For ease of communication with stakeholders and measuring progress it is common that the quality of water resources in a basin is classified using a simple colour coding on a map. This is a very effective tool to mobilise support from politicians and others to the action plan.
Figure 6.1: Pollution status in the Tana River Basin
3.2 Management objectives and strategy
Establishing objectives for water pollution control, is essentially a definition of the contribution to the ultimate goal which might only be achievable after some considerable time due to financial, human or other constraints. The more separated the objective is from the initial situation the more difficult it is to achieve because a lot of assumptions and uncertainties need to be included.
a) Objectives
Water management objectives for pollution control need to be realistic and measurable such as those under 2.1 above. The objectives identified also provide a means by which the performance of the responsible organisation will be measured and it is in everyone’s interest that they be realistic.
b) Strategy Development
Strategy development involves making important decisions on how to implement the programme. The strategy decision will be influenced by cost,