ABSTRACT
A considerable area of The Netherlands (approximately 9 percent) consists of surface waters. For this reason the quality of surface water is of major importance to the overall quality of the country’s environment. Water pollution forms a potential hazard for virtually all ecosystems occurring in water and on land, and the availability of clean water is essential for the drinking supply. Both agriculture and the food industry rely heavily on the availability of water of a decent quality. Moreover, since The Netherlands is a coastal nation, pollution of the Dutch surface waters will eventually pollute the North Sea.
