Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
operational cost, is important, and would help considerably a sustainable use of the
available natural resources of any country.
What we do not know does not exist for us. In many developing countries diffuse
pollution problems have not been recognized as such, because there is no regular
monitoring of water quality. In the case of point discharges, the pollution is visible and
therefore, it could be identified and appropriate measures taken for its abatement; while
diffuse pollution stays unidentified and correspondingly, is not addressed. Only the
effects of diffuse pollution, when it becomes apparent (e.g. an eutrophied lake) could be
appreciated. Thus the monitoring of water quality is the first step to be implemented in a
pollution prevention program. It is important not only with respect to pollution
prevention but because of the need to know the status of the natural resources in terms of
their best utilization in a sustainable way. However, different pollution abatement
strategies could be implemented parallel to a water quality monitoring program, which
would help in reducing diffuse pollution and maintaining a clean and healthy
environment. These are most valid for cases of source control measures and introductions
of practices to minimize waste generation and apply cleaner production processes.
2 MONITORING AND CONTROL OF WATER QUALITY
2.1 The closed-loop approach to the monitoring process
Over the last decades a pressing need has arisen for a comprehensive and accurate
assessment and evaluation of water quality. Reliable data, collected by means of sound
and efficient monitoring programs is an essential basis for such assessments.
￿ Monitoring - the term could be defined as “the process of repetitive observations for a
defined purpose, of one or more elements or indicators of the environment, according
to pre-arranged schedules in space and time, and using comparable methodologies for
environmental sensing and description.”
The purpose of water quality monitoring is directly related to the practice of water quality
management for public health and environmental protection. The management activities
are based on two major factors: the availability of water resources in terms of quantity
and quality, and water demand in terms of present use and future projections. To support
these activities assessment of water qualities of natural water bodies and the effluents
discharged to them, as well as the provision of well-structured information flows, is
essential. It needs to be mentioned that monitoring programs are designed not only to
control and assess the water quality of natural bodies or effluent discharges, but also that
they form the basis of the operation and control of water and wastewater treatment plants.
In the case of diffuse pollution assessments all types of monitoring are important because
the analysis of the problems requires a catchment-wide analysis and the consideration of
background quality and point pollution sources.
The success of any monitoring program, even the simplest one, depends on a proper
preparation and design process. Therefore, serious consideration should be given to this
preliminary step in order to achieve sound results at a minimum cost and to make an
optimal use of the available technical, human and financial resources. As a first principle,
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