HELCOM RECOMMENDATION 7/3

Adopted 12 February 1986, having regard to Article 13, Paragraph b) of the Helsinki Convention

RECOMMENDATION CONCERNING MEASURES AIMED AT THE REDUCTION OF DISCHARGES FROM URBAN AREAS BY THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEWERAGE SYSTEMS

THE COMMISSION,

RECALLING Paragraph 1 of Article 6 of the Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area, 1974, (Helsinki Convention), in which the Contracting Parties undertake to take all appropriate measures to control and minimize land-based pollution of the marine environment of the Baltic Sea Area,

RECALLING ALSO Paragraph 1 of Annex III of the Helsinki Convention in which the Contracting Parties agree to treat municipal sewage in an appropriate way so that the amount of organic matter does not cause harmful changes in the oxygen content of the Baltic Sea Area and the amount of nutrients does not cause harmful eutrophication of the Baltic Sea Area,

RECALLING FURTHER Paragraph 3 of Annex III of the Helsinki Convention in which the Contracting Parties agree to minimize the polluting load of industrial wastes in an appropriate way in order to reduce the amount of harmful substances, organic matter and nutrients,

RECOGNIZING the need for development of present sewerage systems,

DESIRING to limit pollution caused by unsuitable sewerage systems,

RECOMMENDS to the Governments of the Contracting Parties to the Helsinki Convention that:

 a)         sewers should be maintained and renewed in a way that infiltration and exfiltration be minimized;

 b)         the net infiltration in major catchment areas should not exceed 100% of the dry weather flow as a yearly average;

 c)         a separated sewerage system and/or a semi-separated sewerage system should be selected tor new developments,

 RECOMMENDS FURTHER that the actions taken by the Contracting Parties should be reported to the Commission one year after the adoption of this Recommendation and thereafter every 5 years.