About

Programme centre

The ICP Waters Progamme Centre is located at the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) in Oslo, Norway. ICP Waters is chaired by Heleen de Wit (NIVA) and Head of program centre is Kari Austnes (NIVA). A sub-centre of ICP Waters with special responsibility for biological data and intercalibration is located at NORCE Norwegian Research Centre.

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Role Organisation Name
Chair NIVAHeleen de Wit
Head of Programme Centre NIVAKari Austnes
Database management and website NIVAJames Sample
Programme support NIVAIngvild Skumlien Furuseth
Chemical intercalibration NIVATina Bryntesen
Biological intercalibration and invertebrates Univ. of Bergen, NORCEGaute Velle
ICP Waters station IT03, Lake Paione Inferiore, Bognanco Valley, Piedmont Region of Italy. Courtesy of Dr. Michela Rogora, CNR Water Research Institute.

Focal centres

National Focal Centres in around 20 countries contribute data & scientific inputs and meet annually at the Task Force meetings.

Country Contact Organisation Address
Armenia Alina ZurnachyanHydrometeorology and Monitoring Center (HMC), Ministry of Environment.Yerevan, Armenia
Austria Ruben SommarugaDepartement of Ecology, University of InnsbruckInnsbruck, Austria
Belarus Anatoly SrybnyBerezinsky Biosphere ReserveVitebsk Region, Belarus
Canada Daniel HouleEnvironment CanadaMontréal, Canada
Czech Republic Jakub HruškaCzech Geological SurveyPrague, Czech Republic
Estonia Reet TalkopAnalysis and Planning Department, Ministry of EnvironmentTallinn, Estonia
Finland Jussi VuorenmaaFinnish Environment InstituteHelsinki, Finland
Georgia Marine ArabidzeDepartment of Environmental Pollution Monitoring, National Environment AgencyTbilisi, Georgia
Germany Jens ArleGerman Environment AgencyDessau, Germany
Ireland Hugh FeeleyIreland's Environmental Protection AgencyWexford, Ireland
Italy Michela RogoraCNR Water Research Institute (IRSA)Verbania Pallanza, Italy
Latvia Iveta IndriksoneLatvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology AgencyRiga, Latvia
Norway Heleen de WitNorwegian Institute for Water ResearchOslo, Norway
Poland Rafał Piotr UlańczykInstitute for Ecology of Industrial AreasKatowice, Poland
Russia Tatyana MoiseenkoInstitute of Water Problems RASMoscow, Russia
Spain Manuel Toro VelascoCEDEX (Centro de Estudios y Experimentación de Obras Públicas)Madrid, Spain
Sweden Jens FölsterSwedish Universty of Agricultural SciencesUppsala, Sweden
Switzerland Sandra SteingruberSezione protezione aria, acqua e suoloBellinzona, Switzerland
United Kingdom Don MonteithCentre for Ecology & HydrologyLancaster, United Kingdom
United States John L. StoddardU.S. Environmental Protection AgencyOregon, USA

Aims and objectives

The main aim of the ICP Waters Programme is to assess, on a regional basis, the degree and geographical extent of the impact of atmospheric pollution, in particular acidification, on surface waters. Detailed aims and objectives were discussed and decided at the 15th Task Force Meeting in Italy (1999). The mandate was last revised in 2019 and is given in short below:

  • Assess, on a regional basis, the degree and geographical extent of the impact of atmospheric pollution on surface waters.
  • Plan and conduct the technical work to assess, using monitoring data and other sources of scientific evidence:
    • The degree and geographic extent of the impact of atmospheric pollution, in particular acidification, on surface water chemistry and biology – including biodiversity, and assess temporal trends and spatial patterns
    • Spatial patterns and temporal trends of heavy metals, most importantly mercury, and impact of persistent organic pollutants in aquatic ecosystems, related to atmospheric pollution
    • The impact of confounding factors relating to air pollution impacts on surface waters such as climate, climate change and land-use
  • Promote international harmonization of monitoring practices by:
    • Maintaining and updating a manual for methods and operation
    • Conducting an annual chemical intercomparison and an annual biological intercalibration
    • Compiling a centralized database with data quality control and assessment capabilities
  • Organize the annual Task Force meeting.
  • Collaborate with relevant partners inside and outside the Convention.
  • Carry out other tasks assigned by the Working Group on Effects and the Executive Body and report on activities and deliverables to the Working Group on Effects.

Further details are provided in the ICP Waters manual.

ICP Waters station DE12, at Harz, Lange Bramke, in Germany. Courtesy of Dr. Henning Meesenburg, Nordwestdeutsche Forstliche Versuchsanstalt, Germany.
ICP Waters station DE12, at Harz, Lange Bramke, in Germany. Courtesy of Dr. Henning Meesenburg, Nordwestdeutsche Forstliche Versuchsanstalt, Germany.