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Physical Parameters:
Size and Volume of Drainage: The Danube watershed covers an big area of approximately 309,447 square miles. The river system itself is about 1,775 miles in length.
Current Precipitation and Projected Changes: Precipitation patterns within the Danube watershed vary across its range. The region generally experiences a moderate to high amount of rainfall. The projected changes in precipitation because of climate change suggest an overall increase in winter precipitation and potential changes in seasonal rainfall, which could impact water availability
Water Quality Issues: The Danube watershed has water quality issues/challenges including pollution from industrial and agricultural activities, urban runoff, inadequate wastewater treatment, and the discharge of contaminants from upstream sources. Nutrient pollution, particularly from agricultural runoff, has been a significant concern, leading to issues such as eutrophication (excessive richness of nutrients in a lake or other body of water, frequently due to runoff from the land, which causes a dense growth of plant life and death of animal life from lack of oxygen) in certain stretches of the river.

Social Parameters:
Population Reliance: The Danube watershed is home to lots of people. Several major cities, including Vienna, Budapest, and Belgrade, are located within the watershed.
Water Use and Threats to Water Security: Water from the Danube is utilized for various purposes, including domestic water supply, agriculture, industry, hydropower generation, navigation, and recreation. However, water security in the Danube watershed can be threatened by factors like increased water demand, water pollution, and climate change impacts

Major Land Use:
Agriculture: The Danube watershed supports extensive agricultural activities, including both crop cultivation and livestock farming. Major agricultural practices include the cultivation of cereals, oilseeds, fruits, and vegetables, as well as livestock production
Urban Areas: Urbanization plays a significant role within the Danube watershed, with numerous cities and towns located along the river and its tributaries. Urban areas contribute to water demand, wastewater generation, and potential sources of pollution.

Political Conflicts: Issues such as transboundary water management, pollution control, and competing water use demands can require cooperation and coordination among the countries sharing the Danube watershed. The Danube River Basin Management Plan, established under the auspices of the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR), aims to facilitate cooperation and address potential conflicts among the riparian countries regarding water management and environmental protection. While water-related issues in the Danube watershed have the potential to create challenges, there are no major political conflicts directly related to the river's management or water allocation.

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'Disaster' in the Danube as the river continues to be polluted (click video on page)

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Challenges the watershed faces or will face in the future

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Challenges the watershed faces or will face in the future

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Ecosystem Change: The Danube watershed has experienced ecosystem changes, including the loss of habitat, decline in species populations, and impacts on ecosystem services. Human activities such as agriculture, urbanization, and infrastructure development have led to habitat destruction and fragmentation. This loss of habitat has resulted in declining populations of certain species, particularly those dependent on specific riverine or wetland habitats. The degradation of ecosystems can also lead to the loss or alteration of crucial ecosystem services, such as water purification, flood control, and support for biodiversity.
Climate Change: Climate change poses significant challenges to the Danube water system and the people reliant on it. Rising temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and changes in hydrological regimes can impact ecosystem services and water availability. Changes in river flow patterns, including reduced water levels during droughts and more intense rainfall events, can affect water supply, navigation, hydropower generation, and agricultural practices. Ecosystem services provided by the river, like water purification and flood regulation, can also be affected by climate change, potentially impacting both human communities and natural habitat
Water Availability: Water availability within the Danube watershed can be influenced by a few factors, including climate, water management practices, and competing water demands. Changes in precipitation patterns and increased water demand from various sectors can affect water availability. Access to clean and safe drinking water is crucial, and efforts are needed to ensure adequate water treatment and distribution infrastructure. Water quality remains a concern, with pollution from agriculture, industry, and urban areas affecting both surface and groundwater resources. Nutrient pollution, in particular, can impact water quality and water ecosystems.
Energy Access: The Danube watershed provides opportunities for energy production, primarily through hydropower generation. Hydropower dams have been constructed along the river, contributing to energy generation. However, the environmental impacts of hydropower projects, like alterations to river ecosystems and fish migration, need to be carefully managed. In recent years, there has also been a growing interest in exploring renewable energy sources beyond hydropower, such as wind and solar energy, to diversify the energy mix within the watershed.
Agriculture And Food Security: Agriculture plays a super important role in the Danube watershed, providing food and livelihoods. However, agricultural practices can impact water quality through the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation. Still, agricultural practices, including improved water management, precision agriculture techniques, and reduced chemical inputs, are necessary to ensure food security while minimizing environmental impacts.
Current Management: The Danube River Basin is managed through collaborative efforts among the riparian countries, facilitated by the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR). The ICPDR coordinates the development and implementation of the Danube River Basin Management Plan, which aims to ensure the sustainable management and protection of the river system. This includes addressing issues related to water quality, ecosystem conservation, flood management, and coordination among various stakeholders.
Environmental equity: Ensuring environmental equity and justice within the Danube watershed involves considering fair and equitable access to clean water, protection of ecosystems, and involvement of marginalized communities in decision-making processes. Efforts need to be made to address and rectify any existing environmental disparities, promote sustainable development practices, and ensure that the benefits and burdens of water resource management are distributed fairly among all stakeholders, including marginalized communities and those vulnerable groups.

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Europe's second longest river, the Danube, is being polluted by unfiltered wastewater from Serbia's capital Belgrade.

The daily operation, during which trucks queue up to dump waste into the picturesque river, is not a secret but it could hold back Serbia from joining the European Union.

For fishermen who live off the Danube and the Sava rivers that join around Belgrade's old fortress, the practice is a "disaster."
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"I want to cry and nobody cares," Dragoljub Ristic, a 59-year-old fisherman told AFP.

Around a third of Belgrade, a city of 1.6 million, has no connection to drainage systems and instead relies on the septic tanks that the trucks empty straight into the rivers.

The rest shunt their unprocessed waste into the river through around 100 sewage drains.

Roughly 190 million cubic meters of wastewater - the equivalent volume of 60,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools - is poured into the rivers annually, according to estimates made by Infrastructure Minister Zorana Mihajlovic.

READ MORE: CGTN Europe's Danube series

The Danube begins in Germany and snakes through nine other countries, covering 2,850 kilometers, before draining into the Black Sea.

In 2019, a group of Austrian scientists noted a "critical" presence of E. coli bacteria in Serbia's strip of the river, which can cause infections in humans. Local experts noted that this is a sign of the high levels of organic pollution.

Thanks to its sheer size and power, the Danube mostly manages to "cleanse itself," said Bozo Dalmacija, a chemistry professor leading a water quality research team in Serbia. For most of the year, bacterial particles stay below 500 milligrams per millilitre, the level at which they pose a health hazard, he told AFP.

Those who spend their lives on the river said they have already seen it change, with a build-up of waste shallowing out the riverbed.

While scientific studies are few, fishermen said the sewage has altered the variety of fish that end up in their nets. Whitefish are harder to find, whereas catfish, which eat the waste, are more abundant.

"We have killed all our rivers, we will kill this one, too," lamented Mladen Jovic, a fisherman. "The Danube is a very strong and powerful river that manages [the pollution], but it can't do it forever."

EU requirements

Serbia is a European Union (EU) candidate country that hopes to join the bloc by 2025.

Its environmental record is a major obstacle, with the country needing a €5 billion ($5.9 billion) investment to build the necessary eco-friendly infrastructure. The country has already stated it will not be able to meet the demands, instead proposing an 11-year transition period after it joins the EU.

In July, President Aleksandar Vucic announced that 70 municipalities around the country will get "water purifying plants and sewage systems."

The Ministry of Environmental Protection refused to comment on the matter or clarify were the finances for the project would come from.

It wasn't the first such announcement. Belgrade's deputy mayor pledged five years ago that a sewage system for the capital would be finished by 2020 - a deadline that has since been extended twice, to 2025 and recently to 2029.
Video editor: Riaz Jugon

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'Disaster' in the Danube as the river continues to be polluted

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With delays to the deadline for a new sewage system for Serbia's capital, Europe's second longest river, the Danube, continues to be polluted by unfiltered wastewater.

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Integrated Water Resource Management:
Implementing integrated water resource management approaches can help multiple challenges in the Danube watershed. This involves considering the interconnections of water resources, ecosystems, and human needs. Some key elements of this approach include promoting sustainable water use practices, enhancing water efficiency in agriculture and industries, implementing effective wastewater treatment and reuse systems, and adopting ecosystem-based approaches to water management. Integrated management can help improve water availability, water quality, and ecosystem health, while also ensuring social equity and economic benefits.
Sustainable Agricultural Practices:
Promoting sustainable agricultural practices within this watershed is crucial for achieving environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and economic vitality. This includes putting in precision agriculture techniques, reducing chemical inputs, optimizing irrigation methods, and promoting soil conservation practices. Sustainable agriculture not only protects water quality by minimizing nutrient and pesticide runoff but also enhances ecosystem health, maintains soil fertility, and supports long-term food security. It can also provide economic benefits to farmers through improved productivity, reduced input costs, and access to premium markets that value sustainable practices.
Renewable Energy Transition:
A transition to renewable energy sources can contribute heavily to environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and economic vitality within the Danube watershed. The use of wind, solar, and other renewable energy sources, also hydropower can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, mitigate climate change impacts, and minimize environmental degradation associated with traditional energy sources. This transition can also create new employment opportunities, stimulate local economies, and increase energy security

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Leverage Points:
Sustainable Land Use Practices- Promoting sustainable land use practices can have a positive impact on multiple variables. By implementing measures such as soil conservation, reforestation, and responsible urban planning, it is possible to reduce erosion, improve water quality, enhance nutrient cycling, and protect ecosystem health. These actions can contribute to the long-term sustainability of the river system.
Water Management Strategies: Promoting effective water management strategies is crucial for balancing water availability and demand. Enhancing water efficiency in agriculture, implementing water conservation measures, and promoting responsible water use can help reduce the pressure on water resources and support sustainable agricultural practices. This can indirectly influence variables such as water flow, agricultural practices, and human water use.
Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation: Addressing the challenges of climate change is crucial for the long-term sustainability of the Danube River system. Mitigation measures, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to renewable energy sources, can contribute to mitigating climate change impacts. Adaptation measures, such as developing climate-resilient agricultural practices and implementing flood management strategies, can help the system cope with changing climate conditions.
Integrated Monitoring and Management: Establishing an integrated monitoring and management framework for the Danube River can provide valuable insights into the interactions among the variables and their dynamics. This can help identify areas of concern, track progress, and inform decision-making processes. By adopting an integrated approach, stakeholders can better understand the complex relationships within the system and make informed decisions to address challenges and promote sustainability.

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- Karabulut, Egoh, B. N., Lanzanova, D., Grizzetti, B., Bidoglio, G., Pagliero, L., Bouraoui, F., Aloe, A., Reynaud, A., Maes, J., Vandecasteele, I., & Mubareka, S. (2016). Mapping water provisioning services to support the ecosystem–water–food–energy nexus in the Danube river basin. Ecosystem Services, 17, 278–292. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2015.08.002

- Sommerwerk, Bloesch, J., Baumgartner, C., Bittl, T., Čerba, D., Csányi, B., Davideanu, G., Dokulil, M., Frank, G., Grecu, I., Hein, T., Kováč, V., Nichersu, I., Mikuska, T., Pall, K., Paunović, M., Postolache, C., Raković, M., Sandu, C., & Schneider-Jacoby, M. (2022). The Danube River Basin. In Rivers of Europe (pp. 81–180). Elsevier,. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-102612-0.00003-1

- “disaster” in the Danube as the river continues to be polluted. Europe - All The Latest News. (n.d.). https://newseu.cgtn.com/news/2020-09-18/-Disaster-in-the-Danube-as-the-river-continues-to-be-polluted-TRIVMNBsI0/index.html

- YouTube. (2021, December 2). Danube River Facts!. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HE76V6lV4_8&t=1s&ab_channel=KWIKFACTS