Reducing future nitrogen pollution in rivers

Anthropogenic sources are responsible for over half of river pollution in 2010:

• Eutrophication is largely caused by increasing amounts of nitrogen (N) in rivers.

• Reducing total dissolved N (TDN) in rivers can contribute to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6.

• The river export of nitrogen is expected to more than double between 2010 and scenarios without advanced technologies.

• River export of nitrogen is expected to decrease in 2050 in the scenario with advanced technologies (TT) relative to the other scenarios.

• The Ganges River exports the dominant amount of nitrogen to the Bay of Bengal. Improving treatment efficiencies is needed to reduces river pollution.