Water quality monitoring reveals the health of rivers, lakes, coasts and groundwater. It comprises repeated (with defined parameters and frequency) analysis of water quality, through sampling at field sites, analysis in the laboratory, and data interpretation. The EU Water Framework Directive relies firstly on ecological monitoring investigating the actual status of indicator species in each local water body (biological and hydromorphological monitoring). The results of water monitoring are also incorporated into River Basin Management Plans to inform on the current status of all surface and groundwater (intact or deteriorated) and on the effect of measures implemented for its rehabilitation.
In Ukraine, due to the war situation, there is very little water monitoring and it is uncertain how many monitoring sites are accessible or even still exist. Based on information from summer 2022, the surface water laboratory equipped under EUWI+ still exists but its budget and staff situation was vague. The EU4Environment Water and Data programme plans to support Ukraine with both hydro-biological and investigative monitoring , possibly to assess the impacts of war on Dnipro basin surface and groundwaters. Any field surveys and trainings must observe the safety of persons involved. Support for the accreditation of the laboratory in Vyshgorod is planned, too.
Additional trainings and surveys are planned after the military aggression.
