JDS 1

Joint Danube Survey 2001

The Joint Danube Survey 2001 has been carried out by the ICPDR and is the most homogenous analysis of the water quality and the ecological status of the Danube River.

Over 140 chemical and biological parameters have been analysed and over 40.000 laboratory results have been generated. The results of the Survey will bring us another step closer to a cleaner Danube.

The ICPDR initiated the JDS 2001 to improve the validity and comparability of water quality data received from its regular monitoring programme (Trans-National Monitoring Network).

JDS 2001 stands for:

• 10 scientists of 7 countries
• 2 ships: "Argus", "Szechenyi”
• 2581 km river stretch
• 6 week journey
• 140 parameters analysed
• 40.000 results achieved

What are the JDS results?

Reliable and consolidated data of the water quality of the Danube and its major tributaries regarding biological parameters and chemical pollutants, aquatic flora and fauna and bacteriological indicators.

Issues of concern are the stretches with identified hot spots of pollutants listed in the EU Water Framework Directive as priority substances, the nutrient concentrations in the whole Danube with special attention to the middle part, and overall pollution by bacteria and heavy metals.

Biodiversity: The findings show the Danube to host a high degree of biodiversity. Over 1,000 aquatic species and higher-level organisms were identified, especially:

• 268 macrozoobenthos taxa (small animals living on the bottom sediment)
• 340 phytobenthos taxa (algae living on the bottom sediment)
• 49 macrophyte species (water plants and mosses)
• 261 phytoplankton taxa (algae drifting in the water)
• 120 zooplankton taxa (small animals drifting in the water).

Did you know?
The opening of the Main-Danube Canal in 1992 led to an increase of biodiversity, since it allowed river fauna to migrate between the Rhine and the Danube basins.

However, the consequences need to be monitored to be sure that it will not result in a deterioration of the typical Danubian species.

Organic pollution varied between "moderately" and "critically polluted". Many side arms and tributaries were more polluted than the main stream.
In certain stretches no macro-invertebrates were found at all – a clear indication of an even higher organic or toxic pollution.

Eutrophication: Particularly high concentrations of algal biomass were found in the Hungarian stretch downstream of Budapest, which indicates elevated nutrient concentrations.

Microbiological (bacterial) pollution is showing anthropogenic impacts possibly caused by insufficiently treated sewage (faecal pollution) and by impacts from farm land and pasture (manure). Faecal bacteria indicate also the potential presence of pathogenic bacteria, viruses and parasites endangering human health.

Specific heavy metal pollution hot-spots were detected (the Rusenski Lom, the Iskar and the Timok tributaries, Bulgaria).

Pollution from navigation, mainly oil was observed; the highest values of petroleum hydrocarbons in sediments and suspended solids were found in the Middle Danube reach.

From 23 pesticides under investigation only Atrazine and Desethylatrazine could be found along the Danube.

Significant concentrations of harmful chemical pollutants featuring on the EU Water Framework Directive List of Priority Pollutants, were found in bottom sediments as well as in suspended solids.

Lessons learned:

The results of the JDS have been taken as the basis for future activities of the ICPDR, specially focusing on:

• measures to decrease nutrient input from agriculture
• building of wastewater treament plants with nitrogen and phosphorus removal
• introduction of of phosphate-free detergents
• measures to decrease heavy metal pollution from the mining and metallurgy areas
• intensification of the cooperation with the Danube Navigation Commission on reducing oil pollution from shipping
• establishment of sediment quality targets
• improvement of the Danube Trans-National Monitoring Network (TNMN)

Disclaimer

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