View source for Evaluating impact on quality of water in the coast

[[Category:Impact assessment]]
[[Category:IA Tools]]
[[Category:Environment]]
[[Category:Water]]
{{method|moderator=Heta}}

==Scope==

Does it raise or lower the quality of waters in coastal and marine areas (e.g. through discharges of sewage, nutrients, oil, heavy metals, and other pollutants)?<ref name="coast">JRC: IA TOOLS. Supporting inpact assessment in the European Commission. [http://iatools.jrc.ec.europa.eu/bin/view/IQTool/CoastalAreas.html]</ref>

==Definition==

Oceans and seas get seriously affected by humane emissions of nutrients and toxic substances both from land and air. Shipping, as one of the pollution sources, is still expanding, ships are also increasing in size. A serious problem especially regarding oil transportation is the occurrence of substandard vessels, which, in combination with insufficient maintenance, substantially increases the risk of accidents. But the worst infestation and production of long-lasting effects on natural environment and balance in coastal and marine areas is caused through (almost always illegal) discharges of oil and heavy metals.<ref name="coast"/>

Another source of anthropogenic introduced change in coastal and marine water quality is the entry of pharmaceuticals, which has risen drastically. Residues of these active substances are flushed out through the wastewater of households and hospitals and reach the sea via municipal treatment plants.

Human pollution is still the main reason in most cases of coastal water´s overbalance and eutrophying. There can be different reasons for water to get overbalanced, e.g. a considerable saltwater discharge into the ocean in connection with little or no return flow. Eutrophying on the other hand, is mainly caused by discharge of sewage and nutrients. Eutrophication causes great problems in coastal waters and leads to more extensive algae blooms out at sea and more plankton. Shallow sandy bottoms are becoming overgrown with fine-threaded algae and the thereby caused oxygen deficiency in deep waters is threatening the natural ecosystems and reproduction.<ref name="coast"/>

==Result==

Indicators:

There are no Eurostat Structural Indicators directly related to this key question.

There are no Eurostat Sustainable Development Indicators directly related to this key question but since wastewater treatment influences coastal and marine waters if discharged into the sea, two Sustainable Development Indicators related to the question can be found:

*[http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/tgm/table.do?tab=table&init=1&plugin=1&language=en&pcode=tsdnr320 Population connected to urban wastewater treatment systems with at lest secondary treatment]<ref name="coast"/>

Additional Links:

Eurostat Theme indicators: See Screenshot for level on which to find Eurostat theme indicators on water:[http://iatools.jrc.ec.europa.eu/bin/view/IQTool/CoastalAreas.html]

See Screenshot for level on which to find indicato

Eurostat Theme indicators: See Screenshot for level on which to find Eurostat Theme indicators on regional water statistics:[http://iatools.jrc.ec.europa.eu/bin/view/IQTool/CoastalAreas.html]

See Screenshot for level on which to find indicato<ref name="coast"/>

==See also==

European Environment Agency Indicators

[http://themes.eea.eu.int/Specific_media/water/indicators EEA Water Indicators]

covers inter alia

*[http://themes.eea.eu.int/Specific_media/water/indicators/WHS11%2C2004.05 Accidental oil spills from marine shipping] (Data covering Europe for 1991-2002)
*[http://themes.eea.eu.int/Specific_media/water/indicators/WEU13%2C2004.05 Chlorophyll-a-concentration in transitional, coastal and marine waters] (Data covering Baltic Sea/North Sea/Mediterranean for 1985-2000)
*[http://themes.eea.eu.int/Specific_media/water/indicators/WEC2d%2C2004.05 Classification of coastal waters] (Data covering Denmark, UK, Finland, France, Italy, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, Slovenia for 2003)
*[http://themes.eea.eu.int/Specific_media/water/indicators/WEU11%2C2004.05 Bathing Water Quality] (Data covering EU 15 for 1992-2002)
*[http://themes.eea.eu.int/Specific_media/water/indicators/WHS10%2C2004.05 Discharge of oil from refineries and offshore installations] (Data covering Denmark, UK, Netherlands for 1990-1999)
*[http://themes.eea.eu.int/Specific_media/water/indicators/WEU09%2C2004.05 Emissions of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) from urban wastewater treatment plants] (Data covering Norway, Sweden, Finland, Austria, Netherlands, Switzerland, Hungary, Czech Republic for 1970-2000)
*[http://themes.eea.eu.int/Specific_media/water/indicators/WEU08%2C2004.05 Emissions of organic matter] (Data covering Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, UK, Netherlands, Switzerland, Estonia, Hungary, Czech Republic for 1990-2000)
*[http://themes.eea.eu.int/Specific_media/water/indicators/WHS09%2C2004.05 Emissions to water of hazardous substances from industry] (Data covering Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden for 1985 and 1999)
*[http://themes.eea.eu.int/Specific_media/water/indicators/WHS08%2C2004.05 Emissions to water of hazardous substances from urban sources] (Data covering North Sea for 1985 and 1999)
*[http://themes.eea.eu.int/Specific_media/water/indicators/WEU15%2C2004.05 Frequency of low-bottom oxygen concentration in coastal and marine waters] (Data covering Baltic Sea/North Sea/Mediterranean for 1995-2002)
*[http://themes.eea.eu.int/Specific_media/water/indicators/WHS6_WHS7%2C2004.06 Hazardous substances in marine organisms] (Data covering North East Atlantic Ocean/Mediterranean Sea/Baltic Sea for 1986-2002)
*[http://themes.eea.eu.int/Specific_media/water/indicators/WHS12%2C2004.07 Illegal discharges of oil at sea] (Data covering North Sea and Baltic Sea for 1990-2002)
*[http://themes.eea.eu.int/Specific_media/water/indicators/WHS07%2C2004.05 Loads of hazardous substances to coastal waters] (Data covering North-East Atlantic Ocean for 1990-2001)
*[http://themes.eea.eu.int/Specific_media/water/indicators/CC06b%2C2004.05 North Atlantic Oszillation] (Data covering North Atlantic 1823-2002)
*[http://themes.eea.eu.int/Specific_media/water/indicators/WEU4%2C2004.05 Nutrients in coastal waters] (Data covering Noth Atlantic/Baltic Sea/North Sea/Mediterranean 1985-2002)
*[http://themes.eea.eu.int/Specific_media/water/indicators/WEU07%2C2004.05 Source apportionment and loads] (riverine and direct) of nutrients to coastal waters (Data covering North Sea/Baltic Sea 1985-2000)
*[http://themes.eea.eu.int/Specific_media/water/indicators/WEC07b%2C2004.05 Trends in aquaculture production, and newly introduced cultured and associated species in European Seas] (Data covering European waters 1970-1990)
*[http://themes.eea.eu.int/Specific_media/water/indicators/WEU16%2C2004.05 Urban wastewater treatment] (Data covers Norway, Sweden, Finland, Austria, Denmark, England & Wales, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Greece, Spain, Bulgaria, Poland, Estonia, Hungary, Turkey between 1980s and late 1990s)
*[http://iatools.jrc.ec.europa.eu/bin/view/IQTool/CoastalAreas.html IA TOOLS]
*[http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/marine/index_en.htm A Marine Strategy to save Europe's seas and oceans]

==References==

<references/>

This text is for information only and is not designed to interpret or replace any reference documents.