It is NIVA's laboratory that performs this analysis, with Håvard Hovind as the main responsible. Each year, NIVA's laboratory perform several such intercomparison exercises. One of these is international, and includes samples for acid rain analyses. This is, however, done on water that has rather lower conductivity than most waters on the Balkan.

Another test is done on nutrients, in which 60-70 Norwegian laboratories participate.

It could also be a possibility to use water samples from the Balkan area for the intercomparison analysis.

Three sets of parameters may be included in the intercomparison:

1. one sample set for the major ions, that is pH, conductivity, alkalinity, chloride, sulfate, nitrate + nitrite, calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium
2. the second set is used for total organic carbon or chemical oxygen demand (permanganate oxidation), and the nutrients, phosphate, total phosphorous, nitrate + nitrite, ammonium and total nitrogen
3. the third set is for the determination of metals: Al, Fe, Mn, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn.

 Do you wish to participate?

Since we believe that reliable water quality data is one of the most important tools for water managers, the DRIMON Partners would like to repeat the intercomparison exercise held in 2007.

In order to do so, we need interested (existing) laboratories in the Balkan region, as well as funding.

Provided sufficient interested laboratories, we will proceed to seek funding. Funding will be used for travel costs (including hotel) of participants for the meeting where we will discuss the results of the exercise. Participation in the test would require that the laboratories perform the analyses at their own cost.

Contact information:

For more detailed information on the test: mailHovind

For registration of interest: mailSkarbøvik