National Water Council Research Articles

5. South America

This document references key aspects of selected regulation issued in Colombia during 2017 regarding protection of the environment. Therefore, the following document presents laws, decrees, and resolutions issued by the Colombian Congress and Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, from the approval of international treaties (the Paris Agreement) to the delimitation of new areas of páramos or wetlands of international importance. The Paris Agreement was approved by Law 1844 of 2017. Colombia subscribed to the Paris Agreement adopted at the twenty-first Conference of the Parties (COP-21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in December 2015. According to Colombia’s commitments derived from Paris Agreement, the country must meet an unconditional reduction target of 20 percent of its projected greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Decree 585 of 2017 establishes the National Water Council, which aims to coordinate and articulate the policies, plans, and programs of the public entities with the National Policy for the management of water resources.

A new mode of river basin management in South Korea

This study aims to explore a new mode of river basin management in South Korea by evaluating the current river basin management system and taking lessons from the British and French cases. This research is based on literature reviews and interviews in the United Kingdom, France and South Korea. The British case emphasizes the importance of regulatory framework and limitations of public participation. The French experience epitomizes the empowerment of river basin organizations. The new system in South Korea includes an enactment of water law, a set-up of the National Water Council, the River Basin Authorities and the River Basin Committees. The new model will not be established soon but needs to take a step-by-step approach to minimize social conflicts, accommodate diverse opinions in society and satisfy a variety of demands.

Incidences of gross morphological disorders in barbel (Barbus barbus) in three rivers in southern England

Incidences of gross morphological disorders in barbel (Barbus barbus) were investigated in three rivers in southern England. The water quality at the sites chosen for study on the Rivers Teme, Kennet and Lee were classified (according to the criteria of the National Water Council, 1978) as 1A, IB and 2, respectively. Generally, low levels of gross morphological abnormalities were seen in fish caught in the Teme and Kennet, although there were incidences of ocular disorders and extra barbules in 10 and 7%, respectively, of the Kennet fish. No tumours were found in barbel from the River Teme whereas there was a 2% incidence in the Kennet fish. In contrast barbel from the River Lee showed high levels of all the gross morphological disorders, especially haemorrhagic patches on the ventral surface (36%) and ocular disorders (72%). Tumours were seen in 25% of the barbel caught in the River Lee. The incidences of most of these gross morphological disorders did not appear to be age related. The possibility that these disorders were related to water quality is discussed.

Incidences of gross morphological disorders in barbel (Barbus barbus) in three rivers in southern England

Incidences of gross morphological disorders in barbel (Barbus barbus) were investigated in three rivers in southern England. The water quality at the sites chosen for study on the Rivers Teme, Kennet and Lee were classified (according to the criteria of the National Water Council, 1978) as 1A, IB and 2, respectively. Generally, low levels of gross morphological abnormalities were seen in fish caught in the Teme and Kennet, although there were incidences of ocular disorders and extra barbules in 10 and 7%, respectively, of the Kennet fish. No tumours were found in barbel from the River Teme whereas there was a 2% incidence in the Kennet fish. In contrast barbel from the River Lee showed high levels of all the gross morphological disorders, especially haemorrhagic patches on the ventral surface (36%) and ocular disorders (72%). Tumours were seen in 25% of the barbel caught in the River Lee. The incidences of most of these gross morphological disorders did not appear to be age related. The possibility that these disorders were related to water quality is discussed.

The biodegradation of morpholine in river water and activated sludge

The ability of microorganisms in a wide range of river waters and activated sludges to degrade the heterocyclic compound morpholine was determined by die-away tests and also by most probable number counts of the morpholine degrading microbes. All activated sludges were capable of morpholine degradation but the rate at which degradation occurred could not be related to the type of influent treated. Nearly all river waters contained morpholine degrading microbes which could degrade morpholine in die-away tests. Generally, biodegradation of morpholine occurred more rapidly the further down stream the sample was taken. Morpholine degradation rates could not, however, be related to the immediate severity of pollution (as measured by National Water Council (NWC) classification) at any sampling site. It may be that morpholine degradation rate is related to the cumulative effects of successive discharges of polluting effluents rather than the immediate effect of any particular discharge. Clearly, the capacity to degrade morpholine exists in rivers and activated sludges from sewage works; in practice, however, the rates of degradation observed are very low and it is unlikely that significant morpholine biodegradation generally occurs in these systems.

The Development of Water Quality Indices for Operational Management

The derivation, structure and application of a Water Quality Index (WQI) for the classification of surface water quality is discussed and the efficiency of the developed WQI is compared with the standard UK classification system of the National Water Council (NWC).The general WQI is developed through the objective and rigorous selection, transformation and weighting of determinands with rating curves based on legal standards and quality directives or guidelines. Three further indices intended for potable supplies and evaluation of toxicity are also discussed. The utility of the developed index for operational management is demonstrated by a comparative study with the NWC classification for a number of rivers in the Greater London region. The flexibility and advantages of a WQI approach in providing potential cost benefit/assessments for water quality on both temporal and spatial scales are also highlighted.

Biologically based water quality management

A method of reporting water quality and assessing compliance with targets, based on the Biological Monitoring Working Party score system, is proposed. The use of the technique enables biologists to present operations managers, and other professionals, with quality data from any freshwater habitat in the form of a simple index. Results obtained can be compared with predefined targets based on river use, National Water Council class, or both. It may also be used to assess the degree of pollution in specific cases. The method is currently being used throughout the Anglian Water Authority region for small stream monitoring and, in some Divisions, for the presentation of all biological results. The technique has the potential to fully integrate biological monitoring into an operational role.

The use of vibrating wire strain gauges for long term measurements on buried gas mains

A trial agreement concerned with the effect of adjacent deep excavations on the risk of failure of buried cast iron gas and water mains was implemented by British Gas and National Water Council on 1 January 1983. To complement this agreement, field experiments are being carried out at selected sites throughout the UK. The British Gas Engineering Research Station (ERS) is working in cooperation with the Water Research Centre to install instrumentation to measure pipe strains, joint movement, ground temperature and ground movement.Field measurements impose environmental and operating conditions of much greater severity than those encountered in a laboratory. This note outlines the site techniques developed by ERS which allow reasonably quick and reliable installation of equipment capable of withstanding the adverse conditions typical of backfilled trenches. The principle of operation of the VW gauge, its method of fixing, the factors affecting its output and the interpretation of the readings themselves are described.

The application of reliability and availability analysis techniques in the waste water treatment industry

Reliability studies in waste water treatment plants are intended to improve plant availability, thereby reducing operating costs, improving effluent quality control and conserving energy. This paper describes a data collection and availability modelling study carried out by the Systems Reliability Service of the UKAEA on behalf of the Department of Industry and the National Water Council. It illustrates the application of fault tree logic and mathematical modelling techniques. The study relates to primary sedimentation systems. It indicates how, by the application of reliability analysis techniques, more efficient and lower cost waste water processing systems can be gained.

Agricultural Utilisation of Sewage Sludge in the U.K.

The paper describes the overall problems facing the UK water industry in the disposal of sewage sludge and gives relevant statistics. The greatest proportion of sludge (about 45%) is used in agriculture and the paper continues by describing national policies and practices which, if followed, will ensure that a valuable resource is recycled safely without damage to the environment or public health. Guidelines issued by the Department of the Environment (National Water Council Committee) are reviewed and summarised. Operational aspects of the services provided to agriculture by the water industry are also discussed.

Face to Face

Peter F. Stott, Director, General of the National Water Council of Great Britain, and David B. Preston, AWWA Executive Director, discuss the Water Act of 1973 and its effects on the water industry in England and Wales. Reorganization of over 1400 local water authorities into 10 autonomous regional authorities, the responsibilities and makeup of the National Water Council, the role of investor‐owned utilities, and political considerations of the reorganization are covered.

Удосконалення організаційного забезпечення державного управління водними ресурсами в Україні на національному рівні

У статті виявлено теоретико-методологічні положення державного управління водними ресурсами шляхом формулювання узагальненої системи та системної моделі механізму державного управління водними ресурсами. Враховуючи класичні визначення державного управління та наявні підходи до управління природокористуванням, запропоновано трактування поняття «державного управління водними ресурсами». Використовуючи системний підхід наведено узагальнену систему державного управління водними ресурсами та розглянуто її основні складові: керуюча підсистема, керована підсистема, зворотний зв’язок, керуючий вплив. Враховуючи досвід іноземних країн розроблено схему реорганізації управління водними ресурсами в Україні на національному рівні та запропоновано склад Національної водної ради. На оcнові «водоресурсного» підходу, коли зміст завдань випливає із поводження з водами як з природним ресурсом, забезпечення ними в цілому галузей економіки і населення, а не з водою як товаром при безпосередньому її використанні, розроблено схему передачі повноважень та вдосконалення організаційної структури державного управління в водній сфері.