Evaluating impact on quality of water

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Scope

Does the option decrease or increase the quality or quantity of freshwater and groundwater?[1]

Definition

A large contingent of Europe´s population depends on groundwater for daily drinking water. Groundwater is also one of our most important sources of irrigation water. Groundwater is generally a safe source of drinking water; however, groundwater is susceptible to pollutants, and there are concerns that contamination may increase as toxins dumped on the ground in the past make their way into groundwater supplies. Groundwater is susceptible to pollutants, e.g. pesticides and fertilizers, road salt, toxic substances from mining sites, and used motor oil that may seep into groundwater. In addition, it is possible for untreated waste from septic tanks and toxic chemicals from underground storage tanks to contaminate groundwater. Drinking contaminated groundwater can have serious health effects. Diseases such as hepatitis and dysentery may be caused by contamination from septic tank waste. Poisoning may be caused by toxins that have leached into well water supplies. Wildlife can also be harmed by contaminated groundwater. Other long term effects such as certain types of cancer may also result from exposure to polluted water.[1]

Result

Indicators:

There are no Eurostat Structural Indicators directly related to this key question.

There are no Eurostat Sustainable Development Indicators directly related to this key question since the decrease or increase of surface and groundwater quality and quantity can not be described by only one indicator. However, freshwater abstraction has a clear influence on it and is described by this Sustainable Development Indicator:

There is no Sustainable Development Indicator covering effects on quality or quantity of surface and groundwater itself, but since wastewater treatment influences quality or quantity of surface and groundwater, two Sustainable Development Indicators related to the question can be found:

Eurostat Theme indicators: See Screenshot for level on which to find Eurostat Theme indicators on water:


See Screenshot for level on which to find indicato

Eurostat Theme indicators: See Screenshot for level on which to find Eurostat Theme indicators on regional water statistics:


See

Eurostat long-term indicators

Eurostat water long-term indicators

covers inter alia

European Environment Agency Indicators

EEA Water Indicators[1]

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 JRC: IA TOOLS. Supporting inpact assessment in the European Commission. [1]

This text is for information only and is not designed to interpret or replace any reference documents.