International River Basin Management

The political difficulties in reaching agreement on water quality management between the very different interests of upstream and downstream riparian countries are stressed. The author nevertheless considers it inevitable that there will be a trend towards such agreements, albeit gradually and not necessarily in a systematic manner. Problems in relation to transboundary water quality are multiplying as pressures on limited water resources increase. Micro-pollutants in water, sediments and biota are of particular significance. Sporadic pollution causes special difficulties. There are growing sensitivities about developments located close to frontiers which pose potential threats to water quality in the downstream country. Efforts to secure rational systems for surveillance and control of transboundary water pollution are summarized and general principles proposed which could be utilized in a step by step approach towards comprehensive water quality management within international river basins.