The Global Environment Monitoring System for Freshwater (GEMS/Water) provides the world community with sound data on freshwater quality to support scientific assessments and decision-making on the subject.

ABOUT GEMS/WATER

The Global Environment Monitoring System for Freshwater (GEMS/Water) of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) was established in 1978 to collect world-wide water quality data for assessments of status and trends in global inland water quality. The twin goals of the GEMS/Water Programme are to improve water quality monitoring as well as assessment capacity in participating countries.

GEMS/Water encourages a standardized approach to data generation through providing guidance and training on all aspects of monitoring, assessment and quality control and assurance. Workshops, online courses and training materials are tailored to specific capacity needs at national and regional levels and delivered globally.

Data from participating countries is made available within the GEMS/Water online database GEMStat. Data for GEMStat is received from GEMS/Water's global network of National Focal Points. These are government institutions and agencies with the official mandate to monitor freshwater quality data in their countries. 

GEMS/Water is also responsible for compiling, verifying and reporting on Sustainable Development Goal indicator 6.3.2 on ambient water quality  as well as strengthening national monitoring and reporting capacity. In addition to methodology development, data management and quality assurance, GEMS/Water supports countries in indicator calculation and provides related capacity development.