Update on EUWI+ Laboratories’ development and update on surface water, coastal & transitional waters and ground water monitoring by Philipp Hohenblum The 7th MEETING OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL POLICY DIALOGUE IN WATER SECTOR OF AZERBAIJAN 4 July 2018, Baku The objective of the meeting was to discuss the key issues in the development of the national water policy and the status of ongoing activities within the EUWI+ project in Azerbaijan. The meeting also served as a platform for strengthening of synergies with other international projects implemented in Azerbaijan.

1. European Union Water Initiative plus
for Eastern Partnership
EUROPEAN UNION WATER INITIATIVE PLUS
FOR THE EASTERN PARTNERSHIP
NATIONAL POLICY DIALOGUE
4 JULY 2018, BAKU

2. Part 1.1 Update on Laboratories‘ Development
EU Member State Consortium; Philipp Hohenblum
Part 1.2 Update on Surface water, Coastal water
and Groundwater Monitoring
Session 3

3.  Assessment missions of dedicated water laboratories in
Azerbaijan
• Selected by MENR:
 Baku
 Beylagan
 Quazakh
 All laboratories have been visited at least once (Beylagan,
Quazakh) for assessment of capacities, capabilities and
future involvement in WFD measurements

4.  Assessment criteria
• Existing capacities, capabilities and infrastructure
• Condition of laboratory premises
• Status of accreditation (based on ISO/IEC 17025)
• Existing methods for measurement of WFD priority
substances

5. Process map to identify needs for training and equipment to
achieve compliance with WFD requirements

6.  Baku
 29.5.-2.6.2017
 18.6.-23.6.2017
 16.10.-20.10.2017
 Beylagan
 18.6.-23.6.2017
 Quazakh
 18.6.-23.6.2017

8.  Preliminary conclusions in advanced assessment report
• Poor laboratory conditions
• Mismatch with requirements of ISO 17025
 Especially chapter 5. „accomodation and environmental conditions“
• Lacking conditions for new equipment
 Details from preliminary assessment report
 Deficient electric supply network, insufficient exhaust fumes,
insufficient air conditioning, inadequate material use for work places
 Sample preparation and measurement take place in same rooms;
office areas are not separated from chemical work areas
 Water damages, crumbled walls, dust – negative impact on high end
instruments
 Occupational safety issues (exposure)

9.  Design of working rooms (preparation and measurement)
• Separation according to techniques, preparation and office
areas
 Technical equipment
• Appropriate and stable power supply
• Air conditioning and sun protection to avoid thermal impact
on high end instruments/measurements
• Installation of adequate exhaust facilities
 Training
• According to needs identified

10.  Project team, NFP, Minister in November 2017
 Quick refurbishment of involved laboratory premises
 Structural refurbishment completed by Jan 2018
 Aim: establishing compliance with structural pre-requisites
of ISO 17025
 Currently taking procedural steps for installation of
suggested air conditioning
• Financially supported by EUWI+

11.  Interregional Workshop on
laboratory basics and fundamentals
of ISO Certification
• Tbilisi, December 2017
• AZ, GE, AM participation
 Training on procurement
• Skype and on-site training, provision of
background material
 Agreement missions
• Follow progress of refurbishment and
provide advice
 Signing of bilateral Framework
Agreement AZ and EUWI+ in May
2018
© Umweltbundesamt 2017

12.  Progress for tendering of air conditioning systems and
laboratory furniture
• Hiring of national expert to provide technical expertise in this
field and to accompany procurement (esp. techn.
specifications), installation and approval of desired A/C
system
• Procurement of A/C system and works
 Elaboration of tender dossier for purchase of new
equipment
• Technical specifications by July 2018
• Start process in September 2018
• Delivery by beginning of 2019

13. Part 1.1 Update on Laboratories‘ Development
EU Member State Consortium; Michael Sutter
Part 1.2 Update on Surface water, Coastal &
transitional waters and Groundwater Monitoring
Session 3

14. Source: European Commission, 2008:
Groundwater Protection in Europe

15. The weakest element is
decisive and has highest
priority.
Sampling
Relevanceofsubstance
Availabilityofdata
Equipment
Laboratory
Trainedstaff
Accessibility
Monitoringdesign
Source: Wikipedia. Liebig‘s Law of the Minimum

16.  Assessment of groundwater monitoring and training needs
towards WFD requirements in the in the Kura upper
Mingachevir water reservoir River Basin District.
 Development of and agreement on 2018/19 groundwater
roadmap.
•  Assessment report was agreed 04/2018
16

18.  Planned work 2018
• Sampling training.
• Field survey.
• Start of procurement of monitoring infrastructure and
equipment.
 Support by local expert’s Contract for 8
• Review and update of groundwater body delineation and
characterisation.
• Review and revision of monitoring system including
investment, operation and maintenance needs.

19.  Assessment of needs to comply with EU WFD requirements
in terms of equipment, staff and trainings
• Assessment report agreed 04/18
• Assessment of equipment needs
• Assessment of training need
 Agreed workplan and roadmap 2018, incl. tailored training:
• Regional workshop on surface water body delineation (05/18)
• Subregional workshop on Ecological Status Classification
System (07/18)

21. Outlook 2018
• Workshop on general requirements of the WFD and ESCS (July 2018)
• Start of the development of ecological assessment systems
• Specific training on sampling of macro invertebrates and field survey
(September 2018).
• Start of procurement of monitoring infrastructure and equipment.
 Outlook 2019
• Finalization of procurement of monitoring infrastructure and
equipment.
• Continuation of the development of ecological assessment systems
• Validation of water body delineation
• Field survey in spring 2019

22.  Assessment of needs to build up a national EU WFD
compliant monitoring system for transitional and coastal
waters in the Kura River Delta in terms of equipment,
analytical methods, staff and trainings
• Assessment report agreed 04/18
• Assessment of equipment needs
• Assessment of training needs for new analytical methods and
the EQR approach for particular BQE’s
 Agreed work plan and roadmap 2018, incl. subregional
workshops:
• Transitional and Coastal Water Body Delineation Workshop
(04/2018)
• Survey Design Workshop (09/2018)

23. REGIONAL
TRANSITIONAL AND COASTAL
WATER DELINEATION WORKSHOP
(BAKU 04.-05. APRIL 2018)

24.  Planned work 2018
• Finalization of procurement of equipment
• Adaptation of new analytical methods
• Preparative fieldwork incl. design of protocols, test sampling and
measurements/analytical work with new, purchased equipment
• Selection of methods for status calculation of particular BQE’s
• Point and diffuse pressure source identification for Kura River Delta area
 Outlook 2019
• Field work in Kura River Delta during spring 2019
• Draft assessment of type-specific ecological classes for particular BQE’s
• Pressure-impact analysis
• Final delineation workshop
• Field work in Kura River Delta during autumn 2019
• Determination of ecological status of water bodies in EUWI+ pilot area for
2019

25.  Outlook 2019 Groundwater
• Continuation and finalization of procurement of GW monitoring
infrastructure and equipment.
• Field surveys
 Outlook 2019 Surface water
• Finalization of procurement of SW monitoring infrastructure
and equipment.
• Field survey in spring 2019
 Outlook 2019 Transitional & Coastal water
• Field surveys in the Kura River Delta
• Determination of Ecological status in TW&CW water bodies

26. How can we safeguard long-term sustainability of GW and SW
monitoring?
How can we guarantee sustainable capacity builing in terms of human
resources for SW monitoring?
• This needs high institutional committment and
long-term security of budgets.
Which laboratory shall be responsible for analysing the groundwater
samples (and to be involved in the field surveys)?
For the Pressure & Impact analysis in transitional and coastal waters
data about the locations of waste water outlets and discharges of
pollutants are needed. Do MENR have these data?