standards 1 stefanie keller, seecon international

Standards

Standards

1

Stefanie Keller, seecon international

Standards

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Standards


Contents

1. Concept

2. How it can optimize SSWM

3. Design Principles

4. Things to consider before Applying Standards

5. Applicability

6. Advantages and Disadvantages

7. References

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Standards


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Where do Standards belong to?

Standards are command and control tools that belong to the software implementation tools in Sustainable Sanitation and Water Management

1.Concept

Standards


…are direct regulations of requirements, bans and rules. With command and control tools, you only change the behaviour of people because they want to avoid penalties for non-compliance.

1. Concept

Tools:• Prohibitions• Restrictions• Permits• Standards• Etc.

Source: http://themoderatevoice.com/wordpress-engine/files/2008_july/Stop_Sign.jpg [Accessed: 23.03.2010]

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Command and Control Tools…

Standards


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Standards

A standard is an established norm or requirement. It is usually a formal document that establishes uniform criteria, methods, processes and practices.

Water standards are normally imposed to unify quality, discharge or environment criteria, related to polluters.

1. Concept

Source: http://www.aquaattackdrilling.com.au/images/running_water.jpg [Accessed: 08.06.2010]

Standards


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Types of Standards

1. Concept

• Environmental quality standards:

Define the allowable average concentrations over a specific time period for a given pollutant in a particular region

• Product standards:

Define the quality of a product; the admissible concentration of certain substances that has to be met by any product produced and/or sold on the market

• Emission standards:

Determine the maximum allowable rate of pollution output for each generic type of pollutant to protect the designated uses

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Example: Water Quality Standards

• Water quality is the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water.

• It is most frequently used with reference to a set of standards against which compliance can be assessed.

• Standards are related to drinking water, safety of human contact and for health of ecosystems.

1. Concept

Source: http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/criteria/drinking/dwstandards.html [Accessed: 08.06.2010]

An understanding of the various factors influencing water quality is thus very important as human health is largely dependant on the quality of water.

Standards


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• Standards contribute to easier management, better use and increased longevity of the SSWM system.

• You can use standards to be very clear about what you need to achieve.

• They look at what needs to be done, but they do not say how to

do it.

• Check and compare the water quality to the WHO standards.

Untreated wastewater in Guinea. Source: http://www.worstpolluted.org/files/FileUpload/pics/2008-Individual-Page-Images/sewage,%20surface%20water_Guinea.JPG [Accessed: 24.09.2010]

Standards


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Swiss chemical industry in 1900: No environmental quality standards, high degree of pollution. Source: http://www.brainworker.ch/Martin-Herzog/Basel/geschichte/basler_chemie.htm [Accessed: 08.06.2010]

• A permit is the act of giving a formal, usually written, authorization. (e.g. a permit to operate a wastewater treatment plant)

• Standards are the base to create permits, because they set the requirements of an environmental regulation.

• Permits contribute to SSWM local level by setting allowable pollutant levels (standards) for individual water bodies, such as rivers, lakes, streams and wetlands.

Standards as a base for Permits

Standards


• Check if there are national guidelines which facilitate a general understanding of quality standards and how to apply them, together with international WHO guidelines.

• The numerical values assigned to the standards have to be established based on scientific foundation and ensure appropriate levels of use safety.

• It is essential that standards are established in a flexible and decentralized form, to be able to serve local specificities.

• Surveillance and quality control are necessary, but are best performed by separate and independent entities because of the conflict of interest that arises when the two are combined.

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Standards


• Standards may be developed by individual corporations, regulatory bodies or by groups such as trade unions or trade associations.

• Standards might become mandatory if adopted by the authorities.

• A motivation to implement a water quality management system is the possibility to choose, forms of harmonious companionship between the two main target groups: the ones polluting the water bodies and water users.

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Main Implementation Actors and Target Groups

Industries are heavy water body polluters.Source: http://www.grida.no/_res/site/file/publications/sickwater/SickWater_screen.pdf [Accessed: 24.09.2010]

Standards


4. Things to consider before Applying Standards

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Source: http://www.grand-rapids.mi.us/index.pl?page_id=1511 [Accessed: 08.06.2010]

To establish licences to discharge environmentally incompatible substances at the regional level, the following parameters should be stipulated:

• Maximum concentration of the substance permissible in the discharge

• Average concentration permissible in the discharge during a period

• Maximum quantity permissible discharge during a period

• Internal control measures

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5. Applicability

Source: http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/thisweekineducation/2007/06/national_yawn_standards_again.html [Accessed: 08.06.2010]

• The development of standards is a complex process. It is not necessary to develop our own standards, but to choose the right standards from the right sources and adapt them to each local situation.

• All costs should be taken into account explicitly in setting standards, if not standards will louse in efficiency

• Standards should be used in combination with other measures.

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6. Advantages and disadvantages

Disadvantages:• Standards can be too

ambitious, this arises costs but not quality

• Developing standards is complex scientifically and legally

• If there is not sufficient money, often control is simply neglected

• If low levels of control or weaknesses of State, economic instruments should be applied complementary

Advantages:• Economic equity, same

standards of treatment for all polluters

• No extensive set of data on the based water system, which may reduce the costs of monitoring and studies

• It complements with other tools, for example economic instruments

• It can increase efficiency and lower costs

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7. References

MILIJOSTYRELSEN (2000): Guidelines to Statutory Order on the Licensing of Waste Water Discharges. Environmental Guidelines. Copenhagen: Miljo-og Energiministeriet. URL: http://www2.mst.dk/udgiv/publications/2000/87-7944-264-1/pdf/87-7944-266-8.pdf [Accessed: 27.04.2010]

INDIA WATERPORTAL (2010): Water Quality Channel. Pune: India Water Portal URL: http://www.indiawaterportal.org/channels/water-quality [Accessed: 8.04.2010]

PORTO, M.; LOBATO, F. (2004): Mechanisms of Water Management: Command & Control and Social Mechanisms (Part 1 of 2). In: REGA (Revista de Gestão de Água da América Latina) 1 (2), 113-129.

Standards 17

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standards 1 stefanie keller, seecon international

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