Phosphate run-off in the Nevezis River (Lithuania)

The long-term (40 yr) observation results of phosphates–phosphorus concentration and its runoff in the Lithuanian fourth largest river Nevezis are analysed. Amounts and peculiarities of background runoff, agricultural runoff, andpoint source pollution from towns were studied for various periods. It has been determined that phosphates enter into the river Nevezis mainly from towns (76.5%), from agricultureonly up to 16%, and the background runoff for 7.5%.Considerable agricultural influence was observed in 1979–1991,when the phosphate runoff increased to 22 kg P km^-2 a^-1 and formed in 1984 33% of the entire runoff. A relation of the phosphates runoff from agriculture, for the entire study period, was obtained with the number of animals in the river's basin. Since 1990, when the number of animals started to decrease, the runoff of phosphates decreased too. Now the phosphatesrunoff from agriculture formed only 2% of the entire runoff. Water in the river Nevezis is heavily polluted with phosphate,according to the EU general classification of the water quality of rivers, although the Lithuanian pollution norms for effluentsdischarging to surface water are not exceeded. Norms for effluents discharging in the rivers from point-sources pollution should be made stricter and the highest permitted ratiobetween the phosphorus load in the river and its waterdischarge should be established.