Standardization as an Instrument of Environmental Regulation of Water Use

World experience is analyzed to show that the role of standardization in water use management has increased considerably in the recent years. The state of the technical regulation of water use in the Russian Federation is considered, and the use of standardization in this sphere is shown to be not perfect. The main functions of standardization as an instrument of environmental management are determined. Examples are discussed to show that the lack of standards causes errors in the application of the Russian legislation now in force. An example shows how the described approach to standardization can be used to solve the problem of control of water advanced treatment by criterion of maximal benefit.