This document discusses joint monitoring and assessment of transboundary basins under the UNECE Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Helsinki Convention). It provides an overview of different levels of cooperation, including the international level with guidelines developed by the Convention, as well as national and transboundary basin levels. Specific examples of regulations and agreements between Hungary and neighboring countries like Romania and Slovakia are outlined. Lessons learned emphasize the importance of cooperation across institutions and translation of documents to facilitate joint monitoring and assessment of surface and groundwater resources in transboundary basins.

1. Joint Monitoring and Assessment
in transboundary basins:
obligations and experience under the
Convention
Addis Abbeba, 14 November 2012
Zsuzsanna BUZÁS
Hungary
PhotoWWF

2. ifferent levels of co-operationifferent levels of co-operation
• InternationalInternational levellevel
•
• National levelNational level
• River basin levelRiver basin level
Transboundary levelTransboundary level

3. International levelInternational level
UN/ECE Convention on the Protection and UseUN/ECE Convention on the Protection and Use
of Transboundary Watercourses andof Transboundary Watercourses and
International LakesInternational Lakes
(Helsinki Convention)(Helsinki Convention)
World Meteorological OrganisationWorld Meteorological Organisation
•
• Hydrology and Water Resources ProgrammeHydrology and Water Resources Programme
• - Guide to Hydrological Practice- Guide to Hydrological Practice
• - Technical Regulations- Technical Regulations

4. International levelInternational level
UN/ECE Convention on the Protection and UseUN/ECE Convention on the Protection and Use
of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakesof Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes
-The Convention entered into force in 1996 but already in 1994The Convention entered into force in 1996 but already in 1994
started the Task Force on Monitoring and Assessment (which laterstarted the Task Force on Monitoring and Assessment (which later
on became the Working Group on Monitoring and Assessment)on became the Working Group on Monitoring and Assessment)
with the main task developing Guidelines,with the main task developing Guidelines,
- these guidelines aimed to assist the Governments and jointthese guidelines aimed to assist the Governments and joint
bodies for common management of transboundary waters (surfacebodies for common management of transboundary waters (surface
and groundwaters)and groundwaters)
- the guidelines were revised based on findings of the pilot projectsthe guidelines were revised based on findings of the pilot projects
that aimed to implement of given guidelines in practicethat aimed to implement of given guidelines in practice

5. International levelInternational level
UN/ECE Convention on the Protection and UseUN/ECE Convention on the Protection and Use
of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakesof Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes
Guidelines and Strategies
Guidelines on Monitoring and Assessment ofGuidelines on Monitoring and Assessment of
Water Quality of Transboundary Rivers, 1996Water Quality of Transboundary Rivers, 1996
(revised in 2000)(revised in 2000)
Guidelines on Monitoring and Assessment ofGuidelines on Monitoring and Assessment of
Transboundary Groundwaters, 2000Transboundary Groundwaters, 2000
Guidelines on MA of Transboundary andGuidelines on MA of Transboundary and
International Lakes (2002)International Lakes (2002)
Strategies for Monitoring and Assessment ofStrategies for Monitoring and Assessment of
Transboundary Rivers, Lakes and Groundwaters,Transboundary Rivers, Lakes and Groundwaters,
20062006

6. International levelInternational level
UN/ECE Convention on the Protection and UseUN/ECE Convention on the Protection and Use
of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakesof Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes
Guidelines on Monitoring and Assessment ofGuidelines on Monitoring and Assessment of
Water Quality of Transboundary Rivers, 1996Water Quality of Transboundary Rivers, 1996
(revised in 2000)(revised in 2000)
Content: - Identification of river-basinContent: - Identification of river-basin
management issuesmanagement issues
- information needs- information needs
- strategies for monitoring and assessm.- strategies for monitoring and assessm.
- monitoring programmes- monitoring programmes
- data management- data management
- reporting- reporting
- joint co-ordinated action and institutional- joint co-ordinated action and institutional
aspectsaspects

7. International levelInternational level
UN/ECE Convention on the Protection and UseUN/ECE Convention on the Protection and Use
of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakesof Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes
- pilot projectspilot projects were good tools to learn how could the countrieswere good tools to learn how could the countries
put into practice the guidelinesput into practice the guidelines
- it started with MoU signed by the two Parties, in which theyit started with MoU signed by the two Parties, in which they
declared with river basin – lake – or groundwater would be thedeclared with river basin – lake – or groundwater would be the
topic,topic,
- usually they got some special financial support both for theusually they got some special financial support both for the
implementation itself and for the reporting about the findings,implementation itself and for the reporting about the findings,

8. International levelInternational level
UN/ECE Convention on the Protection and UseUN/ECE Convention on the Protection and Use
of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakesof Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes
- the final reports were handed overthe final reports were handed over bothboth to the MA Working Groupto the MA Working Group
andand the given joint bodies for further consideration,the given joint bodies for further consideration,
- pilot projects were useful instrument not only for the trialpilot projects were useful instrument not only for the trial
implementation and developing guidelines, but for the furtherimplementation and developing guidelines, but for the further
cooperation of the involved countries,cooperation of the involved countries,
- but had some problems as well: planned 2 years were neverbut had some problems as well: planned 2 years were never
enough, language (English reports had to be translated)enough, language (English reports had to be translated) andand
sometime financial problemssometime financial problems

9. A legal frame for co-operation to assure
the protection of water and ecological resources and their
sustainable use in the Danube River Basin
It was developed parallel with UNECE Water Convention
The Danube River Protection ConventionThe Danube River Protection Convention
signed: 29 June 1994, Sofia
entered into force: 22 October 1998
Permanent Secretariat: since 1 October 1999

10. Trans NationalTrans National
Monitoring NetworkMonitoring Network –– TNMNTNMN

11. TNMNTNMN until 2007until 2007
 Based on national monitoringBased on national monitoring
networksnetworks
 Data from 77 sampling stationsData from 77 sampling stations
providedprovided
 52 determinands in water52 determinands in water
 Minimum sampling frequencyMinimum sampling frequency
12/year (chem) 2/year (biol)12/year (chem) 2/year (biol)

12. Major Objective –Major Objective –
Revised TNMNRevised TNMN
 The major objectiveThe major objective
 overview of theoverview of the overall status and long-termoverall status and long-term
changeschanges of surface water andof surface water and –– wherewhere
necessarynecessary –– groundwater on a basin-wide scalegroundwater on a basin-wide scale
 particular attention paid to theparticular attention paid to the transboundarytransboundary
effectseffects like pollution loadlike pollution load
link Danube nutrient loads and eutrophication Blacklink Danube nutrient loads and eutrophication Black
SeaSea
monitoring of nutrient sources and pathways ofmonitoring of nutrient sources and pathways of
nutrients in the DRB and the effects of measures tonutrients in the DRB and the effects of measures to
reduce the nutrient loads into the Black Sea.reduce the nutrient loads into the Black Sea.
 address alladdress all biological quality elementsbiological quality elements

13. TransNationalTransNational
Monitoring NetworkMonitoring Network
TNMNTNMN
1st yearbook 19961st yearbook 1996
- Harmonise or make comparable the monitoring and
assessment methods
- Develop communication and data processing facilities
- Elaborate joint programmes for monitoring the riverine
conditions in the Danube catchment as basis for the
assessment of transboundary impacts

14. JDS2 JOINT DANUBE PROGRAMME 2008JDS2 JOINT DANUBE PROGRAMME 2008

15. •96 sites were successfully sampled along the
2,600 km stretch of the Danube River
•Survey gathered comprehensive information
about riverine hydromorphology, biology and
chemistry; microbiological and isotope analysis
was performed as well
•Strengthened basin-wide cooperation among the
scientific community
•Increased public awareness toward water quality
protection
JDS2JDS2
ObjectivesObjectives

16. HUNGARYHUNGARY
AUSTRIAAUSTRIA
SLOVAKIASLOVAKIA
UKRAINUKRAIN
ROMANIAROMANIA
YUGOSLAVIAYUGOSLAVIA
CROATIACROATIA
SLOVENIASLOVENIA
Transboundary levelTransboundary level
Bilateral co-operation isBilateral co-operation is
essential for the dailyessential for the daily
water management inwater management in
Hungary, because 96 %Hungary, because 96 %
of the water resourcesof the water resources
is originated from theis originated from the
neighbouring countriesneighbouring countries
7 neighbours7 neighbours

17. History:History:
started with flood defenses,started with flood defenses,
followed by data exchange andfollowed by data exchange and
water quality controlwater quality control
Co-operation through commities based on the WaterCo-operation through commities based on the Water
Convention principles, organised according toConvention principles, organised according to
• technical issues, ortechnical issues, or
• catchmentscatchments
only commitees related to water quality exist in all relationsonly commitees related to water quality exist in all relations
Co-operation in water resources management have startedCo-operation in water resources management have started
Co-operation in groundwater related question is the next stepCo-operation in groundwater related question is the next step
Common implementation ofCommon implementation of EUEU WFD is the new taskWFD is the new task
Co-operation are based on regulationsCo-operation are based on regulations
Hungarian experience at transboundary levelHungarian experience at transboundary levelHungarian experience at transboundary levelHungarian experience at transboundary level

18. Hungary - Romania
Sub-committeesSub-committees
-- on the protection against floods and excess waterson the protection against floods and excess waters
-- on water management anon water management and hydrometeorologyd hydrometeorology,,
-- on water qualityon water quality
Hungary - Slovakia
Subsidiary bodiesSubsidiary bodies
- Danube sub-committee- Danube sub-committee
- Ipoly/Ipel- Ipoly/Ipel sub-committeesub-committee
- Tisza sub-committee- Tisza sub-committee
- Sub-committee on water quality- Sub-committee on water quality
- Expert group on hydrology- Expert group on hydrology
- Expert group on the implementation- Expert group on the implementation
on WFDon WFD
Transboundary levelTransboundary levelTransboundary levelTransboundary level

19. RegulationsRegulations
Transboundary levelTransboundary level
• on the frontier crossing of the responsible authoritieson the frontier crossing of the responsible authorities
• on the mutual visual aerial observations underon the mutual visual aerial observations under criticalcritical
situations caused by floods asituations caused by floods annd excess watersd excess waters
• on flood defenon flood defencces,es,
• of mutual communication of meteorological andof mutual communication of meteorological and
hydrological data and informationhydrological data and information
• on the water quality of transboundary surface waters,on the water quality of transboundary surface waters,
• on the procedures in the cases of unexpected, hazardous pollutionon the procedures in the cases of unexpected, hazardous pollution
• on the defences against excess waters,on the defences against excess waters,
• on the concerted operation ofon the concerted operation of some hydraulicsome hydraulic structures,structures,
• on the regular hydrological observation andon the regular hydrological observation and commoncommon
identification of water resourcesidentification of water resources of watercoursesof watercourses
Romania - Hungary

20. National levelNational level
- Cooperation among- Cooperation among thethe water relatedwater related
ministries and related institutionsministries and related institutions
including monitoring activitiesincluding monitoring activities
(surface and groundwater, quantity and(surface and groundwater, quantity and
qqualityuality!!))
- Responsibility for co-operation on- Responsibility for co-operation on
the transboundary, catchmentthe transboundary, catchment
and international leveland international level

21. Lessons learnt on transboundaryLessons learnt on transboundary
monitoring and assessmentmonitoring and assessment
- In the Hungarian practice:In the Hungarian practice:
- we revised the already existing transboundary water- we revised the already existing transboundary water
agreements based on Helsinkiagreements based on Helsinki ConventionConvention and EU WFDand EU WFD
(the river basin principle and new(the river basin principle and new taskstasks))
- in the regulations under the Agreements were introducedin the regulations under the Agreements were introduced
the groundwater and new biological parameters, partlythe groundwater and new biological parameters, partly
based on the outcomes of the pilot projects under UNECEbased on the outcomes of the pilot projects under UNECE

22. Lessons learnt on transboundaryLessons learnt on transboundary
monitoring and assessmentmonitoring and assessment
In general (1):In general (1):
- being Parties to the UNECE Water Convention gives not onlybeing Parties to the UNECE Water Convention gives not only
obligations, but neutral field for discussions ofobligations, but neutral field for discussions of water relatedwater related
problems, between downstream and upstream countries,problems, between downstream and upstream countries,
-importance of personal contacts and understanding, commonimportance of personal contacts and understanding, common
work, including common measuraments and projects withwork, including common measuraments and projects with
involvment all the interested institutions and the public,involvment all the interested institutions and the public,
- Parties should try to translate all relevant documents,- Parties should try to translate all relevant documents,
guidelines into their national languageguidelines into their national language

23. Lessons learnt on transboundaryLessons learnt on transboundary
monitoring and assessmentmonitoring and assessment
In general (2):In general (2):
- both the transboundary agreement and the regulation- both the transboundary agreement and the regulation
under it dealing with MA tasks should include surface andunder it dealing with MA tasks should include surface and
groundwater, quality and quantity elements event thoughgroundwater, quality and quantity elements event though
the monitoring for these elements on national level belongthe monitoring for these elements on national level belong
to different ministries and institutions,to different ministries and institutions,
- sign the Agreement on high political level and implement- sign the Agreement on high political level and implement
on regional, expert level, having the feedback connectionon regional, expert level, having the feedback connection

24. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTIONTHANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

25. Transboundary levelTransboundary level
Flood control
Hydrological data exchange
Water quality protection
Surface water management
Groundwater management
commoncommon
river basinriver basin
managementmanagement
plansplans
commoncommon
river basinriver basin
managementmanagement
plansplans

26. RegulationRegulation of mutual communication ofof mutual communication of
meteoro-meteoro-logical and hydrological data andlogical and hydrological data and
informationinformation
•
•
Romania - Hungary
1. Article – Introduction
2. Article – Aim of the mutual exchange of meteorological and hydrological
data and information
3. Article – Regular daily meteorological data exchange
4. Article – Water – snow equivalent data exchange
5. Article – Meteorological warnings
6. Article – Daily precipitation forecasts exchange
7. Article – Regular daily hydrological data exchange
8. Article – Hydrological warnings
9. Article – Exchange of hydrological forecasts
10. Article – Replacement of daily met and hydrological data
11. Article – Exchange of yearly hydrological data
12. Article – Exchange of groundwater data
13. Article – Information of the changes of basic data
14. Article – Exchange of weather radar and radar warnings data
15- Article – Long-term hydrological forecasts
16. Article – Protocols and methods of exchange of data and information
Transboundary levelTransboundary level

27. RegulationsRegulations
Transboundary levelTransboundary level
• rules of procedure of the HU-SK Committeerules of procedure of the HU-SK Committee
on Transboundary Waterson Transboundary Waters
• in the defense against floods, excess waters and icein the defense against floods, excess waters and ice
• during accidental pollutionsduring accidental pollutions
• on the sampling, analyses and evon the sampling, analyses and evaaluation of water qualityluation of water quality
• on the activities during the accidental pollutionon the activities during the accidental pollution
•
•
of the cooperation in the exchange of hydrological data andof the cooperation in the exchange of hydrological data and
informationinformation
Slovakia - Hungary

28. Regulation on the sampling, analyses and the evaluationRegulation on the sampling, analyses and the evaluation
of water quality performed by the authorities of theof water quality performed by the authorities of the
Hungarian Republic and the Slovak Republic in theHungarian Republic and the Slovak Republic in the
watercourses forming the frontier or crossed by itwatercourses forming the frontier or crossed by it
Transboundary levelTransboundary level
•
•
Slovakia - Hungary
1 Article – Aim of the regulation
2 Article – Institutions involved
3 Article – Sampling places
4 Article – Water quality parameters
5 Article - Sampling methods
6 Article – Fulfilment of physical, chemical and biological samplings
7 Article – Compliance of the results
8 Article – Evaluation of the results
9 Article – Applied threshold limits
10 Article – Qualification of the results
11 Article – Periodical survey of the water quality changes
12 Article – Reporting obligations of the Water quality sub-
commission
13 Article – Closing resolutions

29. Regulation on the sampling, analyses and the evaluationRegulation on the sampling, analyses and the evaluation
of water quality performed by the authorities of theof water quality performed by the authorities of the
Hungarian Republic and the Slovak Republic in theHungarian Republic and the Slovak Republic in the
watercourses forming the frontier or crossed by itwatercourses forming the frontier or crossed by it
Transboundary levelTransboundary level
•
•
Slovakia - Hungary
Annexes
1. Data of involved institutions
2. List of the sampling places and frequencies
3. List of the parameters, units and yearly frequencies of
given parameters
4. Sampling, conservation, transport and storage methods
5. Fulfilment of physical, chemical and biological
samplings
6. Protocol for common sampling results
7. Protocol for evaluation of the results
8. Threshold values for evaluation
9. Summary table
10. Protocol for the water quality changes of given rivers

30. Regulation on the sampling, analyses and the evaluationRegulation on the sampling, analyses and the evaluation
of water quality performed by the authorities of theof water quality performed by the authorities of the
Hungarian Republic and the Slovak Republic in theHungarian Republic and the Slovak Republic in the
watercourses forming the frontier or crossed by itwatercourses forming the frontier or crossed by it
Transboundary levelTransboundary level
•
•
Slovakia - Hungary
4 Article – Water quality parameters
- general physical and inorganic chemical parameters
- general organic parameters
- inorganic industrial pollutants parameters
- organic industrial pollutants parameters
- biological parameters (including based on WFD:
phytoplankton, - - macrophytes and phytobenthos,
benthic invertebrate fauna)
12. Article – Reporting obligations of the Water quality sub-
commission
- evaluation of water quality in written from and with general tabulators
- general summary of the yearly water quality changes
- reasons of the changes

31. Regulation on the activities during the accidental pollution
of the Hungarian -Slovakian transboundary waters (1995)
Transboundary levelTransboundary level
•
•
Slovakia - Hungary
1-2. Article – Introduction and aim of the regulation
3. Article – Information exchange
4. Article – Evaluation of the risk and vulnerability
5. Article – Contingency plans
6. Article – Warning systems
7. Article – Information about the events
8. Article – Post-evaluation of accidental pollutions
List of annexes
1. Data of the institutions which have to be informed in case
of accidental pollutions (two responsible national ministries)
2. Data of other institutions involved into accidental events
information exchange
3. Protocol for reporting
4. Technical means for identification of accident
5. Contingency plans’ content
6. Information protocol about the accidental pollution

32. Objectives of the DRPCObjectives of the DRPC
• Ensure sustainable and equitable water management;
• Ensure conservation, improvement and rational use of
surface and groundwater;
• Control discharge of wastewaters, inputs of nutrients and
hazardous substances from point and diffuse sources of
emissions;
• Control flood and ice hazards;
• Control hazards originating from accidents (warning and
preventive measures);
• Reduce pollution loads of the Black Sea from sources in
the Danube catchment area;

33. IT
CH
PL
MK
AL
ICPDR
DE
AT
CZ
UA
MD
HU
SI
CS
BG
RO
SK
HRBA
– coordination
– information exchange
– develop strategy for RBM Plan
– develop DRB roof report for EC
– harmonisation of methods and
mechanisms
Co-operation
(example)
Bilateral agreements
(examples)
RBM
EG
Co-operation
(example)
Sub-river basin co-operation
(example: Tisa, Sava River)
Co-ordination mechanisms in the DRB

35. COUNTRY
GERMANY
AUSTRIA
of the state
POPULATION*
in DRB
82,398,326 9.300 11.49
8,188,207 7.700 9.51
CZECH REPUBLIC 10,249,216 2.800 3.46
SLOVAKIA 5,430,033 5.200 6.42
HUNGARY 10,045,407 10.045 12.60
capita million %
SLOVENIA 1,935,677 1.700 2.10
CROATIA 4,422,248 3.000 3.71
SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO 10,655,774 9.800 12.11
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA 3,989,018 2.900 3.58
BULGARIA 7,537,929 3.500 4.32
ROMANIA 22,271,839 21.000 25.94
MOLDOVA 4,439,502 1.100 1.36
UKRAINE 48,055,439 2.650 3.27
ICPDR TOTAL 219,618,615 80.850 99.88
ALBANIA 3,582,206 0.010 0.01
ITALY 57,998,353 0.020 0.02
MACEDONIA 2,063,122 0.010 0.01
POLAND 38,622,660 0.040 0.05
SWITZERLAND 7,318,638 0.020 0.03
BASIN TOTAL 329,203,593 80.950 100.00
of the state
TOTAL AREA
in DRB
357,021 56,184 7.01
83,858 80,423 10.03
78,866 22,870 2.85
48,845 47,084 5.87
93,030 93,030 11.61
km2
km2
%
20,273 16,422 2.05
56,542 34,965 4.36
102,350 88,635 11.06
51,129 36,636 4.57
110,910 47,413 5.92
237,500 232,193 28.97
33,843 12,834 1.60
603,700 30,520 3.81
1,877,867 799,209 99.72
28,748 126 0.01
301,230 565 0.07
25,333 109 0.01
312,685 430 0.05
41,290 1,809 0.23
2,587,153 802,248 100.00
%
in state
DRB
15.74
95.90
29.00
96.39
100.00
81.00
61.84
86.60
71.65
42.75
97.77
37.92
5.06
0.44
0.19
0.43
0.14
4.38
*) as of July 2003
name statusflag
EU CP
− −
EU −
− −
EU −
− −
EU CP
EU CP
EU CP
EU CP
EU CP
Apl CP
− CP
− CP
Acs CP
Acs CP
− CP
− CP

36. • 10% of Europe
• 83 mil inhabitants
• 19 countries
Most international
river basin in the
world

37. Catchment levelCatchment level
Convention on Co-operation for the ProtectionConvention on Co-operation for the Protection
and Sustainable Use of the River Danubeand Sustainable Use of the River Danube
International Association for Danube Research (IAD)International Association for Danube Research (IAD)
International Association of Waterworks in the Danube BasinInternational Association of Waterworks in the Danube Basin
Danube CommissionDanube Commission
Forum of the Danubian Hydrological ServicesForum of the Danubian Hydrological Services
Regional Co-operation of the Danube Countries in the frameRegional Co-operation of the Danube Countries in the frame
of the International Hydrological Programme of UNESCOof the International Hydrological Programme of UNESCO
Co-ordination of researches in the field of Danube’s ecosystemsCo-ordination of researches in the field of Danube’s ecosystems
(mapping, monitoring, investigation and modelling)(mapping, monitoring, investigation and modelling)
Aiming to reduce risks of pollution of drinking waterAiming to reduce risks of pollution of drinking water
To ensure the unrestricted navigationTo ensure the unrestricted navigation
Discussion on the monitoring related tasks related toDiscussion on the monitoring related tasks related to
international conventions, organisations and directivesinternational conventions, organisations and directives

38. •Important tool for the preparation of the Danube
River Basin Management Plan
•Generally improving trend along the main Danube
River was confirmed
•Specific problems were reinforced, especially at a
number of tributaries and downstream large cities
JDS2JDS2
General conclusionsGeneral conclusions