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Water Quality Monitoring and Management
"Modernization Issues for Developing Countries"
These papers represent a series of experiences in water quality monitoring modernization that have been carried out by the author in various parts of the world. Papers #1 & 2 represent work conducted under the United Nations GEMS/Water Programme. Paper #3 is drawn from work carried out with the Comisioñ Nacional del Agua of the Government of Mexico as part of their programme of modernization (APROMMA) in the water sector.
Paper 1: Plenary address to 1993 Stockholm Water Symposium Identifies the major monitoring and data application issues faced by developing countries, including the inappropriate application of Awestern monitoring practices, and outlines changes that are necessary to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
Global Water Pollution: Challenges and Opportunities
Edwin D. Ongley, UNEP and WHO GEMS/Water Collaborating Centre,
National Water Research Institute, Environment Canada, P.O. Box 5050,
Burlington, Ontario L7R 4A6, CanadaAbstract
At the 1972 Stockholm Conference on Environment, the World community called for a standing watch on global trends in key environmental sectors. From this concern grew the United Nations ³Global Environment Monitoring Systems² (GEMS). Surface and ground water quality is one component (GEMS/Water). Global patterns of surface water pollution have been summarized by GEMS for the UNCED process. The continuing inability of much of the Third World, especially many rapidly industrializing nations, to collect the type of data which permit useful assessment, coherent environmental management, and which can guide investment decisions, remains a critical problem. Water data programmes are fragmented, often collect the wrong type of information, and are inefficient both in information and in cost. The challenge of the next decade is to rethink how water quality data are collected and used, and to take advantage of new capabilities that can revolutionize the information effectiveness and cost efficiencies of data and assessment programmes at the national level. Through its global programme of data assessment and capacity building, GEMS/Water provides a framework for achieving synergy and progress in the field of water quality.
Paper 2: Presented at Monitoring Tailor-Made II, Nunspeet, The Netherlands, 1996 Outlines the technical, institutional, legal and capacity-building issues that comprise a modernization program.
Matching Water Quality Programs to Management Needs in Developing Countries: The Challenge of Program Modernization
Edwin D. Ongley, UNEP and WHO GEMS/Water Collaborating Centre,
National Water Research Institute, Environment Canada, P.O. Box 5050,
Burlington, Ontario L7R 4A6, CanadaAbstract
Developing countries face an array of traditional and modern water quality problems(from faecal contamination to toxic chemicals. Moreover, they do so in an economic environment that is severely restricted, an institutional environment which is often poorly structured and for which the modern scientific knowledge base is frequently poorly understood and applied. Agencies in many developing countries recognise this as a major impediment to sustainable development, especially as water quality has become one of the leading economic issues for the purposes of development and investment (Matthews, 1994). Water quality programs tend to suffer from traditional approaches, both of methodology and legal/administrative. The consequence is that many water quality programs are grossly inefficient, produce often unreliable data which, in any case, are not generally useful for making management or investment decisions, and face decreasing economic and political support. Program modernization is essential to achieve the twin goals of greater efficiency and greater relevance in meeting data needs for contemporary water quality management purposes. Modernization reduces costs, may reduce the amount of equipment and infrastructure required, often reduces the amount of data collected, and more closely matches the abilities of developing countries where, for example, knowledge of advanced environmental chemistry may be limited, but where knowledge of biological systems is strong.
Paper 3: Published in Water International as part of a special issue on Mexico. Gives an example of the modernization process as applied to the national monitoring network of Mexico
Redesign and modernization of the Mexican Water Quality Network
Edwin D. Ongley, UNEP and WHO GEMS/Water Collaborating Centre,
National Water Research Institute, Environment Canada, P.O. Box 5050,
Burlington, Ontario L7R 4A6, CanadaAbstract
Mexico is a large developing country, much of which is arid and semiarid. With a population of more than 81 million, Mexico is confronted with growing water scarcity and serious pollution of much of its surface water. The National Water Commission (Comisión Nacional del Agua ( CNA) has embarked on a major program of modernization of water management. The water quality program, now consisting of 564 surface water stations (+ 239 groundwater stations), has no strategic design, has major data gaps, is not representative of important areas, is often unreliable, does not contain data for many current issues such as organic contaminants, and suffers from out-of-date or lack of facilities. Because the existing network is not representative of the range of issues for which data are needed, network redesign began from first principles rather than an optimization of the existing network. The new program is built around client needs and uses four components ( a primary network of some 200 stations which are designed to characterize important water bodies over the long term, a flexible secondary network that focuses on effluent regulatory issues, surveys and special studies for river basin planning and issue-specific purposes, and a mobile emergency capability. Modernization of the water quality program also includes parallel activities focusing on training, institutional and legal issues.
These papers are reproduced with the kind permission of the copyright holders.
- (Paper 1) Stockholm Water Company, Sweden
- (Paper 2) Elsevier Science Ltd. .United Kingdom.
- (Paper 3) International Water Resources Association.
To receive a copy of this publication please contact: GEMS@cciw.ca
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