Tropical area study for agricultural runoff. Final Synthesis Report

Abstract

The study comprises an evaluation og the agricultural water pollution in the countries bordering the Eastern Baltic Sea, i.e. St.Petersburg Region, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Kaliningrad Region, Vistula River Basin, Odra River Basin, and the North German Coast. The loading of the nutrients Phosphorus and Nitrogen is estimated both to local waterbodies within the different regions, as well as to the Baltic Sea. Totally, it is esimated that 171,000 tonnes of nitrogen and 11,500 tonnes of phosphorus enter the Baltic Sea from these areas. Most of the pollution originates from point sources and insufficient handling of manure within the animal husbandry. Implementation of the proposed action plan will reduce the nitrogen loading by approximately 25% and the phosphorus loading from agriculture by about 70%. The action plan is estimated to cost about 37 billion ECU: