Rapid water quality assessment according to the Water
Protection Ordinance (appendix 2)
The "Physical Appearance" module is an instrument
for the assessment of the condition of a watercourse as it appears to
the naked eye, in accordance with the water quality requirements specified
in the Water Protection Ordinance of 28 October 1998.
According to Appendix 2 of the Ordinance, no unnatural scum,
sludge or odour should develop in a watercourse, nor should there be any
turbidity, discoloration or colmation (decreased river bed permeability
due to excessive sedimentation). Likewise, watercourses should contain
neither heterotrophic organisms (bacterial or fungal growths) visible
to the naked eye nor iron sulphide, there should be no unnatural proliferation
of algae or aquatic plants, and waters should be free of solid wastes.These
criteria are examined using a simple procedure in order to identify waterbodies
that are in a poor condition and assess the need for remedial measures.
Solid waste from municipal
drainage systems
Photo: GBL, Canton BE
Proliferating algal growth
on river bed
Photo: EAWAG
Severe foaming Photo: GBL, Canton BE
Proliferating vegetation (Water crowfoot,
Ranunculus fluitans, River Glatt, Canton ZH)Photo:
AWEL, Canton ZH
Download "Physical Appearance"
method
(in German or French, only)
