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Transboundary water pollution

Latvia’s largest rivers have their origins in neighbouring countries, such that 53% of the discharge of Latvian rivers into the Baltic Sea comes from beyond its borders, thus carrying also the pollution produced in neighbouring countries and posing a direct threat to the health of Latvia’s residents in case of large industrial accidents.

The following are Latvia’s largest transboundary water courses: the Daugava (29% of its catchment area is located in Latvia), the Lielupe (50%) and the Venta (50%). These rivers are included in the list of Europe’s largest transboundary water courses elaborated by the UN/ ECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe).

The source of the Daugava is in Russia, but it is while flowing through Belarus (See Box 12) that it receives most of its pollution load. There are large production facilities (also chemical production) located in Vitebsk, Polock and Novopolock in Belarus that discharge their wastewaters and other dangerous substances into the Daugava. This same water is then used for drinking water supply in Latvia.

Box 12.

Significant amounts of wastewater from the Mazeikiai oil refinery, other industrial enterprises, small towns and runoff from intensive agriculture in Lithuania leak into the watercourses of the Venta and Lielupe catchment areas.

It should also be noted, that coastal pollution from Lithuania (Klaipèda, Palanga) enters Latvia’s territorial due to the dominant currents and winds, and has a negative influence on the biotopes of the Kurzeme coastal waters. In this regard, the decision of the Lithuanian government to construct an oil terminal at Butiðåe should be mentioned. Implementation of this project will significantly increase the risk of ecosystem degradation and destruction.

Since Latvia is situated on the Baltic Sea, we are responsible for pollution emitted into the Sea from its territory, 50% of which consists of transboundary pollution. Latvia ratified the Helsinki Convention on the protection of the Baltic Sea environment and signed a convention ‘On the protection and use of transboundary watercourses and international lakes’ that is being prepared for ratification. These conventions are very important for Latvia. They also place an increased obligation on our neighbours in Belarus and Lithuanian for the protection of transboundary watercourses, monitoring and public information.

Main solution measures for the above problem could be as follows:

reduce transmission of pollution from other countries into the territory of Latvia, thus protecting internal waters of the country and the Baltic Sea. Possible instruments for implementation include:

• co-operation between regional administration institutions located in one catchment area, but in different countries;
• ratification and implementation of the Helsinki Convention of 1992 ‘On the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes’;
• bilateral agreement with Lithuania on the Venta and Lielupe river catchment areas;
• bilateral agreement with Belarus (or a trilateral agreement - with Belarus and Russia on the Daugava);
• bilateral agreements with Estonia and Russian on small rivers and lakes.

Increase the safety of the population of Latvia in case of accidents in neighbouring countries that substantially increase pollution of Latvian waters. Basically, the instruments listed above may be applied, as well as

• establishment of an automatic monitoring post in Piedruja on the Daugava on the Belarus border;
• international early warning system;
• establishment of transboundary water monitoring system;
• transition to use of groundwater for the supply of drinking water.

Reduce pollution leakage from the territory of Latvia into the Baltic Sea. For implementation of this measure, practically all instruments listed in the following part (`Eutrofication of water courses and degradation of water ecosystems`) can be applied, especially

• establishment of regional administrative institutions for water courses;
• formation of international working groups according to river catchment areas; and
• elaboration and implementation of a national programme for protection of the Baltic Sea environment.

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Last updated: November 8, 1996. The information prepared by Valts Vilnitis: fuxis@varam.gov.lv