CENS role: Project co-coordinator
Executor department: EGD CENS
Partner: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, USA, Belgium, Norway
Duration (Years): 2002 - 2008
Funding Source: NATO “Science for Peace”/OSCE

The project’s overall objective was to establish a social and technical infrastructure for international, cooperative, transboundary river water quality and quantity monitoring, data sharing, and watershed management among the Republics of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. Its specific objectives were to increase technical capabilities (analytical chemistry and its application to water resources sampling and monitoring, database management, and communications) among the partner countries; cooperatively establish standardized common sampling, analytical, and data management techniques for all partner countries, and implement 155 standards for good laboratory practice (GLP), quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC); establish database management, GIS, and model-sharing systems accessible to all partners via the www; establish a social framework (i.e., annual international meetings) for integrated water resources management; and involve stakeholders. Monthly monitoring was conducted for water quantity (discharge) and water quality parameters at 10 locations in each country. Water quality monitoring consists of the usual basic parameters plus heavy metals, radionuclides, and POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants).