62820 Project “Environmental Reform-2”, implemented by the World Bank and the Ministry of Nature, Environment and Tourism funded by the Trust Fund from the the Netherlands FINAL REPORT THE GUIDELINE FOR WATER QUALITY MONITORING ECOGRAPHY LLC ULAANBAATAR 2008 Within project consultancy service, Ecography LLC with help from foreign and national experts developed, edited and published a Guideline for analytical methods for water chemistry, which could be the handbook for taking out correct, true, reliable, accurate and precise information on water quality analyses made by the laboratories. This book is addressed to all chemical and analytical laboratory staffs who are carrying out water chemical analyses. To note, we also organised the training seminar on the guide book. Within the project proposal we had done the following activities: I. ANALYTICAL METHODS OF WATER CHEMISTRY, EQUIPMENT AND LABORATORIES In Mongolia, there are 56 public and 17 private laboratories of total 73 authorized laboratories in Mongolia, of which 32 laboratories are in the aimags (N. Batsukh et al., 2008). Represented 5 main and active water analysis laboratories, compared their water analytical methods and showed results by annex. Central Laboratory of Environment and Metrology (CLEM) was established in 1976 with aim to monitor surface water quality and wastewater control of Mongolia. Surface and wastewater laboratories are working in Ulaanbaatar city. Also, 11 branch environmental monitoring laboratories are working in center of Darhan-Uul, Orhon, Hovsgol, Selenge, Uvs, Hovd, Arhangai, Ovorhangai, Dornod aimags. In 2008 established new laboratories in Zavhan and Bayan hongor aimag. The CLEM has a monitoring network which consists of 120 sites of surface water quality monitoring, about 20 sites for wastewater control and 13 trans-boundary water quality sampling sites. In generally, sampling is performed once per month, based on river water regimen and 26 chemical components and pollutants are analyzed. Water Supply & Sewerage Authority “USUG” was established in 1959 and it has drinking water and waste water laboratories. Main objective is to examine quality of drinking water of centralized piping system of urban areas as well as wastewater treatment plants and analyzing 42 chemical components including heavy metals. In the drinking water laboratory, engineer and technicians are analyzing about 15 samples per day, 250 samples per month and 2800-3000 samples per year which are taken from in total 660-680 sampling sites (summarized). In the wastewater laboratory, engineer and technicians are analyzing 25 samples per day, 86 samples per month and 1032-1070 samples per year which are taken from in sum of 354 sampling sites of the Ulaanbaatar. In State Specialized Inspection Agency (SSIA), the water and food safety laboratories have been working since many years ago and 10 branch laboratories are working in different aimags. Main objective is to check water qualities of drinking and ground water and analyzing about 25 chemical parameters and 10-20 samples per month depending on inspection work schedule. Also they take control ingredients in bottled waters. Hydro-chemical center of Mongolia was established in 1966. Now, that center is named Water laboratory of Geo-ecological Institute and focusing on water resources of all kind of water and analyzing 21 chemicals, about 60 samples per month during the summer time from surface, ground and well water. Also they are analyzing data and writing result comments and conclusions for requested companies and citizens. The main aims of Water Research Center of University of Science and Technology (UST) is to provide statewide outreach and education focused on critical water issues affecting Mongolian water resources and to provide expertise on state and regional water management and policy. The graduate program in Water Resources Science also is administered by the Center. As the focal point for a broad range of research, education and information exchange related to water resources, the links faculty and student researchers with practicing professionals and citizens to address water resources issues. This facilitates effective delivery of research results to citizens and decision-makers and opens new avenues for multi-disciplinary and interagency partnerships. This laboratory analyzes 25 chemicals including heavy metals for focus on surface and ground water quality and purification of water and technology work for decrease of water hardness. About 20-30 samples will be analyzed per month if they have joint project. Table1. Analytical equipment of 5 laboratories Drinking water lab Geo-Ecology SSIA Water Center of Water supply& Laboratory CLEM Institute Laboratory of UST Sewerage authority “USUG” Genesys 20 UNICO UV- Spectronic GENESVS - 10UV Spectrophotometer T60 UV-VIS and CEL 890 2102 C 21D and DR -2000 (Hach) Spectr AA110, Model Buck Atomic absorption Shimadzu 210 Scientific AAS-6800 spectrophotometer AAS 680 AAS (1993) Lumex PA- Lumex PA- Mercury analyzer 915+Zeemen 915+Zeemen (2008) DIONEX 120 Chromatography (1998), PIA-1000 HPLC, In Mongolia, for water chemical analysis, laboratories are using spectrophotometers, liquid chromatography, AAS, mercury analyzer and some field testing equipment. Comparison results of methods. 4 Laboratories are using same methods (volumetric method) for major ions (Ca2+,Mg2+, Na+, HCO3-, CL-, SO42- ) except the Lab of Water center, UST. Water center of UST is using ion chromatograph for those ions, so a method they use is different. In the above 5 laboratories, for physical (pH, EC, Turbidity, Temperature, Dissolved Oxygen) measurements there is not any integrated or common standard, therefore they use operation manuals for the equipments they are using for measurement. For nitrogen analyses, they are using 3 different methods. It depends on equipments and types of analyzing water. In summary, 60 parameters have 35 standards (MNS, ISO, ). The rest 25 parameters especially spectra colorimetric methods haven’t a standard and laboratories are using own manuals with reagents. To get verified information: about if those laboratories have a laboratory certificate, what standards, methods and calibrations they use, and those methods are appropriate for today’s conditions or not; on internal and external QA/QC is very difficult. From 1973 to 2003 111 standards were approved. Of which 17 for water quality, 5 for drinking water, 3 for discharge of wastewater, 65 for water chemistry, 5 for hydrogeology, 6 for aquatic biology, and 3 others. You can search for this information from the following link. http://www.estandard.mn/index.php?module=standart&cmd=full_list&id=218 Currently, chemical analysis of water are not good because analytical laboratories haven’t have more sophisticated equipments for appropriate methods. The laboratories are analyzing just basic parameters such us dissolved inorganic ions, nutrients and a few metals, they need to analyze dissolved gases, organic components, petroleum oils, toxic elements, and chloro-organic compounds using liquid chromatographs, ICPOES and IR spectrophotometers and different types gas analyzers. References N. Batsukh, D. Dorjsuren, G. Batsaihan. The water resources, use and conservation in Mongolia: First national report 2008; 36 http://www.estandard.mn/index.php?module=standart&cmd=full_list&id=218 II. DEVELOPMENT OF “A GUIDELINE FOR CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF WATER” The earth currently is approaching the point where it’s physical and biological systems threatening the ability of nations to meet their populations’ basic needs for adequate food and clean water, energy supplies, safe shelter and a healthy environment. Achieving a sustainable world will require improved institutional arrangements-involving governments, the private sector, nonprofit organizations, and academia-at the national, regional, and global levels. In Mongolia with increasing demands of water by industrial, mining, and agricultural sectors development more fresh water is being already used, causing water shortage and water pollution. In other hand water degradation and water pollution cause widespread public health problems, limit economic and agricultural development and harm to ecosystems. In order to supply citizens with fresh water that meet hygiene requirements, to maintain ecological balance, and to keep ecosystems in its natural beauty it is necessary to monitor water quality. In other words it is necessary to conduct appropriate chemical analyses of water. Based on the chemical analyses’ methods and techniques tested in appropriate conditions of the analytical laboratories, corrected and refreshed with international standards and advanced methods used in other countries, the current integrated guidebook was developed. This guidebook is able to guide in analysing of natural fresh water as well as wastewater and obtaining of quantative information and results on water quality. This guidebook was developed also for the purpose of unification of analytical methods of water chemistry and provides experts with common methodologies. This guideline contains not only methods of chemical analyses, also it contains guidances on on-site water quality measurements, water sampling, pretreatment of highly polluted water samples and digestion of samples for further analysis, sample transportation and storage, operation manuals of different analytical equipments such as spectrophotometers, atomic absorbtion spectrophotometers, gas and liquid chromotographs, pH-meters and has addressed directly to laboratory staffs for their daily work. Having a purpose to develop common methodology on water quality monitoring, the guidebook has three chapters namely: Common aspects of water quality monitoring; Analytical methods of water; and Instrumental analysis of water. We tried to include all aspects of the monitoring such as preparation of analyst observer for on-site measurement, preparation of reagents, solutions and analytical apparatuses, analytical procedures and techniques, calculation and processing of results are discussed. In addition, these aspects are based mainly on 30-years experience and practical work of the CLEM. Furthermore, more than 60 methods enriched by modern wet chemical and instrumental analyses that determine 40hydro-chemical components and water pollutants. Appropriate annexes were attached. In general, 1st and 2nd chapters of the book contain all methods and techniques of water quality analyses including water sampling site selection, types and classification of water samples, sampling procedures, pretreatment of highly polluted sample matrixes and digestion of samples for further analysis, analytical procedures. Third chapter discusses information on high performance analytical equipments. The method to conduct QA/QC which is a basis to get true, precise and accurate information, a manual to process water quality data and assess them through the water pollution index (WPI), and a manual for preparation of “Yearly surface water quality report” were developed and annexed to the guideline book. Therefore this guideline could be used as a manual handbook not only in water quality monitoring, also in all training, industrial, research, analysing, and monitoring laboratories where water chemical analyses are conducted. Dr. Tamara Viktorovna Kodger, International Expert and Deputy Director of Liminology Research Institute, Siberian Branch of the Academy of Sciences, Russian Federation worked as a consultant of our project. All through implentation of the project she provided the project with methodical consultancy. The project team was provided with methodological techniques for chemical analyses used in the Hydrochemical laboratory, Liminology Research Institute, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. For instance, a spectrophotomet method with rodanide ammonium to determine iron content in water, photometric method for determination of extraction of phenols, the method for determination of petrolium compounds by column chromatography–infrared spectrophotometry, and gas chromatograph equipment method were provided by Dr.Kodger. The Guideline for chemical analyses of water was finally edited by Ms.T. Bulgan, Senior Officer, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Ministry of Nature, Environment and Travel (MNET). III. PUBLISHING OF THE GUIDELINE FOR WATER CHEMICAL ANALYSES A print layout of the final edited guideline book was prepared in the Admon publishing house. The hard back guideline book was printed in the Admon publishing house in 500 copies. Print layout work and printing activities required 2 weeks. IV. DEVELOPMENT OF A WATER QUALITY MONITORING PROGRAM Within the consultancy activities the “Water quality monitoring program” currently sticked in the environment was analyzed and a draft of a “Water quality monitoring program” was developed. Ms.T.Bulgan, Senior Officer, DENR, MNET has edited the draft program. It is required to reflect clearly observation objects where samples are taken, location of sampling points, timing and frequency of sampling, parameters to be determine to the monitoring program. This monitoring programme has the following 3 parts: 1. Surface water quality monitoring, 2. Water pollution source monitoring, 3. Underground water quality monitoring. The draft of the “Water quality monitoring program” is annexed to the report. 1. Surface water quality monitoring The water quality monitoring will be conducted at 171 points of 108 water bodies located in 19 aimags of Mongolia. Depending on size, economic significance, and pollution condition of the water bodies, 4-24 water samples will be taken per year; and 8 batches or more than 30 parameters will be determined including pH, EC, T0, suspended matter, DO, BOD, COD, PI, major ions, hardness, nutrients, heavy metals, pesticides, other organic substances, detergents, bacteriology and hydrobiology. 2. Water pollution source monitoring The water pollution monitoring source monitoring network will be consist of totally of 55 wastewater treatments plants and other direct effluent dischargers of Ulaanbaatar, aimag centers and other settlements. For sample taking 1-2 points are chosen, 4-24 samples are taken per year; and more than 20 chemical elements are determined including pH, EC, T0 , suspended matter, SO4, BOD, COD, NH4, NO2, NO3, P, detergents, heavy metals, toxic organic compounds, total microorganisms, coli titr, and coli index. 3. Surface water quality monitoring The water quality monitoring will be conducted at 489 wells, boreholes of 36 basin areas located in capital city, 21 aimags of Mongolia. In every year 4-12 water samples will be taken; and 7 batches or more than 30 parameters will be determined including pH, EC, T0, suspended matter, BOD, COD, PI, major ions, hardness, nutrients, heavy metals, pesticides, other organic substances, detergents, bacteriology. V. ORGANIZATION OF THE WORKSHOP ON THE GUIDELINE BOOK In connection with the publishing of “The guideline for chemical analyses of water”, the workshop for central and local water experts, laboratory engineers and technicians was organized on 23 December 2008 in the meeting room of the Legal national centre. The workshop was attended by 58 participants from Ulaanbaatar city and 21 aimags representing the State Specialized Inspection Agency (SSIA), the Capital Specialized Inspection Agency (CSIA), the Environmental Agencies (EA) and local Laboratories of Environmental Monitoring (LEM) of aimags, the Communal Service (CS), the Public Health Department (PHD), Water supply & Sewerage authority (USUG), Central Water Treatment Plant of Ulaanbaatar, CLEM, Hydrometeorological Institute (HMI), National University of Mongolia (NUM), University of Science and Technology (UST), Public Health Institute, Erdenet Mining Coorporation (EMC), Darkhan Nekhii CO.Ltd, Asia Foundation. During the workshop a guidebook “The Guideline for Chemical Analyses of Water”, package information on chemical methods of water, and related information were introduced to the participants. Also participants discussed, exchanged experiences, opinions and views with each others. The participants expressed and acknowledged “The Guideline for Water Chemical Analyses” as the good contented, clear to understand and for use, and sufficient enough guide book. The workshop agenda and List of participants are annexed to the report. Selected Bibliography: 1. Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater, 20th edition, 1998, American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association, Water Environment Federation, USA 2. . . , . . , . . , , , 1991 3. Chemistry for environmental engineering and science, 5th edition, Clair N.Sawyer, Perry L.McCarty, Gene F.Parkin,. 2003, McGRAW-HILL 4. , , , 1977 5. . . , . . , , , , 1985 6. Methods for chemical analysis of water and wastes, EPA-600/4-79-020, 1983, USAEPA, EMSL 7. Chemical pollution, Earthwatch, UNEP, Geneva, 1992 8. Mongolian Standards 9. International Standards 10. Others