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Friday, 03.04.2026, 22:03
Estonian, Russian experts note improvement in condition of Narva River basin
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During the meeting held in Sochi, Russia, on Tuesday and Wednesday, the
parties exchanged information about the condition of Narva River and the lakes
Peipsi, Lammijarv and Lake Pskov, as well as the condition of the
hydrotechnical facilities of the Narva hydroelectric power plant, spokespeople
for the Estonian Environment Ministry said.
It was agreed that the parties will continue their present cooperation,
including in the monitoring of floating islands and prompt exchange of
information about changes in the locations of such islands in Narva River.
The parties will also continue the monitoring of surface water and
groundwater, including the transboundary Voronka groundwater layer where the
Estonian towns of Sillamae and Narva-Joesuu take their drinking water from. It
is necessary to make sure that this groundwater layer is not subjected to
excessive pumping, spokespeople for the ministry said.
Andres Talijarv, secretary general of the Estonian Ministry of Environment
and Estonian co-chair of the bipartite commission, said that as a result of
cooperation between the countries and application of measures the condition of
the border lakes and Narva River has been stable with a trend toward
improvement for the past 20 years.
"Within the past ten years, pollution of the Narva River hydrographic
basin has decreased by 29 percent when it comes to nitrogen and by as much as
44 percent when it comes to phosphorus. The reduction in pollution in rivers
has led to a significant reduction in pollution also in Lake Peipsi,"
Talijarv said.
In addition, measures have been taken to ensure the passage of fish in the
rivers that feed Lake Peips, and spawning grounds have been restored and taken
care of.
Just like Estonia, also Russia has undertaken efforts to preserve and
improve the condition of Lake Peipsi, by measures taken in the towns of Pskov,
Gdov and Pechory alike.
The Estonian-Russian agreement on the protection and sustainable use of
transboundary water bodies was signed 20 years ago, on Aug. 20, 1997. Based on
that agreement, cooperation is ongoing both on the level of experts and the
joint commission.
The next meeting of the joint commission will be held in Estonia in the
third quarter of 2018.
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