Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
more specific and precise determination of the present status, trend developments and
impact/risk assessments.
4.2
The planning stage
The planning of any activities and measures for diffuse pollution control and abatement
should be viewed as an indispensable and interrelated part of the integrated catchment
plan for the development of water resources. The plan usually consists of separate
programs, envisaging different aspects of the development of the catchment. It should be
developed for a certain period of time (planning period), usually two to five years. The
catchment principle of water resources management requires that the plans should be
orientated towards a selected catchment area, but could be developed at different scales,
ranging from a small stream to a large catchment basin, incorporating different streams,
rivers or lakes. The most important constituents of any plan or program should include
the following points:
• Formulation of goals and objectives;
• Translation of the objectives in measurable criteria or benchmarks;
• Formulation of activities to achieve the criteria;
• Preparation of the implementation plan;
• Monitoring of the plan implementation;
• Assessment of the results obtained at the end of the planning period, and the revision of
the plan objectives (if necessary) for the next planning period.
Regarding the development of plans for diffuse pollution control and abatement, the
formulation of objectives requires knowledge of the present status of the natural water
resources. If preliminary investigations or historic records found that this status is
satisfactory, then the objectives of the program would be oriented towards measures to
maintain this status and prevent pollution from the future development of the area by
implementing the best available and achievable practices of urban/rural development and
environmental impact assessment. In cases where a deterioration of water quality has
been found, the objectives should include the provision of specific treatment methods to
reduce and alleviate pollution.
Planning objectives are usually narrative statements, which reflect the goals, based on
stakeholders' desires and the mandate of the management agency. The translation of
these statements into specific numerical values or well-defined criteria is the purpose of
the next stage of the planning process, where available regulatory instruments must be
applied, such as water quality standards and regulations, municipal by laws, ordinances,
design manuals, etc. If these are not available, they must be developed for the specific
objectives of the program. Based on the regulatory instruments adopted, the activities
necessary for the implementation of the plan, should be defined. It is important to
emphasize that in the past, activities related to water resources management, usually were
limited to structural measures, such as engineering structures for water storage, supply
and treatment. However, during the last decade of the twentieth century, activities to
involve all stakeholders during the whole process of planning and implementation have
become an imperative aspect. Thus, the development and implementation of programs for
the public and all stakeholders' involvement in the water resources management process
