Guidelines on water-quality monitoring and assessment of transboundary rivers

The Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and international Lakes (Helsinky, 1992) covers, among others, the monitoring and assessment of transboundary waters, the assessment of the effectiveness of measures taken to prevent, control and reduce transboundary impact, the exchange of information on between riparian countries and public information on the results of water and effluent sampling. Riparian parties shall also harmonize rules for setting up and operating monitoring programmes, including measurement systems and devices, analytical techniques, data processing and evaluation procedures. These guidelines are intended to assist ECE Governments and joint bodies (e.g. river-basin commissions) in developing and implementing procedures for monitoring and assessing transboundary waters in their region.