Environmental Quality Page 3 of 3 Water pollution of the River Danube The River Danube travels through around 17 countries and about 165 million people have access to it. With such a large array of contact with the human population, the river absorbs sewage and toxic waste from both industrial and residential sites. The Danube retains most of its pollution as it begins to weave its way around Romania, thus spreading disease and pollution to the cities of Romania. The health of urban residents is affected and ecosystems are destroyed. Even near by rural areas receive the pollution from such a river, which has many negative consequences including the destruction of the local drinking water, fisheries and beaches. Why the lack of action? To disrupt the fragile economy in the eyes of many communists, who still have remnants of power, is to stand in the way of economic self-determinism. As environmental compliance at local levels is often directed by former communist officials, they are unwilling to allow environmental directives to destroy the economy. Power is more important than the environment. However, there is a lot of money needed for such a clean up and to reduce toxic outlets is to reduce the amount of industrial sites, which in turn will create mass unemployment and deterioration of local economies (Lee, 1998). Recent environmental management Based on the law of 1973, which placed responsibility in the hands of the National council of Environmental Protection, recent law enforcement has become more effective and active. With the establishment of the ministry of Environment in 1990, Romania is seeking international standards and recommendations of all international conventions. The current legislation is to conserve natural resources and maintain natural biodiversity by protecting air, soil and water. Responsibility for environmental protection includes the enforcement of pollution limits and the monitoring of air, water and soil quality. Local authorities have the responsibilities for protecting the environment and improving its quality. As evident from figure 6 the control and prevention of pollution outlet is a key issue in the quality improvement of Romania and its cities, with a huge majority in expenditure of prevention compared to research and development. Implementation Improvements can be expected from new legislation and the importance of a national and international membership will form harmonisation and unity. However, it may take time for the pollution levels to fall and for pollution limits to be recognised and met in all Romanian cities. It may be that more education is needed in Romania on environmental issues to stimulate a more critical approach to such matters. Conclusion Romania, particularly since the era of Ceausescu, has been altered in a variety of ways. From its geographical structure and architectural buildings, to an increase in the population in industrial (urban centred) areas inhabiting flimsy and thin tower blocks of flats, Romania has been and still is in a state of transition. All factors have led to a degradation of environmental quality in Romania with consequences such as air pollution in Baia-Mare and the degrading of the River Danube. C. Alecock. | 1 | 2 | 3 | Page 3 of 3