Water Quality Monitoring and Action Plan for Areas of Pollution Concern in the Caspian Sea

As part of a consortium, COWI participates in efforts to save the Caspian Sea from pollution. The overall objective of the Caspian Environment Programme (CEP) is to improve the quality of marine and coastal environments of the Caspian Sea.

Unique ecology endangered by human activities
The degradation of the Caspian Sea environmental quality is related to a number of factors such as air, water and sediment quality and damage to ecosystems due to human activities. Extraction and transport of hydrocarbon deposits under the Caspian seabed carry a constant risk of accidental pollution. Because of the enormous gas and oil reserves, geopolitical and economic interests in the region are high.

Urban and industrial developments along the coastline and residuals of agricultural and industrial activities in the river basins draining to the Sea have led to the present situation.

Design of remedial actions
Industry is mainly centred on a number of currently recognized Areas of Pollution Concern. However, detailed knowledge of water quality and pollution issues are hindered by lack of appropriate and accurate data.

Current knowledge as to the actual causes for pollution is based on rough and incomplete estimates of pollution loads and environmental quality. Surveys and investigations to establish reliable data and knowledge of the processes are thus essential parts in the project.