News » EU finds nitrogen pollution only slightly improved since 2008

A European Commission reporton agricultural nitrates pollution concludes that nitrate levels ingroundwater and surface freshwaters have ?slightly improved? since 2008.Nitrates were still above 50 mg/l (drinking water standard) at over 13%of monitoring stations across Europe 2012-2015, compared to 14% duringthe four preceding years. In coastal waters on the other hand, thenumber of stations showing >25 mg/l nitrates halved to 0.7%. About19% of reported river monitoring stations were eutrophic orhypertrophic. The report notes that total EU manure nitrogen use droppedby 2.6% between the two periods, whereas nitrogen fertiliser useincreased by +4% (and phosphate by +6%). Perspectives identified by theCommission to more effectively reduce nitrate pollution include: widerdesignation of NVZs (Nitrate Vulnerable Zones) in some member states,adapting NVZ Action Plans to better address local and regional nitratepollution hotspots, better inclusion of sources of nitrogen other thanfertilisers and manure (digestate, reclaimed water for irrigation, soilimprovers) and nitrogen already present in the soil, innovative manureprocessing technologies to enable nutrient recycling.

?Implementation of Council Directive91/676/EEC concerning the protection of waters against pollution causedby nitrates from agricultural sources based on Member State reports forthe period 2012?2015?, European Commission report 4th May 2018,COM(2018)257 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/water-nitrates/pdf/nitrates_directive_implementation_report.pdf

Source: European Sustainable Phosphorus Platform (ESPP) eNews no 22 about nutrient recycling & stewardship.