WEPA Outlook on Water Environmental Management in Asia 2012

NepalState of water environmentThe water quality in the country is good except in someurban areas where water pollution is serious.Water quality in Kathmandu is serious due to untreateddomestic and industrial wastewater, dumping of wasteand unplanned development activities.Water pollution caused by pesticides and fertilisers areconcerns.Recent developments in water environmentalmanagementActs on environmental protection were established in1997. Regarding water resources management, theNational Water Policy and Water Resource Law wereestablished in 2002 and 2004 respectively.In 2000s, a series of water related standards wereestablished, including standards for ecosystemconservation in 2008.The Bagmati Action Plan was approved in 2009 in whichwater pollution in the Bagmati River is addressed.Current and future challengesImplementation and enforcement after establishment of apartial framework for environmental and water resourcemanagement.Detailed rules and a system to manage water pollution areabsent in the promotion of water pollution control.Monitoring and data sharing mechanisms need to beimproved, and the institutional arrangements, technicalcapacity and financial basis therefore should be addressed.PhilippinesState of water environmentSurface water quality deterioration needs to beaddressed especially in the urban areas, although animprovement trend has been observed based on theresult of water quality monitoring conducted underthe Sagip llong (Save the River) Program.In general, the quality of groundwater and marineand coastal waters is good.Recent developments in water environmentalmanagementA Clean Water Act was established in 2004. Underthe act, more proactive measures are planned.Water quality management in water qualitymanagement area is a key feature under the CleanWater Act. An effluent licence system as well ascharging system will also be introduced under theact.Effluent standards by type of industry are currentlyawaiting approval.Current and future challengesInfrastructure development and human capacitydevelopment to ensure implementation of waterquality monitoring. A data sharing mechanism isalso an important element to be addressed.Coordination with other sectors such as land useand waste management.Strengthening non-point sources, and coastal waterand groundwater quality improvements.Consideration of inclusion of water quality aspectsin basin level water management and database.Sri LankaState of water environmentWater quality information data is limited, but availablesources shows there is no serious water pollution.Concerns over water quality deterioration due tountreated/inadequately treated domestic and industrialwastewater exist.Organic pollution has been identified in some coastalwaters. Salinization is major issue for groundwaterquality, as is pathogen pollution caused by impropersanitation.Recent developments in water environmentalmanagementA framework on environmental management hasbeen developed since the 1980s.A revision of effluent standards and interim ambientwater quality standards are awaiting approval.The national environmental policy 2010-15 wasdeveloped, which includes certain pollution controlrelated measures.Current and future challengesCoordination of relevant agencies to take morecomprehensive measures.Setting national ambient water quality standards,which are now awaiting approval; this should befollowed by the classification of surface water bodies.A lack of baseline data, and the need for ambientwater quality monitoring to address the problem. Themeans the sharing of monitoring data across differentorganizations also needs addressing.Awareness-raising of conservation of the waterenvironment. Awareness-raising in the industrialsector is necessary to promote enforcement.26