On June 19, 1991, the Rhine was labeled the longest and dirtiest river in Europe, supplying drinking water to around 20 million people. While renowned for its scenic beauty between Bonn and Bingen, the river suffers from significant pollution along its 1,280-kilometer stretch. A 1986 German government survey revealed that pollution levels had barely decreased since the 1970s, with only DDT levels dropping. The situation worsened after the Sandoz chemical factory fire, which released over 30 tonnes of harmful substances into the river, killing more than 500,000 fish and rendering over 100 kilometers lifeless. Investigations suggest that pollutants may have seeped into groundwater, threatening drinking water supplies for years. Although Rhine water is treated before distribution, it often requires chemical agents like chlorine, raising health concerns, including increased cancer risks. Dutch scientists monitor pollution levels and suspend drinking water recovery during spikes from upstream spills.
Is the Rhine River Polluted?
According to the International Warning and Alarm Plan Rhine 2022, pollution incidents attributed to industrial sources have been on the rise, reaching a peak of twenty events in 2022. The International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine (ICPR) observes that the number of notifications likely stemming from industrial activities has fluctuated between two and thirty-two incidents per year from 1985 to 2022. The highest number of incidents was recorded in 1989, while the lowest occurred in 2002 and 2007. Notably, there have been no reported agricultural pollution incidents in recent years.
Reports related to agricultural activities have ranged from one to three incidents annually since 1985, peaking at seven incidents in 2013. However, no agricultural-related pollution events have been reported in the last two years. In contrast, incidents linked to shipping have accounted for over half of all recorded events during the past 37 years, peaking in 2006 and 2008, primarily due to the presence of gasoline oxygenates like MTBE and ETBE.
Types of Pollution
In the review year, a total of 29 pollution events were reported, categorized into four warnings, twenty-five information reports, and four reports of unidentified chemical substances. This included thirteen chemical spills and eight oil spills. The majority of incidents in 2022 were identified through the analysis of industrial chemicals, including 1,2-dichloroethane and Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE), which is used as an anti-knocking agent in gasoline engines to enhance combustion efficiency.
Oil Spills
Four incidents were linked to oily waters from shipping, involving diesel or hydraulic oils. Additional events involving mineral oils were associated with an accident at the Rhinau hydroelectric plant, a malfunction at the Leverkusen chemical park, heavy rainfall, and an incident at the Krupp Mannesmann steelworks.
Detection and Monitoring
Certain substances, such as atrazine, phenoxyacetic acid, and naphthalene, were reported only once. Notably, highly toxic phenoxyacetic acid was detected at a wastewater treatment plant in Ludwigshafen, Germany, with a measured flow of 154 kg.
Four incidents were linked to oily waters from shipping, involving diesel or hydraulic oils. Additional events involving mineral oils were associated with an accident at the Rhinau hydroelectric plant, a malfunction at the Leverkusen chemical park, heavy rainfall, and an incident at the Krupp Mannesmann steelworks.
Warning Systems
The Dutch CPIA R7 analysis station, which collaborates closely with the CPIA R6 in North Rhine-Westphalia, is the final monitoring station in the Rhine basin. Located in Lobith, this station receives declarations from the Dutch water management center. In the Netherlands, water pollution information is communicated to downstream partners via the Infraweb system. In 2022, significant efforts were made to enhance the reliability of this interface, conducting monthly system tests.
Unknown Discharges
Currently, many discharges in the Rhine river basin remain unidentified. In 2021, the Dutch river water association RIWA-Rhine proposed to centralize discharge permits within the documentation system of the ICPR. However, this proposal was rejected by the ICPR, which stated that the responsibility for permits lies with individual countries or federal states.
Reference
1.Rhine River waste
https://www.graphicnews.com/en/pages/00119/environment-rhine-river-waste
2.Industrial pollution of the Rhine not improving
https://www.waternewseurope.com/industrial-pollution-of-the-rhine-not-improving/
