The Focal Centres in each country contribute data from their national monitoring programmes. In order to ensure that results are consistent and comparable across the entire ICP Waters programme, inter-laboratory quality controls are necessary to identify and correct biases caused by e.g. differing lab methods and protocols. These intercomparisons take place annually and the results are presented in the ICP Waters annual reports. Further details are available in the ICP Waters manual.

Chemical intercomparison

Around 25-30 laboratories participate in the annual intercomparison of water chemistry data. The intercomparison is primarily aimed at laboratories that contribute to national monitoring programmes. Accordingly, participation is free of charge for laboratories within the UN-ECE and EECCA region which deliver data to national monitoring programmes in agreement with the LTRAP Convention. For the laboratories eligible to participate free of charge, the name of the monitoring programme to which the laboratory delivers data is requested as “additional notes” during registration. Laboratories that wish to participate in the intercomparison can indicate their interest at the website dedicated for the intercomparison: https://niva.quodata.de/. In the top right corner, you will see a link called “Apply for an account”. Here, you should fill out the name of the laboratory and the shipping address. After the account has been approved, you will be able to log in with your credentials.

Recent chemical intercomparison reports are shown in the table below. For more information, please contact Tina Bryntesen at the Programme Centre.

Biological intercalibration

Around 12 laboratories regularly participate in the biological intercalibration, which evaluates the quality of the taxonomic work conducted on the biological material delivered to the Programme Centre. Recent biological intercomparison reports are shown in the table below. For more information, please contact Gaute Velle at the Programme Sub-centre.