Brief description:
Water pollution by nutrients is characterized by annual average concentrations of phosphates and nitrates, which are compared with the maximum permissible concentration (MPC); in Belarus, the MPC for phosphates is 0.066 mg of P/liter and for nitrates is 40.0 mg of NО3/liter in surface water bodies, the MPC for nitrates is not more than 45.0 mg of NО3/liter in drinking water (in groundwater).
The indicator is presented in the context of 10 rivers, 18 lakes as well as groundwater monitoring stations within the Dnieper, the Western Dvina, the Western Bug, the Neman and the Pripyat river basins.
Annual average posphate сoncentration in main rivers of the Republic of Belarus
(milligrammes of P per liter)
Annual average nitrate сoncentration in main rivers of the Republic of Belarus
(milligrammes of NО3 per liter)
Methodology:
The indicator is estimated on the basis of surface water and groundwater samples taken and tested at each surveillance point of the state surface water and groundwater monitoring network.
Data source:
The National Environmental Monitoring System;
The data producer is the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus.
Relevance of the indicator:
The indicator provides a measure of the quality of freshwater (in rivers, lakes and groundwater) in terms of the content of nutrients.
© National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus. When using information reference to the National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus is mandatory.