Since 2016, there are new legal requirements for the assessment for nutrients and substances of the waters in Germany. New assessment procedures for hydromorphology were developed. These assessment instruments are described in the brochure "Waters in Germany: Status and Assessment". The results of the assessment clarify the still open problems in water protection. The long time series of data for nitrate and phosphorus document the development of the nutrient load of groundwater, rivers, lakes and the North Sea and Baltic Sea. Until now, there are only a few data available for exposure to marine litter and underwater noise in the sea.

Residues of medicinal products, pesticides, biozides and other chemicals can adversely affect the environment and human health already in low concentrations. These micropollutants are increasingly detected in our waters not least due to improved analytics. Precautionary measures are needed to prevent future stresses on our waterbodies. Therefore, the German Environment Agency (UBA) has analysed entry pathways, named critical substance characteristics and proposed a combination of measures consisting of measures at the source, in use and for wastewater treatment serving the objective of comprehensive water protection.

Rückstände von Arznei- und Pflanzenschutzmitteln, Bioziden und anderen Chemikalien können schon in geringen Konzentrationen nachteilige Wirkungen in der Umwelt und auf die menschliche Gesundheit haben. Diese Mikroverunreinigungen werden nicht zuletzt dank verfeinerter Analyseverfahren zunehmend in unseren Gewässern nachgewiesen. Um zukünftige Gewässerbelastungen zu vermeiden, bedarf es vorsorgender Maßnahmen. Das UBA hat die Eintragspfade analysiert, kritische Stoffeigenschaften benannt und schlägt eine Kombination von Maßnahmen bei Herstellung, Verwendung und Abwasserbehandlung für einen umfassenden Gewässerschutz vor.