EU CLEANUP
Europe's maritime borders are made up of the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and the Mediterranean, Black, and Caspian Seas to the south. Total number of rivers in Europe is 1352.
As sources of water and means of transportation, Europe's rivers have been crucial for many human settlements. Industries have developed by rivers for the easy shipping of manufactured products and the importing of goods and materials.
Economic activities, however, have placed a heavy burden on many rivers, which have also been used as natural sewers. But in the last twenty years, initiatives to clean up Europe's rivers and reduce the amount of industrial waste and sewage being discharged into rivers have had a marked impact.
Today, rivers are not only sources of water, energy production, irrigation and transportation, they are once again becoming recreational sites, used for bathing, sailing and fishing.
The growing number of users and uses of rivers – perhaps especially around the many areas of Europe with high population densities and high industrial development – has increased the exploitive pressures on rivers, posing a risk to human health and adding to the pollution of Europe's coastal waters.
In the end, all that waste reaches the seas and oceans.
The time is now to take action to protect our water resources.
Divers from all EU countries with the help of GUWAA coordinators will clean the seabed in order to protect present and future generations.
The cleanup is planning to start on May 2014.
More information coming soon!