Project 3.3: The quality of the Odra River according to international classification of water quality. Project report for phase I and programme of work for phase II

The chemical and biological monitoring data of water from the rivers Ostravic, lower reaches of Odra and Olse have been used in comparing water systems of the Czech Republic, Norway, USA, Canada and the European Community. Only the Czech and Norwegian systems have different classes of water quality. The classification of suitability of the surface water for specific uses in an important part of the Norwegian system which is not found in the other systems. The different systems give different results demonstrating that the systems are developed from different standpoints, and designed to mmet national requirements. However, in some cases adjustment in the criteria/class values of certain parameters should be considered. Macroinvertebrates are used in the biological monitoring of rivers in the Czech Republic. The commonly used Saprobic Index are compared with the British BMWP index. Proposals on future work are presented.