Monitoring water quality
EAD implements executive regulation to improve marine water quality
ABU DHABI, July 5, 2021
The Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) has begun implementing an executive regulation regarding marine water quality in Abu Dhabi.
The regulation, which was recently approved by the Agency’s Board of Directors, aims to preserve the quality of ambient marine water and sediments by regulating liquid discharges from land-based activities to the marine environment.
In addition, the Agency aims to combat the deterioration of ambient marine water and sediments quality by applying measures to environmental impact assessment studies and environmental licensing applications.
The regulation strengthens the enforcement measures taken by the Agency, including the environmental assessment, licensing and inspection procedures for development projects and industrial establishments to ensure compliance.
Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, EAD's Secretary General said: "The executive regulation regarding marine water quality was developed to reinforce the regulatory and supervisory framework that EAD seeks to implement in coordination with all stakeholders in the emirate."
"Through the application of environmental standards for ambient marine water and sediment in protected areas, as well as in public areas outside designated marine protected areas, these standards are now considered the first of their kind in the region," she noted.
Dr Al Dhaheri said: "The marine environment – another first of its kind for Abu Dhabi. These standards have been developed based on international best practices for the protection of marine ecosystem and public health."
"In addition, the regulation includes measures to overcome the deterioration of marine water quality and to provide all available alternatives for sustainable management of liquid discharges before being disposed of to the marine environment," she added.- TradeArabia News Service
