The significant sources of pollution to the Baltic Sea
HELCOM BASE project issued a new report on the current status of significant sources of pollution to the Baltic Sea in Russia, or ‘hot spots’.
Out of the twelve remaining Russian sites identified in the Baltic Sea catchment, one third could be removed from the original list as the necessary measures to meet the requirements have been introduced. Six hot spots are either implementing or planning for improvements, the study concludes, while two sites remain with lower levels of mitigation efforts. Since the report was written, further progress has been made. Russia submitted a proposal to HELCOM to delete Sub-Hot Spot No. 18.1 “Construction of new sewer connections” (Saint-Petersburg).
The report on the status of HELCOM hot spots in Russia complements the final outcome of HELCOM’s Baltic Sea Joint Comprehensive Environmental Action Programme (JCP, 1992-2013), created as large international environmental management framework to reduce pollution loads into the Baltic Sea. Identifying and cleaning up pollution hot spots has been an important part of this work. Originally 17 exclusively Russian sites were in the hot spot list, having in total 162 sites covering the whole region mainly from industrial and municipal, but also diffuse sources such as agricultural areas.
According to the new report, among the most progressed former hot spots is the municipal sewage treatment in St. Petersburg, reaching a nearly 98% of urban sewage water treatment. In addition, the environmental hazards from three pulp and paper producers in Kaliningrad region have reduced significantly. Municipal waste water treatment in Kaliningrad remains a serious concern.
The challenge of mitigating pollution from agriculture shows also positive signs, according to the study. Livestock farming in Leningrad region is a well-developed economic sector whose share in the gross regional product has increased in recent years. The predominance of a large-scale commercial production sector coupled with a high degree of poor storage facilities for storing manure exacerbates the problem of excessive harmful inputs to the Baltic Sea. The expected introduction of technological regulations will result in a significant decrease of nutrient load and the ultimate removal of the region’s agricultural sector from HELCOM’s list of hot spots.
Since the original framework of HELCOM hot spots has reached its official end, the remaining work to tackle pollution sites has been incorporated to the regular HELCOM work more flexibly. The dedicated group (HELCOM LAND) is prepared to address any issue when needs arise, covering the Baltic Sea region as agreed by all the Contracting Parties to the Helsinki Convention: all the coastal Baltic states and the European Union.
Source and Image Credit: HELCOM
For more information please read the report by clicking below:
