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Water quality. Made controls of continental and coastal waters

Water quality. Made controls in continental and coastal waters (surface and ground) Catalonia. 2016
Type of control
Control stations Elements physical-chemical Priority substances Biological elements Piezometric control Total
Rivers 384 312 84 245 .. Confidential data, low reliability or not available 641
Reservoirs 13 12 0 12 .. Confidential data, low reliability or not available 24
Wetland 56 35 0 35 .. Confidential data, low reliability or not available 70
Lakes 1 1 0 1 .. Confidential data, low reliability or not available 2
Coastal waters and bays 230 528 164 598 .. Confidential data, low reliability or not available 1,290
Groundwater 1,158 1,098 273 .. Confidential data, low reliability or not available 4,579 5,950
Total 1,842 1,986 521 891 4,579 7,977
Source: Agència Catalana de l'Aigua.
Notes:
From 2007, a new stage of adaptation to the requirements established by the Water Framework Directive began. Control of surface waters is carried out in accordance with the corresponding Monitoring and Control Programme in force in each 6-year period, which has been specified in the sampling and controls in this table.
The numbers corresponding to Reservoirs, Wetlands and Ponds correspond to the number of points sampled in 2016. Neither the number of samples taken at each point nor the number of elements analysed in the “physico-chemical” or “biological” packages are indicated.
(..) Confidential data, low reliability or not available.

Last update: November 27, 2017. Revised series on December 15, 2022.

Methodological note

Methodological aspects

The Catalan Water Agency (ACA) manages and plans the water cycle, with a vision of integrated water systems, taking into account the balance of all ecosystems. Water becomes a basic structural and functional element to the environment and life. This management must be compatible with the growing demand for permanence, universality and immediacy of the citizens of an advanced society, and ensure quality and good service.

The data on water quality shows the controls registered in accordance with the Framework directive on water from the year 2007. For the study of the bathing water for beaches, rivers and lakes, the microbiological quality of the water is measured. For wastewater treatment plants, data is provided on the capacity of treatment, the population served and overall performance.

Unavailable information is represented using the symbol ":". When the value is lower than that of the minimum unit to be able to estimate the statistical operation or if it effects statistical confidentiality, the symbol used is "..".