The Control of Pollution from River Discharges in the Mediterranean

Abstract

The pollution burden of river discharges in the Mediterranean far exceeds all other sources, e.g. land based sources. The main contributors are the Rhone, Po and Ebro. Contributions from the River Nile are expected to be much less than those from rivers in the European continent. Recent Nile management schemes and irrigation projects in Egypt are posing direct impacts on the Mediterranean. This includes the erosion of the Nile Delta and off-shore pollution due to wastewater discharges. In view of the prevailing circulation patterns in the Mediterranean, these impacts are dominant in the South Levantin region. Cutrent practices of river management do not necessarily include the protection of marine resources. Similarly, sea protection programs do not include pollution from sources in the river basin. Marine management programs are largely concerned with pollution loads at the points of river discharge. In the case of a land-locked sea, such as the Mediterranean, it is particularly important to integrate river basin management schemes in the sea protection program. Under a suitable management plan, it could be possible to determine main sources of sea pollution within the river basin. This should serve as the basis for the implementation of control measures, since the problem is not exclusively within the river basin.