Identified water quality problems may fall into different categories requiring application of different management tools and interventions for optimal resolution of the problems. For example, it is important to know whether a certain water quality problem pertains only to a local community or whether it is a national problem. If a problem exists at the national scale it might be necessary to consider imposing general effluent standards, regulations or other relevant measures. By contrast, if the problem is limited to a small geographic region it might only be necessary to consider issuing a local by-law or to intervene to settle.
