Dataset description:

The dataset contains annually reported data on water flow, input of nutrients and selected hazardous substances to the Baltic Sea from monitored rivers and unmonitored areas within its catchment area. The data, obtained through national monitoring programmes, is reported by all Contracting Parties to the HELCOM (PLC-water) database as part of HELCOM Pollution Load Compilation (PLC) process. The input from transboundary rivers reflects the whole river catchment including its transboundary parts.. All data is quality assured and approved by Contracting Parties to HELCOM in accordance with the HELCOM Guidelines for the annual and periodical compilation and reporting of waterborne pollution inputs to the Baltic Sea (HELCOM PLC-Water Guideline).

Dataset content:

The dataset contains the following information:

Source name. Name of monitored river or unmonitored area.

Source code. The source code refers to the code used in the PLC-water database for the monitored or unmonitored sub-catchments.

Country code. The country code indicates the country within the Baltic Sea drainage area (DK; EE; FI; DE; LV; LT; PL; RU; SE;).

Sub-basin code. The sub-basin code refers to the Baltic Sea sub-basin used in HELCOM assessment of inputs of nutrients and hazardous substances (ARC; BAP; BOB; BOS; GUF; GUR; KAT; SOU; WEB).

Parameter. Parameters reported by the contracting parties to the Helsinki Convention to assess riverine inputs of nutrients and selected hazardous substances. : AOX; BOD5; BOD7; Cd*; COD-Cr; COD-Mn; Cr; Cu; FLOW; Hg*; Ni; NNH4*; NNO2*; NNO3*; NNO3; NTOT*; Oil; Pb*; PPO4;* PTOT*; SPM; TOC; Zn. (tonnes/year or flow in m3/s).

Year. Year of observation.

*Mandatory parameters for annually reported riverine data. Other parameters are voluntary.

Country codes used in the dataset correspond to: DK-DENMARK; EE-ESTONIA; FI-FINLAND; DE-GERMANY; LV-LATVIA; LT-LITHUANIA; PL-POLAND; RU-RUSSIA; SE-SWEDEN;

The Baltic Sea sub-basin codes used in the dataset are: ARC-ARCHIPELAGO SEA; BAP-BALTIC PROPER; BOB-BOTHNIAN BAY; BOS-BOTHNIAN SEA; GUF-GULF OF FINLAND; GUR-GULF OF RIGA; KAT-KATTEGAT; SOU-SOUND; WEB-WESTERN BALTIC.

Visualization:

The dataset can be retrieved from the HELCOM PLC-Water database and visualized utilizing an online user interface. The following filters are available to generate the dataset:

Source of input: monitored river, unmonitored area. Multiple selection possible

Country: BELARUS, CZECH REPUBLIC, DENMARK; ESTONIA; FINLAND; GERMANY; LATVIA; LITHUANIA; POLAND; RUSSIA; SLOVAKIA; SWEDEN; UKRAINE. Multiple selection possible.

Baltic Sea sub-basin: ARCHIPELAGO SEA; BALTIC PROPER; BOTHNIAN BAY; BOTHNIAN SEA; GULF OF FINLAND; GULF OF RIGA; KATTEGAT; SOUND; WESTERN BALTIC. Multiple selection possible.

Year: the first and the last year of the data request (1995-20…)

Parameter: AOX; BOD5; BOD7; Cd; COD-Cr; COD-Mn; Cr; Cu; FLOW; Hg; Ni; NNH4; NNO2; NNO23; NNO3; NTOT; Oil; Pb; PPO4; PTOT; SPM; TOC; Zn. Only one parameter can be selected.

Data update:

Metadata is updated by the HELCOM Secretariat annually by 1 April.

The dataset is updated annually and becomes publicly available in accordance with PLC-Water Guidelines, which details the procedures for reporting data to the HELCOM pollution load compilation (PLC) and the release of PLC products based on reported data.