Chronic pollution of aquatic environment
Water pollution is the physical, chemical, bacteriological or biological deterioration of water in a water system or network. The hydrographic system refers to groundwater, surface water, the seabed, banks, technical infrastructure and everything associated with it.
Chronic water pollution is a natural phenomenon, but can be accelerated by:
- Human activities, such as domestic and industrial wastewater.
- Rainwater in the urban environment carries oils, chemicals and plastic particles into streams, surface waters or the ground, which causes pollution.
- Agricultural activities, such as pesticides, fertilizers and animal waste.
Water pollution can affect groundwater and surface water in Belgium, including river basins and the Belgian part of the North Sea.
What can you do?
BEFORE
- Be aware of the fertilizers and chemicals you use in your garden or on your patio. Use these within reason, so that they are not simply washed away by heavy rains into a nearby stream or surface water.
- Give preference to organic fertilizers. These are composed exclusively of plant or animal matter.
- Reduce water pollution by using biodegradable cleaning products, detergents, dishwashing detergents, body care products and paint, which feature the European Ecolabel, for example. Use disinfectants, pesticides and other chemicals such as bleach, descalers and drain unblockers only when necessary, safe and appropriate.
DURING
- Get informed and follow the specific recommendations of the authorities. Check the information channels in your municipality, for example. They will inform you in the event of critical pollution of the hydrographic system in your region.
- Avoid contact with polluted water.
- If you are aware of or suspect critical water pollution, contact your local environmental service. Outside office hours, you can also contact the intervention team of the local police.
- Do you live in the Brussels-Capital Region? You can also lodge a complaint with Brussels Environment.
AFTER
- It may be some time before the water pollution is remedied. So keep up to date via the official channels of the authorities.
Impact and probability
The figures relating to probability and impact describe chronic water pollution of considerable magnitude. The BNRA theoretically describes such a scenario as follows:
- Small-scale pollution affects a specific stream or pond.
- The quantity of harmful substances in the water exceeds the prevailing standards in Belgium and the European Union. This can lead to problems such as eutrophication (excessive algae growth).
- This phenomenon is more likely to occur in sparsely populated areas.
How should you interpret these results?
Within the BNRA, experts assessed three scenarios for each risk: considerable, major or extreme. On each page, you will find the results of the scenario with the highest score based on the combination of likelihood and impact. This does not mean that this scenario will occur or is the most likely. Read more here about how to correctly interpret the results.
Probability
Strong
Human impact
No impact
Societal impact
No impact
Environmental impact
Very weak
Financial impact
No impact
What do the authorities do?
As regards the environment, implementing powers are shared between the federal administration and regional authorities. Numerous actors and partners implement environmental policy in Belgium and contribute to environmental protection at national, European and international level. Good cooperation between the various environmental authorities is therefore crucial. For the regional authorities, the following bodies are responsible:
- Brussels Environment (Brussels)
- The Flanders Environment Agency (Flanders) & the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) for the presence and impact of harmful substances in marine ecosystems.
- WPS Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment (Wallonia)
At the federal level, the Directorate General Environment of the FPS Public Health ensures a healthy environment and is responsible for developing environmental policy. This directorate plays a crucial role in the fight against chronic pollution of the aquatic environment. Its activities include:
- Policy and regulation: it develops and implements policies and regulations aimed at reducing and preventing pollution of water bodies.
- Monitoring and research: it conducts monitoring programmes to control water quality and study the sources and effects of pollution.
- International cooperation: it coordinates with international and European bodies to ensure that Belgium complies with international environmental standards and obligations.
- Public consultations: we organise public consultations to involve the public in developing environmental policies, such as coastal water management and the North Sea Marine Strategy.