This guidebook, now thoroughly updated and revised in its second edition, gives comprehensive advice on the designing and setting up of monitoring programmes for the purpose of providing valid data for water quality assessments in all types of freshwater bodies. It is clearly and concisely written in order to provide the essential information for all agencies and individuals responsible for the water quality.
The first symposium on sediment/freshwater interactions was held in Amsterdam, in 1976, and the second was held at Kingston, Ontario, Canada, in 1981. The third symposium was held at the University of Geneva, in 1984, and also included a num ber of contributions dealing with sediment/saltwater interactions. It is expected that future symposia of this series will retain this approach, and that the revised sympo sium title will remain the same for later proceedings of these meetings. Because of the large number of submissions in 1984, many were given as poster presentations. Extended abstracts of all contributions to the Geneva symposium appear in Interactions Between Sediments and Ubter (C. E. P. Consultants Ltd. , 26 Albany St. , Edinburgh, EHI 3QH, U. K. , 1984). Full-length papers appear only in the proceedings. The format of the third symposium was similar to its predecessors. The location provided a particularly good opportunity for attendance by European scientists, who represented about 81% of the participants. About 16% came from North America and 3% were from Southeast Asia and Australia. It is unfortunate that there were no contributors from either Africa or South America, or other parts of Asia. In all, 16 countries were represented at this symposium. In a continuing attempt to provide equal opportunities for attendance by scientists from other parts of the world, it is planned to hold the next symposium in Australia in 1987. Further information about the symposia series can be obtained from Dr. E. D.
Introduction The Fourth Symposium on Sediment/Water Interactions was held in Melbourne, Australia, February 16-20th, 1987. The previous three symposia were held in Amsterdam, Kingston (Ontario), and Geneva, In keeping with the approach established in Geneva, contributions addressed sediment/water interactions related to both fresh and salt water conditions. More than 160 papers were given in Melbourne, including more than 20 poster presentations, and collected Abstracts are available from Dr. B. T. Hart. A total of 51 papers, subsequently, have been published as proceedings of the Melbourne Symposium; 45 of these appear in this issue of Hydrobiologia. A further six appeared earlier as a selection of papers in J. Environ. Geol. and Water Science (1988, issue # 1); these six papers appear in abstract form, only, in the present pUblication. Although concerned with the global environment, the International Association for Sediment Water Science attempts to ensure that there is a genuine opportunity for participants to focus on regional issues throughout the world and, in particular, to provide a local forum for their presentation. The Melbourne meeting was particularly successful in achieving this objective, and Australasia was well represented by about 36 percent of the contributors. About 27 percent were from Europe, 17 percent from North America, 7 percent from China and Japan, 7 percent from Southeast Asia and India, and about 6 percent came from other areas. In all, 25 countries were represented.
This document is intended to provide an overview of the major components of surface and ground water quality and how these relate to ecosystem and human health. Local, regional and global assessments of water quality monitoring data are used to illustrate key features of aquatic environments, and to demonstrate how human activities on the landscape can influence water quality in both positive and negative ways. Clear and concise background knowledge on water quality can serve to support other water assessments.
