was more significant. Phosphorus Generally speaking, phosphorous input to the monitored lakes remained unchanged during the period from 1989-1996. However, there was a drop in the phosphorus input to the most heavily loaded lakes from 8-10 tonnes a year until 1991, to 2-4 tonnes after that, but the total input is still high. The trend in environmental conditions from 1989 to 1996 Secchi depth In 1996, Secchi depths in the monitored lakes, expressed as a summer median, was 1.5 metre. It was less than 1 metre in 52% of the lakes investigated under regional supervision. Low Secchi depths must be considered unsatisfactory. Small improvement in Secchi depths in lakes Nevertheless, there is a very small improvement in the Secchi depths of the lakes since 1989, concurrent with a drop in the chlorophyll-a content in the lake water. There is no change in the occurrence and distribution of zooplankton and subsurface weeds. Objectives for lakes 34% of target achievement The targets were met for no more than 34% of the lakes for which objectives have been set. Ground water No effect on the ground water of the Action Plan Generally speaking, no effect on the nitrate content of the ground water as a result of the Action Plan for the Aquatic Environment has been established. In certain areas and in Jutland in particular, nitrate in the ground water remains a significant threat to the future drinking water supply. Pesticides found During the period from 1990-1996, pesticides are found in 13% of the investigated filters under the ground water monitoring programme. Of these, 4% exceeded the drinking water threshold value. In connection with the waterworks' borehole checks in 1992-1996, pesticides were found in approx. 12% of the investigated drillings, in approx. 5% exceeding the drinking water threshold value. Extended pesticide investigations A number of counties and waterworks have carried out analyses for a number of pesticides and decomposition products in addition to the 8 analysed so far.