Chapter 9 Water quality

Publisher Summary Water is the base of the existence of life on earth. It is a major component of all organisms and can reach up to 98% of weight. Living organisms are dependent on the consumption of a certain amount of water and its ingredients—for example, salts. Due to the high percentage of water usage in industrialized, as well as in developing countries, the aquatic environment is heavily affected by human activities. The most important regulations on water protection are subdivided into three categories: emission-related regulations, quality-related regulations, and miscellaneous regulations. Water management policy is based on various principles: (1) the priority of the precautionary principle; (2) the cooperation of all the participants; and (3) the polluter pays principle. The responsibility for the environment does not end at the national border lines. Therefore, international cooperation for the protection of inland waters as well as coastal and marine waters is one of the focal points of environmental policy.