Water Quality and Pollution Control in the Rhine River Basin
Geolocation: | 50° 26' 41.406", 7° 26' 6.2052" |
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Total Population | 5858,000,000 millionmillion |
Total Area | 200,000200,000 km² 77,220 mi² km2 |
Climate Descriptors | temperate, alpine |
Predominent Land Use Descriptors | industrial use, mining operations |
Important Uses of Water | Domestic/Urban Supply, Fisheries - wild |
Contents
Summary
The Rhine River is a major waterway that originates from Switzerland, and flows through France, Germany and the Netherlands to reach the North Sea. International cooperation on the Rhine River Basin has been ongoing since 1963 and continues today to resolve transboundary conflicts and manage water problems, including shipping, navigation, pollution, and flooding issues.
This case study emphasizes the international cooperation required to prevent pollution to the Rhine River. Sparked by the Sandoz Accident of 1986, the Rhine Action Programme was developed to restore ecological habitats and ensure drinking water quality for 20 million people. The Rhine Action Programme has been successful in reducing phosphorus concentrations and reviving the salmon population. After the Programme ended in 2000, “Rhine 2020" and the EU Water Framework Directive were adopted to continue water quality control and ecological rehabilitation.
Natural, Historic, Economic, Regional, and Political Framework
Issues and Stakeholders
Reducing Source Pollution to the Rhine River
NSPD: Water Quality, Ecosystems
Stakeholder Types: Sovereign state/national/federal government
Analysis, Synthesis, and Insight
Individuals may add their own Analysis, Synthesis, and Insight (ASI) to a case. ASI sub-articles are protected, so that each contributor retains authorship and control of their own content. Edit the case to add your own ASI.
Learn moreASI:Applying the Water Diplomacy Framework to the Rhine River Basin on Water Pollution Control
The water quality program for the Rhine River Basin has been successful because the stakeholders promote information exchange, cooperation and consensus, there is trust, and there is a stable budget/ funding to implement the goals. Applying the Water Diplomacy Framework to this case, we can see why the Rhine Action Program was successful(read the full article... )
(last edit: 20 May 2014)