Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 2/ Trend , J. Babayeva/
The level of contamination in Azerbaijani trans-boundary rivers by Georgia and Armenia exceeds norms.
"The section of the Kur River traversing Georgia is contaminated. Phenol and copper exceed acceptable norms," the Ecology and Natural Resources Ministry said based on monitoring in late January.
Copper exceeds norms by 400 percent in the Shikhli-2 section. Phenol exceeds norms by 200 percent in Agstafachay. Biogenic elements topped norms in all sections. The contamination is caused by domestic discharges, cattle-breeding and industrial waste in Armenia and Georgia.
Copper and phenol exceeds norms in the Araz River with Armenia.
Phenol is the key contaminator and exceeds norms in the Horadiz section by 300 percent.
Azerbaijan ratified the Helsinki Convention on the Protection and Use of Trans-Boundary Watercourses and International Lakes to address contamination problems on a regional level.
The issue is difficult to solve as Armenia and Georgia have not joined the convention.
Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at: [email protected]