Training Manual on Water Pollution Management: an IWRM approach to improving water quality

1. Training Manual on Water Pollution Management: an IWRM approach to improving water quality Callist Tindimugaya and Gareth James Lloyd

2. Objectives of the manual • The training manual aims to build the capacity of water managers in particular, but also that of trainers, academics, government officials in relevant sectors, and representatives of non-governmental and administrative bodies that have a stake in development planning and can influence policy.

3. Aims of the training course The training course based on this material aims to enable participants to: • Identify different actors and drivers of water pollution; • Identify relationships among water pollution, ecosystem health and human well-being; • Examine existing policies and the legislative and institutional structures related to water pollution prevention and quality management; • Apply water quality guidelines and standards; and • Facilitate strategic planning and financing for water pollution prevention and quality management.

4. Manual development team • Mr. Gareth James Lloyd (UNEP-DHI) • Mr. Jan Hassing (UNEP-DHI) • Prof. Mohammed Mowjood (Cap-Net Lanka) • Dr. Callist Tindimugaya (Nile IWRM Net) • Dr Paul Taylor (Former Capnet Director) • Other key contributors: Capnet Secretariat Staff and Manual publication team

5. Manual development process • Various working sessions by manual development team • Development of materials for different modules by individual task team members • 2 test training courses held in Kenya (jointly by Nile IWRM Net and WaterCap) • Training of trainers course held in Sri Lanka (hosted by Cap-Net Lanka) • Feedback by training participants and other experts

6. Overview of the manual • Water pollution is an issue of global concern, as many countries are experiencing water quality deterioration alongside growing water demand. • Pollution leads to economic water scarcity, as available water needs purification and infrastructure investments that are a burden to developing countries. • The training manual highlights the key water pollution issues and stakeholders, pollution prevention and control measures, integrated water resources management principles that can help mitigate pollution’s impact on human health and the environment, and policy instruments that enable coordinated action. • A considerable effort must be made at all stakeholder levels and sectors to make progress on preventing pollution and restoring ecological balance.

7. Overview of the manual • Achieving pollution management objectives requires relevant national policies and legislation, supported by comprehensive water quality monitoring and regulation enforcement. • Considering that point source pollution instances are more visible than non-point source pollution, actual pollution levels remain underreported, resulting in the lack of relevant remedies. • Addressing water pollution from an interdisciplinary perspective would yield more integrated solutions and provide a roadmap for collaborative action. • Water pollution management requires the participation of all stakeholders —polluters, victims, water managers and policymakers— under an integrated water resources management (IWRM) approach.

8. The Training Course Manual • The training course consists of 11 modules. • Content is organized within three sections: water pollution issues, impacts and integrated management; the enabling environment, and water pollution management interventions. • Manual considers the interlinkages among different sectors and issues related to water pollution and provides guidance on identifying interdisciplinary challenges, bringing them into policy discourse, and planning for pollution prevention and management.

9. The Manual Section 1:Water pollution issues, impacts and integrated management • Module 1 (Scope, drivers and impacts) - aims to ensure practitioner understanding of the global scale and nature of water pollution. • Module 2 (Role of ecosystem services) -provides a comprehensive overview of the interrelationships among water, ecosystems and human well-being. • Module 3 (Pollution management as part of integrated water resources management) -presents pollution control as an essential part of IWRM, emphasizing the need for all stakeholders’ participation. Section 2: Enabling environment • Module 4 (Policy, legislative and institutional framework) - elaborates the key international principles and guidelines for controlling water pollution, details policies and legislative arrangements, and defines an appropriate institutional and management framework.

10. The Manual • Module 5 (Strategic framework for water pollution management) - presents a strategic framework for water pollution control and management, including guiding principles, commonly used instruments, and developing a pollution prevention and management action plan. Section 3: Water pollution management interventions • Module 6 (Water quality management: guidelines, objectives and standards) - focuses on water quality management, providing an overview of quality standards, quality assessment, risk classification and identification. • Module 7 (Financing pollution management) - builds understanding of economic and financial instruments for addressing water quality and pollution. • Module 8(Working with stakeholders) - discusses stakeholder engagement to enhancing participation and ensuring efficient coordination in water pollution prevention.

11. The Manual • Module 9(Water pollution licensing)– discusses water pollution licensing as a means of controlling wastewater discharge and ensuring water resources meet quality standards. • Module 10 (Water quality monitoring systems) -emphasizes the importance of monitoring for water quality. It recognizes that setting up monitoring networks is important for upholding discharge regulations, conducting water quality tests and gathering data and information to measure the effectiveness of interventions and inform future decisions. • Module 11 (Information management)- addresses information management for catchments or specific concerned areas, including the methods for collecting, storing and managing information, and the types of information and data most useful for planning and monitoring.