Although a land locked country, Austria is connected via the Danube to the Black Sea and via the Rhine and Elbe to the North Sea. Measures aiming at the reduction of emissions into inland waters e.g. waste water treatment plants or agricultural activities - contribute to the reduction of discharges from catchment to the sea. During the past decades substantial measures to reduce nutrient and hazardous substances discharge into rivers and lakes have been implemented. A nationwide system for collection and treatment of urban wastewater was established and fully complies with the objectives of EU directive 91/271/EC. Concerning agriculture, nationwide obligatory as well as voluntary measures were set (Austrian Agri-Environmental scheme -PUL).

Also in the future, measures for reducing nutrient and hazardous substances discharge in the field of urban wastewater management and rural development will be set and contribute to freshwater and marine protection.