Climate change and water quality

Project: Climate change and water quality
Client: Water board Fryslân
Partners: Alterra
Period: 2006
Aim: The aim of the project is threefold: (A) to describe the consequences of climate change on the chemical and ecological quality of the surface water in Fryslân, (B) to identify new policy and management measures for water quality maintenance under climate change and (C) to formulate relevant questions for further research and policy discussions.

Summary

The influence of climate chang on chemical and biological quality of the water is mostly related to changes in temperature and precipitation, wind fluctuation is less coherent. Notable is that the chemical and biological changes are the same for most of the water types.

Water quality monitoring data from Wetterskip Fryslân implies the next changes in chemical regime: faster eutrofication, higher chloride load in dry periods, higher nitrogen load in wet periodes and increased precipitaiton will increase phosphate concentrations.

In biological terms the higher temperatures will result in more water types dominated by Cyano Bacteria.

An important issue for future policy is reducing nitrogen and phosphate concentration in the effluent of waste water treatment plants. The current policy aiming for water systems with clear water and water vegetation can be continued. Furthermore there lays an opportunity in combining the plans for construction of retention areas in the study area with water quality related measures.

Details

Reports

Loeve, R., P. Droogers, J. Veraart. 2006. Klimaatverandering en waterkwaliteit. Wetterskip Fryslan. FutureWater Report 58.

Publications

Claassen, T. en P. Droogers. 2006. Klimaatverandering beïnvloedt ook de waterkwaliteit. Trendsinwater 20.

Loeve, R., T. Claassen en P. Droogers. 2006. Klimaatverandering en waterkwaliteit. H2O Tijdschrift voor watervoorziening en waterbeheer 22: 19-22.

Please feel free to contact the Project Leader of this project for more information.