Water Quality Monitoring Workgroup

MTSP Task 4

Outline of Presentation• MTSP Background

• Current WQ Monitoring Programs Overview

• Basis for WQ Monitoring Workgroup (Task 4)

• Roadmap for WQ Programs Harmonizing/StrengtheningSteps 1 to 4

• Key Deliverables and Timelines

• Where are we now?

• Next Steps

• Questions for Workgroup

Background MTSP

MTSP• Manila Third Sewerage Project (MTSP)

• Financed by grant from GEF managed by World Bank

Primary Objective:

• Facilitate increased investment in priority sewage & sanitation • Laguna Lake/Pasig River/Manila Bay Watershed • Reduce wastewater discharges/improve water quality

(WQ)

Challenges

• Increasing investment in Sewage and Sanitation needs to include:

• Reliable water quality information

• Useful modeling and assessment tools

• Formal partnerships and effective coordination

MTSPRelevant Components 1 and 2 of MTSP:

• Harmonize and standardize water quality monitoring programs (Task 4) (Julie)

• Establish information centre and strengthen information systems (Dexter)

• Strengthen WQ modeling and assessment capabilities (Henry)

Flowchart of MTSP Planning (Task 4)

WQ Monitoring

• Water Quality Monitoring (Julie)

• Identification of Existing WQ Programs & QA/QC Procedures

• Identification of Gaps

WQ Strengthening & Harmonization

• Water Quality Monitoring Strengthening and Harmonization (Julie)

• Proposal for Harmonizing WQ Monitoring Programs

• Harmonizing and Procedural Guidelines Workshop

• Final WQ Program Monitoring Report

Strategic Water Quality Modeling

• Strategic Water Quality Modeling (Henry)

• Pollution Control scenarios/strategy

Links to Water Quality Modeling

• Models provide capability to predict WQ of a water body/system– Integrates WQ data/mechanisms (hydrology, hydrodynamics,

waste discharges/loading)

• Models important in planning for improved WQ in watershed

• Models provide basic inputs needed for strategic planning: - priority areas - reductions needed in pollutant discharges to achieve

WQ standards

Background

Task 4: Harmonize & Strengthen WQ Monitoring Programs

• Review current WQ monitoring programs

• Develop proposal for harmonizing monitoring programs

• Assist agencies to harmonize monitoring programs

• Lead workshop on Harmonization and Procedural Guidelines

• Prepare a final report on WQ harmonization

Background cont’d…

• Clean Water Act (2004) stipulates role of DENR to:

Establish internationally accepted procedures for sampling & analysis for pollutants

Formulate testing procedures & establish accreditation system for labs (in coordination w/ concerned agencies)

Report annually to Congress re: WQ status of waterbodies

Background cont’d…

Clean Water Act (2004) stipulates role of DENR to also:

Coordinate with Department of Health (DOH) & Department of Agriculture (DA) and other Gov’t agencies to:

Revise and publish WQ standards, reflecting latest scientific knowledge

Clean Water Act (2004) also stipulates Role of Local Gov’t Units (LGUs) to:

Monitor WQ of water bodies within its jurisdiction through Environment and Natural Resources Offices (ENRO)

Partnership Arrangements for WQ Monitoring

• Pasig River Unified Monitoring Systems (PRUMS), PRRC, in partnership with EMB-CO, EMB-NCR, and LLDA through MOA

• RBCO, arrangements for joint monitoring with EMB-CO, EMB-NCR, BFAR, DA-BPI, MWSI, NAMRIA, PCG, and others

• WQMA (proposed), under leadership of DENR, through establishment of quick response teams, water quality monitoring by LGUs

• PEMSEA, Technical Working group for pollution loading in Laguna de Bay, Pasig River-Manila Bay Watershed

Other agencies/organizations (LGUs) interested in helping collect /monitor WQ data in their jurisdictions

Initial Assessment of WQ Monitoring Program Gaps

• Incomplete WQ Data Collection

• Insufficient information for identifying locations of pollution sources

• Lack of overall Quality Assurance/Quality Control system

• Lack of overall institutional and legal mechanisms for accountability

Why have a Water Quality Monitoring Workgroup for MTSP (Task 4)?

• Identify current strengths & weaknesses of WQ monitoring programs

• Identify gaps and assist with proposals and recommendations

• Provide institutional & procedural information needed

• Discuss effective strategies to improve WQ sampling programs coordinationsites/frequencymodeling

• Improve planning and evaluation activities to prioritize locations & activities

Water Quality Monitoring Workgroup Members

• Jerry Palma, MWSI

• Wilma Uyaco, EMB-NCR

• Jocelyn Sta. Ana, LLDA

• Alma Cercenia, LLDA

• Merliza Bonga, PRRC

• Buhay Astudilo, PRRC

• Emil Kempis, EMB-NCR

• Linda Gonzales, RBCO

• Tony Kaimo, Berkman

• Leza Cuevas, EMB-CO

• Wally Balino, DENR, PMO

Roadmap for WQ Programs Harmonization and Strengthening

Step 4

Harmonization and Strengthening Report

Step 3

Harmonization and Procedural Guidelines Workshop

Step 2

Develop Draft Proposal & Guidelines for Harmonizing WQ Monitoring Programs

Step 1

Review Current WQ Monitoring Programs

Step 1Review Current Monitoring Programs

• Review/evaluate current WQ monitoring programs/activities

– Purpose/scope

– Sampling locations/procedures

– WQ parameters monitored

– Analytical techniques/facilities employed

– Data validation/quality assurance procedures

– Data interpretation/reporting activities

• Gather WQ monitoring reports, guidelines/procedures/analysis

• Meet with key users of WQ data to identify needs/levels of satisfaction with current programs

• Evaluate strengths, gaps, weaknesses, inconsistencies within each program, & across programs

• Assess quality of data produced, & needs for standardization

• Evaluate usefulness of each program in relation to intended purpose(s); &

• Summary report on evaluation of existing WQ monitoring programs

Step 2Develop Proposal and Guidelines for Harmonizing Monitoring

Programs

• Examine Clean Water Act & Implementing Rules/Regulations, DENR WQ Manual, PRRC documents, LLDA WQ Action Plan, MWSS/MWCI/MWSI Environmental Policies and others to:– Determine nature/extent of harmonized monitoring effort

• Develop objectives for WQ monitoring and, if possible, harmonize purposes/objectives of agency programs w/overall objectives

• Identify monitoring procedures/practices may be deficient, do not meet objectives/inconsistent w/other programs

Step 2 cont’d…Develop Proposal and Guidelines for Harmonizing Monitoring

Programs

• Prepare proposal and guidelines to include:

– objectives of programs

– parameters/locations to be monitored (guidelines for selecting monitoring sites, modeling considerations)

– Fill gaps/overcome weaknesses

– Integrate/rationalize/standardize programs/activities

– resolve inconsistencies in approaches and procedures

– Recommend improved coordination/cooperation/information activities between agencies

Step 3

Harmonization and Procedural Guidelines Workshop

• Hold workshop with decision-makers in concerned organizations (including data generators and users) to present harmonization and procedural guidelines

• Obtain comments/inputs from stakeholders

Step 4

Finalize Harmonization and Strengthening WQ Report

• Prepare a report of procedural guidelines for enhanced and standardized WQ monitoring activities– Including Action Plan & Sustainability Plan

• Revise and finalize report based on stakeholder inputs

Key Deliverables and Proposed Timelines*

Task Deliverable Due Date*

Report on evaluation of existing monitoring programs

Milestone Report # 4 May 2011

Proposal for harmonization of monitoring programs

Milestone Report # 4 May 2011

Draft procedural guidelines for harmonized WQ monitoring system

Milestone Report #4a October 2011

Lead workshop on harmonization and procedural guidelines

November 2011

Finalize harmonization and strengthening report

April 2012

Where Are We Now?

Current Activities

• Some WQ monitoring data gathered by PMO

– procured monitoring equipment (World Bank Mission keen to have equipment utilized)

– identified potential WQ monitoring sites – conducted WQ monitoring workshop for LGUs (September

2010)

• Developed initial matrix of WQ Monitoring Programs (gaps, analysis and recommendations)

• Gathering coordinates of existing WQ stations in project area for overall project WQ sampling stations map

Current Activities cont’d…

• Establish a central repository for all WQ documents

• Continue to meet with key WQ agency personnel – gather/review relevant documents to assessing WQ monitoring programs – identify satisfaction levels w/WQ programs

• Establish WQ monitoring workgroup – provide inputs on harmonization procedures– Institutional and procedural arrangements– Coordination efforts

• Coordinate closely with WQ Modeling Workgroup- Update them on tasks- Find out WQ needs for models

Next Steps• Continue to gather/review relevant documents for assessing current WQ

monitoring programs

• Conduct meetings with WQ monitoring workgroup to focus on:

– recommendations re: harmonization & sustainability procedures

– emails /conference calls (Skype?)

• Review water quality matrix /update gaps

• Develop overall WQ stations map for project area

• Update MTSP Technical Working Group re: task progress

• Deliverable Milestone May 2011* (Evaluation of Existing Monitoring Programs and proposal for harmonization of monitoring programs)

• Other Suggestions?

Questions for the Workgroup

Questions• What are your objectives of current WQ monitoring programs?

• What is your level of satisfaction for current WQ monitoring programs?

• What are the strengths and advantages of current WQ monitoring programs?

• What are the weaknesses and inconsistencies in WQ monitoring programs?

• What are the gaps in current WQ monitoring programs?

• What recommendations do you have to improve and harmonize existing WQ monitoring programs?

• Do you belong to the Integrated Environmental Management System Workgroup? Comments?

• Any other personnel/agencies should be part of workgroup?