ONLINE MODULE ON WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT GENERAL OVERVIEW 1

2 The UNESCO-IHE (UIHE) Institute for Water Education was established in It carries out research, education and capacity building activities in the fields of water, environment and infrastructure, since 1957 (as IHE). Mission of the Institute is to contribute to the education and training of professionals and to build the capacity of sector organisations and knowledge centres in the fields of water, the environment and infrastructure, in developing countries and countries in transition.

3 Global campus Life-long learning Attractive and effective programmes through partnerships MSc, PhD, Short Courses, Online Courses, Tailor-made Trainings, Open Courseware Research–science based education VISION OF QUALITY OF EDUCATION AT UIHE (

4 Alumni community: over 13,500 alumni in 162 Countries 99% return to their home country 85% still active 25 years after graduation

Your teachers of the Module on Water Quality Assessment (see lecture notes WQA-1): Peter Kelderman, PhD, MSc; Course coordinator; main teacher for Courses 3 and 4 Prof. Diederik Rousseau, PhD, MSc; main teacher for Courses 1 and 2 Gretchen Gettel, PhD, MSc; teacher in Courses 2 and 3 Tamara Avellàn, MSc; teacher in Course 2 Màrio Chilundo, MSc; teacher in Courses 3 and 5 5

Over large parts of the world, rivers and lakes show increasing trends of water pollution. This holds especially for developing countries under economic expansion and increasing population sizes Evaluation of the physical, chemical and biological water quality is essential for the abatement of freshwater pollution. For this, sound and sustainable water quality assessment programmes should be aimed at integrating the different steps in the monitoring cycle, from the information needs, monitoring network design, field and laboratory procedures up to data collection and processing The resulting water quality data can then be evaluated together with the natural water quality, human effects and water quality usages Optimization of the water quality monitoring programmes, e.g. with respect to cost, should ensure that these programmes are sound and sustainable, also in future. Why? 6

After successful completion of the Module, participants will be able to: Understand and apply concepts of water quality and pollution processes in rivers and lakes Understand and apply the different steps of the monitoring cycle in rivers and lakes Understand the basic concepts of groundwater quality and monitoring Apply common statistical techniques for water quality data evaluation  Design sound and sustainable freshwater quality monitoring programmes under specified conditions. Objectives 7

This Module consists of five Courses: 1. Introduction to the Water Quality Assessment Module 2. Water Quality and Pollution 3. Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment 4. Data handling and Presentation 5. Case study: Design for a monitoring network for the Limpopo River Basin, Mozambique Module contents 8

Course 1 – Introduction Unit 1: General Overview of the WQA Module Unit 2: Water and Life Unit 3: Sustainable Use of Water 9

Course 2 – Water quality and pollution We will discuss the main water quality and pollution characteristics in rivers and lakes and the processes that affect these. Unit 1: Introduction to water quality Unit 2: Organic matter Unit 3: Nutrients Unit 4: Micropollutants Unit 5: Aquatic Ecosystems Unit 6: Introduction to Water quality modelling 10

Course 3 – Water quality monitoring & assessment In this Course, you will learn how to apply the different steps of the monitoring cycle in rivers and lakes. In less detail we will also consider aspects of groundwater pollution and monitoring Unit 1: Concepts of monitoring Unit 2: Rivers Unit 3: Lakes and reservoirs Unit 4: Monitoring frequencies Unit 5: Chemical and biological variables Unit 6: Field and lab work Unit 7: Water quality assessment Unit 8: Groundwater pollution and monitoring Unit 9: Cost aspects 11

Course 4 – Data handling and presentation We will show you how to apply statistical techniques in handling your monitoring data. Also we will review how to best present monitoring results. Unit 1: Statistical concepts Unit 2: Statistical applications in Water quality monitoring Unit 3: Data presentation 12

Course 5 – Design concepts You will be asked to design a sound and sustainable water quality monitoring network for the Limpopo Basin in Mozambique. For this you will apply the concepts treated in the Module, such as monitoring objectives, parameters, stations and frequencies, also in line with available resources. 13

Shkodra lake, border of Montenegro and Albania 14