Page 44 - Freshwater-Biology-and-Ecology-Handbook

CHAPTER 1 3 3

EUROPEAN AND INTERNATIONAL

STANDARDS FOR BIOLOGICAL

MONITORING

The importance of consistent monitoring methods international standards which will ensure the provision of data
and quality assurance was recognised by the EU in the of an equivalent scientific quality and comparability.
implementation of the WFD. An amending Directive,
(15)
2014/101/EU of 30 October 2014 was introduced to In this amended Directive, many of the standards relevant to
consolidate and enforce monitoring standards. Annex 1.3.6 the WFD, particularly for biological sampling and analysis,
from the amending Directive states: are not mandatory but are for guidance. This is usually
mentioned in its title but is not always clear in the text other
Annex 1.3.6. Standards for monitoring of quality elements than by reading the introductory sections of the standard
Methods used for the monitoring of type parameters shall very carefully. Table 1.5 provides an overview of current
conform to the international standards listed below in so far standards.
as they cover monitoring, or to such other national or

Table 1.5
List of standards relevant to biological and hydromorphological monitoring of surface freshwaters for WFD (correct to July
2018). This list does not include methods for physico-chemical, hydrological, bacteriological, marine or groundwater assessments.

Listed in
Quality
element Number Title Directive
2014/101/EU
Water quality – Guidance on quantitative and qualitative
EN 16698:2015 Yes
sampling of phytoplankton from inland waters
Water quality – Guidance on the estimation of
EN 16695:2015
phytoplankton biovolume
Phytoplankton Water quality – Guidance standard on the enumeration
EN 15204:2006 of phytoplankton using inverted microscopy (Utermöhl Yes
technique)
Water quality – Measurement of biochemical
ISO 10260:1992 parameters – Spectrometric determination of the Yes
chlorophyll-a concentration
Water quality – Guidance standard for the surveying of
EN 15460:2007 Yes
macrophytes in lakes
Water quality – Guidance for the surveying of aquatic
EN 14184:2014 Yes
macrophytes in running waters
Water quality – Guidance standard for the surveying,
Macrophytes EN 15708:2009 sampling, and laboratory analysis of phytobenthos in Yes
and shallow running water
phytobenthos
Water quality – Guidance for the routine sampling and
EN 13946:2014 Yes
preparation of benthic diatoms from rivers and lakes
Water quality – Guidance for the identification and
EN 14407:2014 enumeration of benthic diatom samples from rivers and Yes
lakes

44 | Freshwater Biology and Ecology Handbook
–