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CHAPTER 3. POLICY, INSTITUTIONAL, AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

3.4. Policies for Eutrophication Control

3.4.1. International Background (suite)

Technologies

Policies should aim, on one hand, for pollution minimization and prevention through the use of new technologies, product and process change, pollution reduction at source and effluent reuse, recycling and recovery, treatment and environmentally safe disposal. On the other hand, policies should aim for the protection of watersheds with respect to depletion and degradation of their forest cover, rational land use to prevent land degradation, erosion and siltation of lakes and other water bodies, and protection from harmful upstream activities producing diffuse pollution. Appropriate technologies constitute a major chapter regarding pollution control and most efforts from international agencies have been, and are being, devoted to the development, transfer and sustainable application of environmentally clean technologies. Here technology is referred to in its widest sense.

Long-term and cost-efficient use of technologies, especially in developing countries, is a matter of particular concern. Thus, international experience recommends taking into account sound traditional and indigenous practices when developing appropriate methods for water pollution control. This applies particularly to the development of appropriate agricultural practices to prevent adverse effects of agricultural activities on water quality, such as control of land and groundwater resources degradation, minimization of soil run-off, and the impact of nitrogen-containing fertilizers and other agrochemicals in water to avoid diffuse pollution.

The treatment and safe reuse of domestic and industrial waste water, mainly in urban areas, promoting the construction of treatment facilities for domestic sewage and industrial effluents constitutes another key policy since a major part of organic and nutrient loadings come from non-treated domestic sewage from urban settlements disposed on land and into water bodies. Reduction of industrial waste discharges, including low-waste production technologies and water recycling also needs to be envisaged as a key strategy. In addition, recycling and reuse of waste water and solid wastes, considering their safe reuse in urban and rural areas and adequate disposal practices based on sound low cost and upgrading technologies, should be a part of the key strategy.

Research, legal instruments such as water quality and environmental standards, environmental impact and risk assessment, and the creation of mechanisms for cooperation and information exchange about clean technologies are complementary aspects to be considered when planning pollution prevention and reduction programs.

Public Participation

Public participation and community awareness and involvement is another substantive field in pollution control programs. They comprise, among others, actions fostering the education of communities about pollution related impacts, promoting environmental awareness by means of information and education programs; the promotion of public participation in planning and decision making processes, particularly in the collection, recycling and elimination of wastes; and sensitization of the public to the issue of rational use of water and protecting water quality within the urban environment. Public participation, awareness, and education, are discussed in detail in Chapter 4 in this publication.

Water Resources Assessment and Monitoring

In order to develop sound pollution control programs, it is necessary to carry out an adequate and comprehensive assessment of water resources. Thus, policies aimed at that objective constitute a substantive component of any strategy for eutrophication control. It becomes necessary to establish programs for the systematic monitoring of surface and groundwater quantity, quality, and use, preferably organized in water related databases and Geographical Information Systems based on national or regional river basin systems. Information on methods for monitoring and processing obtained data is given in Chapter 6 of this publication.

The monitoring of pollution point and diffuse sources, including the utilization of chemicals in agriculture, is necessary and should be accompanied with continuous surveillance to improve compliance with standards and regulations. Research and cooperation among data-collection agencies and with users are also issues to account for in a thorough set of policies.

Information on the water resources status is a critical element in planning. Over recent decades the ability of many countries to assess water resources has actually declined because measurement networks and staffing levels have been reduced. Effective water resources assessment and management are not possible without adequate information, including hydrologic information, water-use and water-quality data, demographic data, forestry and land management, and capacity to assess the data. The river watershed should constitute the geographical unit for data collection and analysis.

Training

Another issue raised is the need for training programmes to build up needed expertise on water issues among government staff, water users, and decision-makers at all levels. This will contribute to foster the permanence of qualified personnel in the institutions of the water sector as well as the exchange of experiences at the national and regional level. The effective protection of water resources and ecosystems from pollution requires considerable upgrading of most countries present capacities, including a certain minimum infrastructure and staff to identify and implement technical solutions and to enforce regulatory action.

Economic Instruments

Economic mechanisms, such as economic incentives to encourage the adoption of technologies focussing on pollution prevention, should be considered by governments. These kinds of mechanisms which include, among others, property rights, water markets, fiscal and financial instruments, charge systems and liability systems, are gradually becoming a substantive component of the management tool set used for pollution control and water allocation decisions. Together with assigning an economic value to water and internalizing environmental costs into productive activities, these policies aim at developing an economic framework for environmentally sound water management. Private sector involvement is inherently related to economic mechanisms, since the majority of these are designed to provide incentives to comply with environmental regulations, improving water quality management, and reducing/preventing pollution. Economic aspects in planning and management of lakes and reservoirs are discussed in Chapter 5 of this publication.

Institutional and Regulatory Frameworks

In this respect, central policy for pollution reduction programmes is the development of an institutional and the regulatory framework to ensure the functional and sustainable implementation of above mentioned policies and goals. It becomes imperative to strengthen and build the technical and institutional capacity to address environmental priorities, such as pollution control, waste management and sanitation issues, improved water and air quality, access to safe drinking water, and urban environmental problems. The improvement or building of legislative and management structures in land-use planning, coastal zone management, Environmental Initial Assessment (EIA), the establishment of appropriate design standards, water-quality objectives, discharge consents, and natural resources management laws are key elements of any pollution reduction program.

Coordination

In addition to institutional frameworks, the strengthening of technical and institutional capacities involves the establishment of high level mechanisms to formulate, review or update water resources policies, laws, and technical standards. This requires the establishment of cooperation mechanisms among agencies, including those in the legal and enforcement areas and delegation of Water Resources Management at the lowest appropriate level, including the utilization of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the private sector, and local people.

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