RomaniaRomania

Water Pollution in Water Pollution in the Danube Delta the Danube Delta

and Black Sea and Black Sea RegionRegion

Emily Szajnaszajnaee@uwec.eduGeography 308 (Russia and Eastern Europe)Professor Zoltan GrossmanUniversity of Wisconsin - Eau ClaireSpring 2005

Danube DeltaDanube Delta

Controlled by Controlled by Romania & Romania & Ukraine Ukraine

Romania: 90%Romania: 90%

Danube Delta Danube Delta Biosphere ReserveBiosphere Reserve

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ro.html

Source of the ProblemsSource of the ProblemsDrains lands through 17 Drains lands through 17

CountriesCountries

Population: 165 million Population: 165 million

http://www.npr.org/programs/atc/features/2002/danube/

Romania is the biggest contributor of harmful nutrients to the Black Sea

Nutrient Flow

Total nitrogen input :

3. Municipal waste water: 11–12 %

1.Agriculture: ~44%

2. Industry: 9–10 %

11.5%

44.0%

9.5%

35.0%

Agriculture

Industry

Municipal WasteWater

Other

Total Nutrient Emissions

Surface water (1994):

~ 284 – 306 kilo tons nitrogen/year ~ 39 – 40 kilo tons phosphorous/year

Total emissions - Phosphorous:

1. agriculture: ~ 58 %2. industry: ~ 20.6 % 3. municipal waste

water: ~ 11.4 %

58.0%20.6%

11.4%

10.0% Agriculture

Industry

Municipal WasteWater

Other

Nutrient Flow (Cont.)

http://www.goamcan.com/photos/dscn_7693.html

Iron Gate Gorge, Romania

Copyright © 2004 Richard Robinson, Amcan Travel.

• Cheap energy generated at two hydropower stations; very difficult to find sources on environmental effects of the dam and hydropower stations

http://www.goamcan.com/photos/dscn_7693.html

Rock Sculpture, Romania

Copyright © 2004 Richard Robinson,

Amcan Travel.

The river is the key to tourism & economy in the area

Provides additional funding resources

Clean-UpClean-Up

For the cleaning of For the cleaning of

polluted water:polluted water:* 2,770 cleaning stations have * 2,770 cleaning stations have been builtbeen built

This is a good thing, but with one major problem!

Black Sea in Bloom

http://www.gesource.ac.uk/worldguide/html/image_551.html

Problems in Clean-UpProblems in Clean-Up1997:1997: Of the cleaning stations existing then, Of the cleaning stations existing then,

only 300 were workingonly 300 were working

The other 535 had malfunction issuesThe other 535 had malfunction issues

The malfunctions are caused by the following factors:1) lack of materials2) insufficient qualification of the personnel3) simple negligence

Ministry of Waters, Woods Ministry of Waters, Woods and Environment Protection and Environment Protection wants to:wants to:

2. Bring it down to European 2. Bring it down to European levels by 2000levels by 2000

1. Reduce pollution by 1. Reduce pollution by 20% - 199520% - 1995

3. I was not able to find updated information on whether these goals have been met, but funding issues slow down the meeting of these goals.

Solutions

Lower Danube Green Corridor, Bulgaria andRomania

http://www.gesource.ac.uk/worldguide/html/image_1882.html

Funding IssuesFunding IssuesAs a result of the severe pollution As a result of the severe pollution problems, this area is subject to special problems, this area is subject to special ecological recovery programs, like the ecological recovery programs, like the Black Sea Agricultural Control Project I Black Sea Agricultural Control Project I will talk about on the next slide. will talk about on the next slide.

Financing is provided by the World Financing is provided by the World Bank and the Romanian Government in Bank and the Romanian Government in accordance with specific management accordance with specific management programs.programs.

http://www.bnro.ro/En/Ins/

Black Sea Agricultural Black Sea Agricultural Control ProjectControl Project

Goal: Reduce discharge of nutrients through integrated land and water management

Combine good agricultural practices and wetland rehab

Causing Eutrophication: Definition- too many mineral & organic nutrients that promote, for example, growth of algae eventually causing reduction in oxygen content causing the extinction of organisms

Better practices include: crop rotation, conservation tillage systems, crop cover, and livestock management system

StatusStatusPast 25 years:Past 25 years:

Enormous increase in nutrient load to the Black Enormous increase in nutrient load to the Black SeaSea

• Two- to three-fold increase in nitrates

• Seven-fold increase in phosphates

Causes: 1. Widespread use of phosphate detergents

2. Intensification of agriculture which uses fertilizers causing nutrient-leaching from the soil

In recent years:In recent years:Reductions in activity in some areas of the economy, Reductions in activity in some areas of the economy, but does not necessarily mean things are better for the but does not necessarily mean things are better for the environment environment

Volume of pollutants emitted has diminished Volume of pollutants emitted has diminished somewhat: somewhat: Is it enough?Is it enough?

Still represents a risk for the quality of Still represents a risk for the quality of water, air, soil water, air, soil and health of the populationand health of the population

Status (Cont.)Status (Cont.)

In ConclusionIn Conclusion

Much still needs to be done in Much still needs to be done in cooperation with all the countries cooperation with all the countries that share the Danube River.that share the Danube River.

Financial concerns in Central European countries make progress on environmental issues slow, but if many of these countries, such as Romania, wish to join the EU – progress to reach the goals that have been set will have to be made.

ReferencesReferences1.1. Romania Geography;Romania Geography; http://http://

www.aboutromania.com/geography.htmlwww.aboutromania.com/geography.html 2.2. Environmental Protection and Scientific Research in Romania;Environmental Protection and Scientific Research in Romania;

http://www.biopolitics.gr/HTML/PUBS/VOL5/html/con_rom.htmhttp://www.biopolitics.gr/HTML/PUBS/VOL5/html/con_rom.htm3.3. Sofia Convention;Sofia Convention;

http://enrin.grida.no/htmls/romania/soe2000/eng/cap2/conv.htmhttp://enrin.grida.no/htmls/romania/soe2000/eng/cap2/conv.htm4.4. Environmental Security Issues in the Black Sea Region;Environmental Security Issues in the Black Sea Region; http://www- http://www-

erd.llnl.gov/library/AR-132297.pdferd.llnl.gov/library/AR-132297.pdf 5.5. Romania Agricultural Pollution Control Project;Romania Agricultural Pollution Control Project;

http://www.gefweb.org/COUNCIL/GEF_C15/GEF_C15_Inf.6Romania.dhttp://www.gefweb.org/COUNCIL/GEF_C15/GEF_C15_Inf.6Romania.dococ

6.6. Environment and Ecological Action; Environment and Ecological Action; http://www.romanianembassy.dk/romania/mediu.html http://www.romanianembassy.dk/romania/mediu.html

7.7. Central Europe Review; Central Europe Review; http://www.ce-review.org/99/12/lovatt12.htmlhttp://www.ce-review.org/99/12/lovatt12.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Sea