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5. REPRESENTATIVENESS OF CURRENT MONITORING PROGRAMMES
5.1 Definition of representativeness
Representativeness can be expressed in a number of ways. For example, it can relate to how well represented or quantified are the water resources of a particular country in terms of the total national water resource or total EEA resource. Alternatively it could relate to how well a particular water problem had been quantified, for example acidification of small streams or eutrophication of lakes. There are procedures that can be applied to determine how statistically representative the sampled population is of the total population. In this sense population refers to the total number of the water type being assessed (e.g. all small rivers, all lakes). Alternatively the representativeness may be expressed in relation to the international requirements and obligations for monitoring (MW1) or against the information requirements of the Agency.
Since much of the source information for the first type of assessment is generally lacking or difficult to obtain in the time scales available (e.g. numbers of small streams, temporal and spatial variability of determinands within and between water bodies) the emphasis in this section has been on the latter, more superficial, type of assessment of representativeness. The main source of information for the assessments was responses to the questionnaires circulated to each EEA State through the National Focal Points. The information and responses obtained from the questionnaires were variable, and any such shortcomings are indicated in the following text. The issue of statistical representativeness is discussed in more detail in Appendix A. Again, the section has been divided somewhat arbitrarily into sub-sections of surface waters quality and quantity, and groundwater quality and quantity. Where there are clear overlaps these are indicated in the text. The sub-sections summarise the main conclusions of work carried by ETC members which is reported in full detail in the Project Record (ETC 1995).
5.2 Surface water quality
This task drew heavily on the work on surface water quality monitoring networks initially funded by DGXI but then also supported by the EEA as part of the 1994 subvention. This section evaluates the representativeness of existing national river and lake monitoring programmes. Focus has especially been put on description of network design (number of sampling sites).
5.2.1 Rivers
Nearly all the countries in the EEA area have a national rivers monitoring programme generally based on chemical and physical indicators of quality. Additionally some international programmes, such as the EU Exchange of Information Decision (77/795/EEC), and the OECD and GEMS/WATER networks, focus on chemical and physical water quality primarily of large rivers. Thirty-one monitoring programmes of this type have been identified, these also include more specific monitoring programmes such as, for instance, monitoring of transboundary rivers and estimation of loadings into coastal areas.
The river monitoring networks can be divided into three categories according to their main purpose:
Many monitoring networks are multi-purpose and may be assigned to more than one of the above categories. The results from a network may, for instance, be used both to make a general characterisation of river water quality and to estimate the nutrient loading of coastal areas.
There are 20 monitoring programmes which have networks specifically designed to elaborate a general characterisation of rivers and streams in a country. Most of these networks are based on more than 100 sampling sites located on all major river systems and rivers in a country. According to most of these programmes, samples are taken annually with a sampling frequency ranging from 4 to 26 sample per year. The number of variables measured varies from 4 to 120, but all programmes generally include the determination of basic variables (e.g. pH, conductivity, water temperature), organic pollution indicators (e.g. dissolved oxygen, BOD), nutrients and suspended solids. Many programmes also include determination of specific ions (e.g. chloride, sulphate, calcium) and heavy metals. Additionally, the determination of more specific contaminants such as organic micropollutants and radionuclides is included in some monitoring programmes.
The areal density of sampling sites varies from one sampling site per 10,000 km2 to more than five sampling sites per 1,000 km2, with 1 to 2 sampling sites per 2,000 km2 generally being found. The density of sampling sites in relation to population varies from 2 to 500 sites per million inhabitants. Each sampling site also represents from 6 to 6,000 km of river. The river length used in this calculation was based on Morris and Kronvang (1994) and only includes rivers mapped at a 1:50,000 scale.
In the Nordic countries, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, there are monitoring networks with the purpose of monitoring water quality and loading from specific catchments. These monitoring networks generally consist of up to 20 relatively small stream catchments and involve detailed integrated studies of both river water quality and of the catchment (for example, land use, soil type). The main purposes of these networks are to monitor reference areas, loadings from agricultural land or the impact of acid precipitation.
Many monitoring networks are established to estimate the riverine loading of contaminants from land to sea, or in transboundary rivers. Generally these networks consist of sampling sites located at downstream points in all major river systems. Those countries that have a relatively long coastline compared to their area, for example, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Greece, generally have a large number of relatively small river systems. Consequently, the number of sampling sites needed to estimate loads to coastal areas is high, whereas fewer sampling sites are required in countries dominated by a few large river systems. In Denmark, for instance, sampling is undertaken in 124 river systems which equates to the loading to sea from around 60 % of the land area, whilst sampling undertaken in the eight largest Spanish rivers equates to approximately 75 % of the loading from the Spanish land area. The sample analysis programmes generally include determination of nutrients and suspended matter. Additionally, loading by heavy metals and organic han natural lakes. In Spain, for instance, there are more than 1,000 large reservoirs.
Only a few countries in the EEA area have national monitoring programmes for the assessment of the chemical and physical water quality of lakes. Some countries, however, undertake local monitoring of lakes. The German Federal States (Länder), for instance, monitor the environmental state of lakes in their respective areas. Local lake monitoring activities are generally not standardised at a national level, and the variables and sampling frequency vary. During the last 10 to 15 years some countries have made national lake inventories and collected data and elaborated reports on the general environmental state of lakes based on locally gathered information. In the Nordic countries, in which there are many natural lakes, monitoring programmes cover a vast number of lakes. Some countries have a long tradition for monitoring large nationally important lakes, Austria has, for example, monitored Lake Constance and Neusiedler See since 1961 and 1972, respectively, and the Norwegian Lake Mjösa has been studied since 1971. Several countries, for example the Netherlands and Portugal, do not have specific lake monitoring programmes, but include their lakes in river or inland water programmes.
The number of determinants measured is generally in the order of 20 to 30. Most programmes include determination of basic variables (temperature, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen), organic pollution indicators (total organic carbon, biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand), eutrophication indicators (nitrogen and phosphorus species, chlorophyll-a, Secchi depth) and major specific ions (Ca, Mg, Na, K, etc.). Some countries also include determination of heavy metals (Finland, Sweden).
The general national lake monitoring programmes can be divided into two categories: the survey-type and intensive programmes. The survey-type programme typically covers a large number of lakes that are sampled at long intervals. Examples of this type are found in Norway and Sweden, and include around 1,000 lakes in each. In Ireland a national lake survey was performed in the period 1987 to 1990, and included a total of 170 large lakes and some representative smaller lakes. Additionally, a remote sensing survey of 360 Irish lakes was performed in 1989 and 1990. More intensive monitoring programmes with a sampling frequency of several times a year (e.g. in Denmark and Sweden) typically cover a smaller number of lakes. Survey-type lake monitoring programmes provide a general description of the environmental state of a wide range of lakes, whereas more frequent monitoring provides information on dynamics and seasonal variation that may be used to detect trends.
Biological variables are part of the sampling routine of many general lake monitoring programmes as well as programmes concerning specific localities. One Finnish programme includes only biological variables. Sampling and investigation of phytoplankton and zooplankton are components of several monitoring programmes. Apart from a general evaluation of the phytoplankton community, the objectives of some programmes are more specific such as assessment of the occurrence of potentially toxic blue-green algae in waterbodies used for bathing or drinking water supply (for example in the UK). Bottom fauna (invertebrates), macrophytes and fish are also studied in some of the lake monitoring programmes.
The monitoring of acidification effects is co-ordinated internationally in an ECE programme, the International Co-operative Programme on Assessment and Monitoring of Acidification of Rivers and Lakes, arising from the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution. Twelve European countries, Canada and USA participate and report chemical and biological variables to the programme centre.
National acidification monitoring programmes are restricted to the countries affected by surface water acidification. Finland, Norway and Sweden have, for instance, a long tradition of assessment of surface water acidification. The acidification monitoring programmes can be divided into:
Norway, Finland and Sweden each have nation-wide surveys with the purpose of assessing the extent of acidification. The surveys include national sampling of more than 1,000 lakes and are generally performed at intervals of five to ten years. In 1995 a co-ordinated lake acidification survey will be performed in each of the three countries. The countries also take annual samples in fewer lakes; 176 lakes in Finland, 100 in Norway and 85 lakes in Sweden. In addition, a number of small streams are sampled. The annual programmes are used for analyses of acidification trends. One sample is taken from each waterbody both in the survey programme and in the annual programme, and it is then analysed for general acidification variables. The most common variables for all the monitoring programmes are pH, conductivity, alkalinity, total organic carbon, nitrate, four major cations (potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sodium) and anions (sulphate and chloride), and various aluminium fractions. Some monitoring programmes also include measurements of total phosphorus, total nitrogen and ammoniacal nitrogen. The extent of acidification is also assessed using of various biological indicators such as zoobenthos, phytoplankton, and fish.
Seven integrated acidification monitoring programmes are in operation in five countries: Norway, Sweden, Finland, the UK, and Ireland. Generally the programmes include extensive investigations of a limited number of waterbodies or catchments and involve frequent sampling and determination of many variables. Chemical analyses of surface water samples are made and in some cases also of precipitation and groundwater. Water samples are analysed for all the previously mentioned acidification variables. In some of the programmes detailed studies of the biological communities are also performed, examples being studies of macroinvertebrates in streams and the littoral zone of lakes, as well as studies of phytoplankton, macrophytes and fish. In some lakes the record of acidification is reconstructed by use of palaeolimnological indicators (primarily diatoms).
5.3 Surface water quantity
There a lack of sufficiently detailed responses to the MW2 questionnaires to enable a thorough assessment of representativeness of flow gauging stations to be made. Only nine countries had given reasonably detailed information on specific gauging stations by the end of September. From these only five provided information about the altitude of the flow gauges and only one answered all questions giving information on the maximum altitude of each basin draining to a flow gauge, average catchment precipitation and average flow. Some of the countries gave only geographical information (names and co-ordinates) about certain gauges with no information as to the period of activity. However some weak points can be detected, the biggest being the relatively high concentration of gauges in the lowlands. Although also incomplete, the information on monitoring frequency and geographical spread of gauges is currently being analysed.
5.4 Groundwater quality
5.4.1 Summary of information
This evaluation was based on the MW2 returned questionnaires and showed that the objectives general surveillance purpose and water quality trend identification are part of all monitoring systems. Other objectives include assessment of compliance with national or EC legislation for example the control of drinking water quality (80/778/ECC) or monitoring for compliance with the EC Nitrates Directive (91/676/ECC). Monitoring systems in Italy and France are based on requirements for monitoring drinking water quality. Some other important purposes for groundwater quality monitoring in the EEA area include detection of sea water intrusion and evaluation of impacts caused by airborne pollutants. A sea water intrusion monitoring network has been installed in Spain and this problem is also the subject of investigations in UK and Portugal. The monitoring of impact from airborne pollutants in relation to acidification problems is mostly limited to the northern part of the EEA area (e.g. Norway).
Most monitoring networks include sampling sites which are distributed evenly within the whole groundwater area and/or are concentrated around drinking water wells. The objectives of these two network types may well differ but certainly both differ from the networks which are based on sampling sites concentrated around impacted areas.
Large differences exist between the monitoring networks as far as the number of sites and investigated areas are concerned. This is not only due to the different hydrogeological situations in the EEA area but also due to the different objectives (for example, impact or baseline station network, identification of effects from airborne pollution or effects from agricultural land use). The total national observation area, for example, for groundwater in porous media varies from 35 to 79,258 km2 over the EEA countries, and sampling site density varies from 0.004 to 0.57 sites/km2. The variation in the equivalent figures for karst groundwater and other groundwater is also very high.
Groundwater quality parameters can be divided into following groups:
In most monitoring programmes descriptive parameters and major ions are analysed, heavy metals are also often measured. However, there is a difference between the programmes in the case of chlorinated solvents and pesticides. The total number of organic substance determinands varies from 15 to 106 compared to 1 to 64 for pesticides. A further figure for comparison is the number of determinands which are included in basic programmes, these vary from 14 to 51.
The lowest sampling frequency for basic programmes is once every 2 years compared to the highest frequency of 12 times per year. These differences are due to differences in monitoring purpose or objectives (e.g. specific networks with small number of sampling sites, high sampling frequency and small number of variables).
Little useful information was received on the limits of detection achieved for the determinands. In some cases values above detection limit are only given as an order of magnitude value (mainly in monitoring systems for drinking water), If there are no exact values, statistical evaluations for example analysis of time series, are difficult.
5.4.2 Conclusions
The evaluation of information shows that national or regional groundwater quality monitoring networks in the EEA area have very different purposes and objectives. Because of this the structure and design of the networks are different. This means that in the EEA area existing individual groundwater quality monitoring networks can only be regarded as representative at their national level.
Evaluation of data arising from the existing, highly different monitoring networks in the EEA area (different objectives and different criteria for selection of sampling sites) will not give the reliable results which are needed by the EEA. With regard to the information needs of the EEA, it should be noted that the data are not entirely comparable and would certainly lead to wrong conclusions.
A three step approach could bring together existing, monitoring networks and data needs of EEA.
Point 2 and 3 can only be carried out in close co-operation with national institutions. This should be undertaken as part of the pilot implementation proposed for 1996.
5.5 Ground water quantity
5.5.1 Introduction
The information obtained on groundwater quantity monitoring by the MW2 questionnaire was somewhat limited and patchy for some items and for most countries, which has restricted the scope of this task. For example information that would help to understand and quantify links between the state and pressures arising from human activities, or to assess the state of the aquatic environment was not reported. Therefore, because of this lack of information and data, it is only possible to make a very broad assessment of representativeness based on very simple indicators. It should be noted that no information on monitoring programmes for Greece, Belgium and Luxembourg have been received. Furthermore, Italy did not provide information about sampling density and frequency of observations. Also due to organisational responsibilities 2 countries (France and Germany) have responded though regional authorities.
5.5.2 Objectives of monitoring
It should be noted that no current EC directive addresses specific requirements for groundwater quantity monitoring. Many monitoring networks are multi-purpose: About 90% are oriented to collect basic data, 59% for management purposes and 41% for scientific research purposes. In the context of this last objective the Alsace region of France uses its piezometric network to supply data in order to maintain the mathematical model of the Alsace aquifer. Two countries, Portugal and Spain, have specific networks designed to monitor saltwater intrusion in coastal aquifers. Within the management objectives, 31% of countries/regions use a piezometric network to help the assessment of compliance with national legislation and to a lesser extent for EC legislation and transboundary obligations (Austria, Thüringen - Germany and Portugal). The Nord Pyreneen region of France collects piezometric information from programmes that have other purposes, for example, monitoring underground gas reservoirs.
5.5.3 Sample site density
In porous aquifers the areal density of sampling sites varies from 30 to 40 per 100 km2 (Austria and the North Rhine Westfalia) to a minimum of 0.1 per 100 km2 in Ireland. Almost all countries have observation sites evenly distributed within the whole groundwater area and very few concentrated around drinking water wells (Portugal and North Rhine Westfalia, Germany) or impact areas. Ireland and UK have some observation sites non-specifically located.
In karstic groundwater the areal density of sampling sites varies from 33 per 100 km2 (North Rhine Westfalia, Germany) to a minimum of 0.066 per 100 km2 in Austria. Almost all the countries have the observation sites evenly distributed over the whole groundwater area and only Portugal has observation sites concentrated around drinking water wells. It should be noted that as most karstic regions are located in mountainous areas, it is not possible to achieve an even site distribution, therefore, sampling stations tend to be situated in flat areas. Again Ireland and UK have some observations sites non-specifically located. In other aquifer systems the areal density of sampling sites varies from 1,000 per 100 km2 (Finland) to a minimum of 0.6 per 100 km2 in North Rhine Westfalia, Germany. Almost all the countries have the observations sites evenly distributed over the whole groundwater area. Germany, Spain, Great Britain and Ireland have some observations sites non- specifically located.
In order to know the history of the groundwater system, in particular the identification of short- and long-term changes in groundwater quantity, an appropriate sampling frequency must be used which in itself depends on the hydrogeological system being monitored and its interaction with other systems. Sampling frequencies (e.g. for water levels, temperature) vary a great deal from country to country, from a daily basis in Thüringen, Germany to 2 to 6 times per year in Spain, for basic programmes, and from continuous sampling (Bavaria, Germany) to a 2 to 3 times per year (Portugal), in special programmes. The earliest quantitative groundwater records are from the UK (1845). Only the Netherlands has a complete sampling frequency programme with observation in levels, temperature and other variables near to the proposed requirements. There is less information on the frequency of sampling springs to monitor the water level, the temperature, the discharge, the conductivity and other variables. Springs are also sampled in basic and special programmes. There is also no information with regard to the control of the seasonal changes in frequency of observations in areas with marked changes in groundwater levels during the year (e.g. in water supply areas of tourist centres, areas with important water abstraction).
5.5.4 Evaluation of representativeness
This can be analysed at two different scales: regionally, related to the control of global gradients and trends of the whole aquifer, and locally, more related to impacted areas, for example for the control of the over-exploitation of aquifers in industrial areas or in zones where there is intensive pumping for municipal water supply purposes. It is obvious that groundwater quantity monitoring networks are directly related with quality problems and it must be taken into account in the evaluation of representativeness. Two examples illustrate the point: there is a risk of groundwater contamination produced by saltwater intrusion from downward leakage induced by pumping in areas where the cones of depression extend beneath estuaries or the oceans; and, the risk of horizontal saltwater intrusion in coastal aquifers in areas where there is an over-pumping situation.
The representativeness of a national (reference) piezometric network can be evaluated by calculating the contribution of each existing monitoring station in the geographic aquifer coverage. This can be made by building an indicator based on the spatial correlation between the stations. For instance a method such as kriging provides the estimation of an average value of a specific parameter (i.e. piezometry, temperature) over the whole aquifer, and also an associated estimation error, highlighting the areas with poor monitoring.
The indicator can be improved by incorporating information related to sampling frequency (by simple trend analysis methods) and to the particular features of piezometric surface on the over-exploited areas of the aquifer system (in relation to pumping wells). In order to analyse the spatial and temporal variability of the groundwater quantity parameters a synthetic seasonal piezometric index could be built, based on available information. The index could characterise different trend patterns of piezometric evolution.
With the present information provided by the EEA Members it is not possible to achieve the ultimate objective of this Task as described in the technical work programme. Therefore, the evaluation of the representativeness of the existing monitoring networks was carried out only as a very broad assessment. This is particularly evident for sampling density. In fact no information was reported on the probable clustering of observation stations, the type of impact areas (heavily exploited areas or areas particularly subject to interactions with other systems: rivers, sea, lakes, estuaries) and what groundwater regions are monitored.
5.6 International databases
The Agencys policy on reporting on the state of the environment is to rely on existing data as much as possible in order to reduce the burden of additional sampling on Member States. A key part of designing a monitoring network is therefore to assess available data held for international monitoring programmes that already exist. This section summarises the findings of a review of international monitoring databases within the EEA (France et al. 1996). The review identified a total of 19 databases involved with inland water quality monitoring. These are given in Table 5.1 below.
Table 5.1 Summary of databases holding monitoring data from inland freshwaters of potential interest to the EEA.
Database name |
Basic information |
AMAP/Freshwater |
Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) in freshwater systems. Monitoring of selected rivers and lakes of arctic countries. The European countries involved are Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Russian Federation covering a total of four lake areas and eight rivers. Monitoring of heavy metals and persistent organic compounds is considered "essential" in the matrices sediment (in lakes), water and biota. |
Bucharest/85 |
Water Quality Monitoring Programme for the Danube river, according to the Bucharest Declaration 1985. 22 sites are monitored along the river Danube by Austria, Germany and another eight countries outside the EEA area. Flow and quality parameters, such as nutrients, metals, aesthetic, biological, chemical, microbiological, organic pollution, physicochemical and synthetic organic parameters are monitored. |
CORINE/WATER |
CORINE INFORMATION SYSTEM/WATER. This system was created in the framework of the CORINE (Co-ordination of Information on the Environment) Programme (1985-90) and is maintained by the EEA. Quality and quantity data for rivers and coastal waters are held in a GIS for the EC countries. CORINE database also holds data from the EC Exchange of Information on the Quality of Surface Freshwater Decision and from the EC Bathing Water Directive monitoring activities. |
EC Bathing Waters |
Quality of Bathing Water, based on the Bathing Water Directive (76/160/EEC). Compliance with the parameters related to the quality of bathing water (aesthetic, microbiological, physicochemical and synthetic organic determinants) has been assessed every year in coastal and inland sites in the EU countries since 1987. For the 1994 campaign, a total of 5382 inland areas (rivers and lakes) were monitored. |
EC Freshwater Fish |
Implementation of the EC Freshwater Fish Directive (78/659/EEC). Compliance with parameters related to freshwater fish is monitored in the EC countries. |
Table 5.1 (contd)
Database name |
Basic information |
EEA -TF (Dobrí) |
The Dobrí Assessment (first State of Environment Report for Europe 1995) prepared by the European Environment Agency Task Force in co-operation with the UN/ECE. A surveillance of water quality of European rivers has been carried out. Data on nutrients, metals, chemical, physicochemical and organic pollution indicators have been reported by fifteen EEA countries (at about 700 stations). |
Elbe/89 |
Water Quality Monitoring Programme for the Elbe river. 16 sites are analysed yearly in Germany, Czech Republic and Slovak Republic. Determinants assessed cover aesthetic, biological, chemical, physical, physicochemical, synthetic organic, organic pollution, microbiological, nutrients and metals. |
EU Exchange/ Large rivers database |
European Exchange of Information on the Quality of Surface Freshwater, based on the Council Decision 77/795/EEC of 12 November 1977. A total of 77 rivers in Europe are monitored in 12 countries (at a total of 125 stations). The determinants measured are: flow, metals, nutrients, and indicators of organic pollution, physical, physicochemical and synthetic organic. |
EUROSTAT/Lakes & ommittee. The database holds daily and monthly runoff from 487 rivers (597 gauging stations) in Europe (which is considered as region 6 in the GRDC/WMO database). |
|
HYDABA/ICPR 1976 |
HYDABA is the database for the Rhine Action Programme. Germany, Netherlands, France and Switzerland monitor a wide range of synthetic organic, organic pollution, physical, physicochemical and chemical parameters, nutrients, metals and radioactivity every year at a total of 9 sites in the river Rhine. |
JMP |
The Paris Commission's monitoring and assessment activities are mainly carried out under the Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP), established by the Commission in 1978. The Joint Monitoring Programme is based on the Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution from Land-Based Sources (Paris Convention). Parameters measured metals, nutrients and physicochemical and synthetic organics in water. |
LRTAP/ICP-IM |
Integrated Co-operative Programme on Integrated Monitoring (ICP-IM) on Air Pollution Effects is part of the Effects Monitoring Strategy under the UN/ECE Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution Convention. Five subprograms related to quality of freshwater and groundwater have been set up: groundwater chemistry (GW), runoff water chemistry (RW), lake water chemistry (LC), hydrobiology of streams (RC) and hydrobiology of lakes (LB). Data from a total of 50 areas in 32 European countries are held in the ICP-IM database coming from monitoring since 1982. |
LRTAP/ICP-Waters |
The International Co-operative Programme on Assessment and Monitoring of Rivers and Lakes aims to assess the effects from air pollutants in surface freshwaters according to the Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) Convention. The standardised programme assesses manganese, nutrients, sodium, sulphates and total organic carbon in water and also water levels. Data from 13 countries have being reported since 1982. |
Table 5.1 (contd)
Database name |
Basic information |
Regensburg/87 |
Water Quality Monitoring Programme for the Danube basin, according to the Regensburg Agreement 1987. 14 sites have been monitored by Austria and Germany in 8 rivers of the Danube basin since 1991. Metals, nutrients, biological, chemical, microbiological and physicochemical substances, radioactivity and synthetic organics are assessed yearly. |
SIREN-IW/OECD |
SIREN (System of Information on Resources and the Environment/Inland Waters) is the compilation of environmental data (published in the OECD Environmental Data Compendium every two years) based on the Recommendations adopted on 31st January 1991 by the OECD Environmental Committee. Water quality is assessed in 60 rivers (62 sites) and 29 lakes (29 sites) in all the EEA area (although there is no information from Iceland). Metals, nutrients and organic pollution are reported annually. |
PLCs/HELCOM |
The objective of the Pollution Load Compilations (PLCs) is to measure the direct inputs to the Baltic Sea from the land-based uses, (Helsinki Convention, 1974). Parameters include chemical, metal, nutrient, organic pollution and synthetic organics. |
Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) |
UNEP undertook an assessment of land based inputs (including rivers) in 1984. More recently flux calculations have been undertaken on a more limited geographic scale under the auspices of the CEC EROS 2000 project. |
Four different sources of information were used in order to identify international databases and combine them to produce a detailed database of data sources and information:
The constructed database forms a partial catalogue of data sources pertinent to inland waters. It holds the history of monitoring for each country per database, the number of sites, monitored, water types sampled and the number of years of sampling. Additionally it details for each database; areas, regions specific water bodies and other related information that is available such as land use. It is envisaged that this database will provide essential information in selecting sites for the monitoring program.
Liaison with the ETC-CDS is now a priority to inform of the data sources that ETC-IW are aware of and to make them available to the EIONET.
For references, please go to https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/92-9167-023-5/page008.html or scan the QR code.
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