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7.1.4.      Case studies: trend in water and biological quality

In Europe water quality has traditionally been measured and assessed using either basic physico-chemical (e.g. BOD, nutrients and oxygen level) or biological parameters or a combination of both – typically assessing organic pollution and eutrophication from point and diffuse sources. It is important to distinguish between water quality and ecological status or potential as the latter in addition to impact of pollution and water quality also include aspects such as hydromorphology and specific pollutants.

The previous section described major improvement on water quality over the last decades. This is also partly reflected in biological indicators related to water quality and pollution effects.  In many countries there have during the last 20 years been significant improvements in river water and biological quality (See the following examples from the Czech Republic and the improvement in the Rhine and the Elbe).