Water

Water is a major source of all life. Streams, rivers, lakes, wetlands and oceans are a habitats for myriads of plants and animals. In addition, groundwater is the main source of drinking water and an underestimated natural habitat. Water mainly contribute to quality of life – food, daily hygiene and recreational activities. As a source of energy, transportation medium and resource, water is also a crucial economic factor. Due to increasing competition, effective protection and careful use of the water is crucial for biodiversity and sustainable uses of this important resource.

Germany assumes chairmanship of Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (HELCOM)

The Baltic Sea is a highly sensitive natural environment

On 1 July 2020, Germany assumed chairmanship of the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission – Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) for a period of two years. Oversupply of nutrients, unexploded ordnance, marine litter, underwater noise pollution and climate change are the stresses on the marine ecosystems of the Baltic Sea on which Germany wants to focus during its tenure. read more

Clean bathing waters, but the fun has its limits

In the 2019 bathing season, the EU Commission rated 93% of all German bathing water sites 'excellent'. Overall, 98 percent of bathing waters in lakes, rivers and on the coast were in compliance with the quality standards of the European Bathing Water Directive. This data is confirmed by the Quality of Bathing Water data published by the EU Commission on 8 June for the 2019 bathing season. read more

UBA names water body type of the year 2020

Ein kleiner Bachabschnitt fließt durch ein Waldstück

The German Environment Agency (UBA) declared the coarse substrate-dominated, calcareous small highland river as the water body type of 2020 on the occasion of World Water Day on 22 March 2020. Streams of this type occur primarily in the limestone regions of the central highlands , for example in the Swabian Alb and Frankish Alb. Only eight percent achieve 'good' ecological status. read more

Marine Regions Forum discusses solutions for marine protection

200 international experts meeting in Berlin. read more

Protect oceans and polar regions, secure coastal areas for the long term

UBA and AWI demand more climate action and protection of the oceans and the mitigation of risks for coastal regions. read more

Plastics in the environment

New UBA study: Numbers, background information, research needs, and measures to combat the plastic flood. read more

Sewage sludge disposal in Germany

Sewage sludge treatment, disposal and phosphorus recovery must be adapted to new statutory requirements

Heavy metals, residues of pharmaceutical drugs and plastic: just a few of the many pollutants contained in sewage sludge. Until recently most of the sludges were used as agricultural fertiliser. Nowadays more than half of it is used and combusted for energy purposes. A new UBA brochure has information on disposal practices and on the current status in sludge treatment and recycling. read more