Convention of the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes

Integrated thematic assessments:outlook on water, data and information needs

Annukka LipponenUNECE Water Convention secretariat

Promotion of information exchange between Riparian Parties under UNECE Water ConventionJoint monitoring and assessment of

transboundary waters for water quantity and quality is a core requirement

Data exchange in transboundary basins, joint or coordinated assessments among the obligations

Scope includes data on e.g. on conditions of transboundary waters, experience on BAT and research results, emission and monitoring data, measures, permits or regulations for wastewater discharges, and national regulations

Assessment data should be available to the publicWater Convention encourages continuously

expand the range of information to be exchanged>10 guidelines developed on monitoring and

assessment

Conceptual guidance: Monitoring Cycle & DPSIR

UNECE 2006

Information objectives evolve as water management develops, targets are met or policies change

DPSIRDriving ForcesPressuresStateImpactResponse

EEA

Regional assessments of transboundary waters: continuity with change

Baseline •Earlier assessments•Approach, framework

Available sources •Prefilling data from available (official) sources•Project documentation

Country input •Review and validation•Complementing with information from national authorities

Information collected for the Second Assessment (2011) of transboundary watersSurface and groundwater resources:

distribution among the riparian countries within a basin/aquifer (delineation, renewable resources, distribution and variability of flow)

Pressures and their importance (water uses – consumptive and non-consumptive, polluting activities like wastewater discharges, diversion etc)

Quality and quantity status of waters (quality: with reference to national systems – to be improved)

Transboundary impacts (descriptive)Cooperation: joint bodies, agreements, joint

monitoring etc (descriptive)TrendsManagement response measures taken

(descriptive)

Second Assessment: about information and its exchange Information exchange often irregular,

intermittent, opaque and unstructuredHarmonization of information and

approaches is a challenge Joint monitoring & assessment hardly

exist in many transboundary basinsWeak exchange of data between different

national sector authorities Information too often scattered and

isolated and does not support sound management and decision-making

Basin level information commonly not available

Cost of and access to information is a major issue in many countries+ Assessment preparation process promoted exchange, cooperation

and capacity building+ Common assessment a tool to harmonize approaches

Basin example: water resources & the context of their use

Discharge

Withdrawal

Land use/Land cover

Population

Why information on the status of water resources is necessary?Information basis for decision-making and

policy developmentHelps to guide management efforts — accurate

identification of pressure sources, determining suitability of waters for use etc.

Verifying effectiveness of measures takenIncreased efficiency in allocating fundsIn shared waters, comparable information across

the basin is needed to form a comprehensive picture of the situation

Provides evidence to inform inter-sectoral and transboundary dialogue (e.g. agricultural and energy policies impact on waters)

Assessments/reporting requirements related to the status of water resources at different levels National: according to the legislation and water

management issuesBasin level Sub-regional —European Commission, European Env.

Agency (EEA)Water Framework DirectiveBathing Water Directive etc.

Regional/pan-EuropeanUNECE Water ConventionProtocol on Water and Health

Global, e.g. Global Environment Monitoring System (GEMS) Water , SDGs, System of Environmental-Economic Accounting for Water

How can SEIS help to make relevant information available at source?

For a meaningful comparison: common (international) definitions,harmonized approaches

Spatial dimension: What does a value represent?- Which basin, water body?- Surface water, groundwater?- Season, year?

Benefits of common, clear methodologies for assessment of waters and reporting across the region

• Comparability (across borders, notably)• A common basis for identifying challenges and needs for

action — nationally, at basin level and regionally• Some pressures on water quality clearly (sub-)regional: air

pollution, pollution of recipient seas from land-based sources

• Benefit from a wider exchange of good practices/international experience

• Promoting cooperation • Making information available saves effort• Increased public awareness & access to information (trust,

legitimacy)• Serves to inform, guide and stimulate further action by

different actors (including donors and the research community)

Starting data collection gradually - ideasThe way forward: 1) Balance ambition and resources,2) Define key indicators to keep the effort reasonable,3) Select representative results, 4) Eventually, start establishing pressure-status-impact linksKey pressure indicators:

Total (volume of) freshwater abstraction If possible, relate to the available (renewable) water

resourceWastewater discharges, as priority the volume

of non-treated/not adequately treated wastewater

Key status indicators:Mean concentration of BOD in major riversMean concentration of nitrates in major rivers