Lead Pollution in the Roer

Damage to nature and environment caused by pollution of water.

Fishermen who fish in the Roer lose 134 grams of lead per person on average each year. Lead is an extremely poisonous metal and the removal of it from the water bottom is a prescious activity. Lead free alternatives are more expensive than lead.

The Roer is being made lead free through a cooperation between fishing associations, water authorities and fishing shops. Fishermen are getting acquainted with lead free materials because it is being offered for a comparable price as lead materials. The difference is price is being compensated by the water authority. If fishers get acquainted with the fact that lead free fishing works just as well, they will also start to use it in other places.

• Fishermen learn about lead free material in an easy way.
• The same concept of cooperation is usable in other water systems.
• Compensating the price difference is still cheaper than removing lead from polluted water systems.