Waters

International Cooperative Programme on Assessment and Monitoring of the Effects of Air Pollution on Rivers and Lakes

Acidification of freshwater systems provided some of the earliest evidence of the environmental damage caused by sulphur emissions. The sensitivity of these systems made them ideal for studying the effects of and responses to changes in atmospheric pollution.

To assess the regional degree and geographic extent of atmospheric pollution impacts, particularly acidification, on surface waters, the International Cooperative Programme on Assessment and Monitoring of the Effects of Air Pollution on Rivers and Lakes (ICP Waters) was established in 1985.    

Monitoring Activities

ICP Waters collects and assesses lake and stream monitoring data from a wide network of sites. Monitoring covers both chemical and biological parameters. Chemical monitoring includes the analysis of all major constituents affecting water quality. Biological monitoring focuses on fish populations, invertebrates, and algae, which have varying tolerances to water chemistry conditions. Changes in these populations serve as important indicators of water quality. Chemical and biological data are used to assess temporal trends and spatial patterns, as well as evaluations of dose/response relationships. Assessing the impact of confounding factors such as climate change and land use change is becoming increasingly important.

Quality Control and Standardization

Ensuring data quality and harmonization is a priority for ICP Waters. Annual laboratory intercalibration exercises have been conducted since 1987, involving approximately 35 laboratories across 20 countries. These focus on chemical parameters.
Intercalibration for invertebrate taxonomic identification also ensures consistency in biological monitoring. Database checks verify the integrity of collected data. A manual of recommended methods is maintained and updated to promote harmonization of monitoring and analysis techniques across participating countries.

Coordination and Leadership

The Programme is planned and coordinated by a Task Force led by Norway, through a Programme Centre at the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA). The Programme Centre holds annual Task Force meetings and maintains a comprehensive database of chemical and site data from approximately 550 catchments across 20 countries in Europe and North America. A sub-centre of ICP Waters located at NORCE Norwegian Research Centre manages biological data and intercalibration efforts.

The revised mandate for ICP Waters can be found in EB decision 2019/15.

Further information including publications is available from the Programme Centre.