The network of state surface water monitoring points in the upper reaches of the Tisza River: conditions, changes, innovations

Abstract

An important component of environmental policy in Ukraine in the context of European integration is an establishment of a state water monitoring system taking into account international standards. The system of state water monitoring in Ukraine, after the approval in 2018 of the “Procedure for implementation of state water monitoring”, underwent significant changes regarding the methodology, the procedure for conducting observations, their frequency (monthly water sampling), the distribution of powers for monitoring subjects and groups of indicators. The studies that were carried out in the headwaters of the transboundary river Tisza shows that the number of water monitoring points in the basin of the river Tisza within the Rakhiv district of Transcarpathian region decreased by 2 times after 2018. At the same time, the program of state water monitoring has become more complex, because observations must be carried out according to biological, physicochemical, chemical, and hydromorphological indicators. Modernization of state water monitoring, taking into account the international experience of observations on transboundary rivers brings the water sector of Ukraine closer to international standards, which is an important aspect of integration into the European space.