Water Quality Parameters and Monitoring Design

Objective

The objective of this course is to introduce participants to the fundamentals of coastal and marine water quality management in the Wider Caribbean Region. The module provides essential background on water pollution sources, key water quality parameters, and the regional governance framework under the Cartagena Convention, while guiding learners through the basic principles needed to design a simple, fit-for-purpose water quality monitoring programme.

What you will learn

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Describe the main types, sources, and causes of coastal and marine water pollution in the Caribbean region.

• Explain the role of the Cartagena Convention and its protocols in preventing, reducing, and controlling marine pollution.

• Recognise key pollutants and water quality parameters, and understand their ecological and public health impacts.

• Outline the core steps involved in designing a basic water quality monitoring programme, from defining objectives to selecting parameters and sampling strategies.

About this course

This module provides a general introduction to coastal and marine water pollution and water quality monitoring, with a strong regional focus on the Wider Caribbean Region. It builds on the High-Level Course on Marine and Coastal Water Quality Management and serves as a foundation for more technical modules that follow. It offers an overview of the Cartagena Convention and its relevance to regional pollution control, explains how coastal and marine water bodies are classified, and introduces the main sources and types of pollution affecting the region. You will also learn the basic principles of water quality monitoring and how to design a simple monitoring program in line with regional standards and best practices.

Learning Objective

After completing this course, participants should be able to explain the regional context of coastal and marine water pollution, identify key water quality parameters and pollution sources, and describe the basic elements required to design a simple water quality monitoring programme aligned with regional standards and best practices.