Municipalities

Municipalities generate around 60% of the wastewater discharged in the Danube River Basin, much of not sufficiently treated. Inadequate management and treatment of municipal wastewater has been identified as one of the core problems in the basin. Among other measures, the ICPDR encourages that more nutrients must be removed in wastewater treatment plants and water pollution from landfills must be prevented.

Municipalities generate around 60% of the wastewater discharged in the Danube River Basin, and much of this wastewater is released into rivers not sufficiently treated.

Inadequate management and treatment of municipal wastewater has been identified as one of the core problems in the Danube River Basin.

Among other measures, the ICPDR encourages that more nutrients must be removed in wastewater treatment plants and water pollution from landfills must be prevented.

What needs to be done

• New sewer systems and wastewater treatment plants must be constructed, with existing facilities restored and upgraded.
• The operation of sewer systems and wastewater treatment plants must be improved.
• More nutrients must be removed in wastewater treatment plants.
• The treatment of sewage sludge must be improved.
• Water pollution from landfills must be prevented.

Downloads

• ICPDR Guidelines for Monitoring of Waste Water Discharges (17.15 KB)
• Recommendation on Treatment of Municipal Waste Water (24.41 KB)
• Socio-Economic Effects of Water Pollution in the Danube River Basin (1.24 MB)
  Summary Report, June 1999
• Strategic Action Plan for the Danube River Basin 1995 - 2005 (2.29 MB)
  Revision 1999

Articles

• » Municipial Wastewater
  Inadequate management of municipal wastewater is one of the core problems in the Danube River Basin. The contamination of groundwater and rivers with untreated wastewater can be harmful in many ways and the long-term effects of such pollution reduce biodiversity in aquatic ecosystems, and affect human water uses, such as drinking water sources.
• » The heavy price tag for clean water
  Article in Danube Watch 02/2006
• » IWA World Water Congress and Exhibition: Danube, sanitation and climate
  ICPDR Danube Watch: Work resumes on Bystroe Canal

Links

• EU UWWT Directive
  Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive of the European Union
• draft Danube River Basin Management Plan