Summary of basin and key water management issues
The Odense Fjord catchment is situated at the island Fyn in the middle of Denmark. The catchment area is 1,046 km2. Odense is one of the Pilot River Basins under the WFD Common Implementation Strategy. The landscape is moraine formed by the last glaciation. The topography is characterised by low rolling hills. All water supply is based on groundwater from mainly confined sandy aquifer overlain by till.
The main problem with respect to surface water quality is the eutrophication in the Odense Fjord caused by nutrients originating from non-point sources. In addition, the groundwater quality is many places threatened by point and non-point sources. These problems have generated significant conflicts of interests between the agricultural sector and other stakeholders.
Further descriptions of the catchment, the water management issues and the data can be found in HarmoniRiB reports (http://workplace.wur.nl/harmonirib) and on the Odense PRB website (http://odenseprb.ode.mim.dk/english/)
Data availability
As indicated from Table 3 the data availability is generally very good for Odense. In particular there are many data on quality aspects, both for surface water and groundwater.
Data accessibility
Data are generally easily accessible from national and water authority databases in digital formats. The water authorities (Fyns Amt until 2006, Ministry of Environment and Odense Municipality from 2007) have access to all the available data. Data access for third parties, e.g. for research purposes is possible. The main potential obstacles in this respect are that meteorological data and topographical data not are available for free. For research purposes it is possible to make ad hoc arrangement with the two organisations controlling these data. A substantial part of the data has been made available for the HarmoniRiB database, from where it can be made freely available for non-commercial research purposes.
Modelling studies and research projects
The water authority and some of the stakeholders, in particular the local water supply company Odense Water Ltd, have during the past 10-15 years established a large number of comprehensive models. The modelling work has usually been outsourced to consulting firms. In addition, the Odense river basin has been used as a site in many national and European research projects such as Baseline, Euroharp, HarmoniRiB and Bridge with research institutes as the main executing partners as well as LIFE and INTERREG projects executed by the water authority itself.
Most of the modelling studies have been carried out by use of the existing data. However, for some of the research studies aiming at providing new insights into process descriptions dedicated data collection campaigns were carried out. As can be seen from Table 4 the modelling studies cover water availability, surface water and groundwater quality with rather complex models.
Summary of basin and key water management issues
The Geropotamou basin covers an area of 600 km2 and is located in the central southern part of Crete, about 50 km south of the city of Heraklion. The basin faces a severe groundwater resources problem due to overexploitation of the aquifer, mainly for irrigation of 250 km2 of agricultural land located in the Messara Valley. This situation has led to Messara Valley being threatened by desertification. A dramatic drop of about 20 m in the mean annual groundwater level during the last 30 years has reduced the available water due to uncontrolled use and created tension amongst the users. The groundwater level dropdown started with the introduction of pumping of groundwater for drip-irrigation of the main crop which is olive trees. Following that, pumping became uncontrolled as farmers established an unknown number of unregistered wells. Illegal use of groundwater water is difficult to police.
Further descriptions of the catchment, the water management issues and the data can be found in HarmoniRiB reports (http://workplace.wur.nl/harmonirib)
Data availability
As indicated in Table 3 Geropotameau has many data for meteorological, river discharge and groundwater level, but very limited data on surface water and groundwater quality.
Data accessibility
Some data are easily accessible from national and water authority databases in digital formats. The water authority (Water Resources Department) has access to all the available data. Data access for third parties, e.g. for research purposes is possible, but need to be negotiated on an ad hoc basis.
A substantial part of the data has been made available for the HarmoniRiB database, from where it can be made freely available for non-commercial research purposes.
Modelling studies and research projects
No modelling studies have been carried out to support the water resources management in practise. During the HarmoniRiB project a resource assessment modelling study was carried out comprising rainfall-runoff (Sacramento) and groundwater (MODFLOW) conditions.
Summary of basin and key water management issues
The Júcar River Basin comprises all river basins which run into the Mediterranean sea, between the left bank of ”La Gola del Segura”, in its mouth, and the mouth of the Cenia river, as well as the endorreic basin of Pozohondo. The total area is approximately 43,000 km2. The Jucar RBD is mainly influenced by the Mediterranean climate, which is characterised by an intense and long dry summer period. The Jucar River Basin can be defined as a semi-arid or even arid zone as a whole. Jucar is one of the Pilot River Basins under the WFD Common Implementation Strategy.
The main water use in the basin is irrigation for agriculture. The main source is the groundwater, because surface runoff is not sufficient to satisfy the water demand. Other uses are urban use, hydropower, tourism and ecological needs for preserving river discharge and wetlands. The main water resources problem is the unsustainable use of groundwater for irrigation, which during the past decades many places has resulted in lowering of groundwater levels of tens of meters.
Further descriptions of the catchment, the water management issues and the data can be found in HarmoniRiB reports (http://workplace.wur.nl/harmonirib)
Data availability
As indicated in Table 3 Jucar has many data for meteorological, river discharge and groundwater data, and some data on surface water and groundwater quality.
Data accessibility
Some data are easily accessible from national and water authority databases in digital formats. The water authority have access to all available data. Data access for third parties, e.g. for research purposes is possible, but need to be negotiated on an ad hoc basis. In this respect meteorological data need particular attention.
A substantial part of the data has been made available for the HarmoniRiB database, from where it can be made freely available for non-commercial research purposes.
Modelling studies and research projects
Previously the following types of modelling studies have been carried out: rainfall-runoff modelling, hydro-ecological modelling and groundwater modelling (MODFLOW).
Summary of basin and key water management issues
The Candelaro river catchment is located in the northern part of the Apulian region in the geo-morphologically charateristic environment of the Tavoliere of Apulia. It covers 2,330 km2.
The climate is Mediterranean and the rainfall rates have decreased about 30% during the last 40 years. During the same period the groundwater exploitation, mainly for irrigation of grapes and vegetables, has increased dramatically.
As a result of this parts of the Candelaro basin are threatened by desertification. Some place, a drop in groundwater levels up to 20 m has occurred during the last 20 years of the last century. Management of groundwater resources is difficult due to uncontrolled use by farmers illegally using unregistered wells. An allegedly oversized dam has been constructed and is currently filled up, aiming to fulfil the irrigation water needs in the basin.
There are also concerns on the water quality.
Further descriptions of the catchment, the water management issues and the data can be found in HarmoniRiB reports (http://workplace.wur.nl/harmonirib)
Data availability
As indicated in Table 3 Candelaro has many data for meteorological, river discharge and groundwater level, but very limited data on surface water and groundwater quality.
Data accessibility
Some data are easily accessible from national and water authority databases in digital formats. The regional water and environmental authority has access to all the available data. Data access for third parties, e.g. for research purposes is generally possible on an ad hoc basis. In this respect meteorological data need particular attention.
A substantial part of the data has been made available for the HarmoniRiB database, from where it can be made freely available for non-commercial research purposes.
Modelling studies and research projects
A large number of modelling studies have previously been carried out both to support the water resources management and for research purposes. The types of modelling include hydrological water balance studies, leaching of nutrient (SWAT) and groundwater modelling.
Summary of basin and key water management issues
The Vecht river basin covers an area of 3,780 km2 of which 1,980 km2 is located in The Netherlands and the remaining in Germany, where the river originates. The Vecht catchment is part of the Rhine catchment.
Land use in the southern part is predominantly intensive animal husbandry, with growing of grass and maize. In the northern part there is more arable land, growing mainly potatoes. The main purposes of water use are: agriculture, drinking water, and recreation. The human pressure on the aquatic environment is high, both from cities and from intensive agriculture. Discharges from many of the sewage treatment plants are into relatively small waters. Most of the waters in the catchment have been strongly regulated by normalisation and dams. In large parts of the area water inlet from outside the catchment plays an important role for agriculture in the summer.
Further descriptions of the catchment, the water management issues and the data can be found in HarmoniRiB reports (http://workplace.wur.nl/harmonirib)
Data availability
As indicated in Table 3 the data availability is generally very good for Vecht. In particular there are many data on quality aspects, both for surface water and groundwater. Data accessibility
Data are generally easily accessible from national and water authority databases in digital formats. The water authorities have access to all available data. Data access for third parties, e.g. for research purposes is possible, but ad hoc agreements are some times required.
A substantial part of the data has been made available for the HarmoniRiB database, from where it can be made freely available for non-commercial research purposes.
Modelling studies and research projects
The water authority has during the past years established several models to support water management. In addition, the Vecht river basin has been used as a site in many national and European research projects such as Euroharp and HarmoniRiB with research institutes as the main executing partners.
Summary of basin and key management issues
The Weisse Elster river basin is a subcatchment of the Saale, which is the second largest tributary of the Elbe river. The catchment area is about 5,300 km2 and is situated in the German federal states of Saxony, Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt, with its source being in the Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains) in the Czech Republic. The upper part of the basin is mountainous with igneous and metamorphic rocks as well as consolidated tertiary rocks (sandstone) being the main geological features. It is characterized by steep slopes and narrow valleys with hardly any floodplains. Groundwater resources are scarce. The lower part of the basin is situated in the lowlands and mainly consists of Pleistocene coverage. The valleys are broader with extensive floodplains and there are substantial groundwater resources. Precipitation varies between 500 mm in the northern part of the basin (lowlands) and 1000 mm in the southern part (mountains) with annual runoff varying between 50 and 800 mm.
Due to several reservoirs and numerous hydraulic structures, the hydrological situation in the catchment is very complex. Water quantity and quality management are closely related to the various economic activities in the river basin. Due to extensive construction, diffuse pollution from agriculture, industrial and municipal discharge and open pit mining waters, the Weisse Elster is considered biologically and chemically heavily polluted. Although water quality has substantially improved in the last few years, a comprehensive remediation programme is necessary to meet the WFD targets.
Further descriptions of the catchment, its water management issues and data can be found in the HarmoniRIB reports on http://workplace.wur.nl/harmonirib.
Data availability
As indicated in Table 3 the data availability is generally very good for the Weisse Elster. In particular there are many data on water resources assessment and surface water aspects.
Data accessibility
In general, data are easily accessible from research councils and government water authorities. Most of the data are available digitally. The water authorities have access to all available data. Data access for third parties, e.g. for research purposes is possible, but ad hoc agreements are some times required.
A substantial part of the data has been made available for the HarmoniRIB database, from where it is freely available for non-commercial research purposes.
Modelling studies and research projects
A wide range of modelling studies has been carried out both for water management and for research purposes. The modelling studies have covered most water resources issues with a focus on surface water aspects.
Summary of basin and key management issues
The River Thames has a catchment area of around 13,000 km˛. This includes the main Thames and tributaries such as the Kennet and Cherwell. It covers much of the rural areas of the counties of Wiltshire, Oxfordshire and West Berkshire, and urban areas such as Oxford, Newbury, Reading, Slough, Luton and London. There are no major natural lakes within the Thames Basin, but there are large reservoirs for water supply to the west and north east of London. The geology is varied. Chalk is the most common hydrogeological formation contributing to water supply. Other aquifers are the Lower Greensand, Blackheath Beds, Bagshot Beds, the Jurassic limestones of the Cotswold hills, and sandy and gravelly drift deposits
The catchment has a growing population of 12 million, and is under severe pressure to provide further living space, water resources and waste disposal. A major issue centres around managing abstraction at levels which are both sufficient to meet demands, without detriment to the ecological functioning of riverine habitats. Many sewage treatment works discharge into the river, with associated water quality issues.
Further descriptions of the catchment, its water management issues and data can be found in the HarmoniRIB reports on http://workplace.wur.nl/harmonirib.
Data availability
As indicated in Table 3, water recourses management, surface water quality and ground water quality data availability for the Thames Basin is extensive. However, there are not much agriculture data available for the basin.
Data accessibility
In general, data are easily accessible from research councils and government water authorities. Most of the data are available digitally. The primary source for river flow data is the National River Flow Archive held at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology in Wallingford. Groundwater level and chemistry can be obtained from the National River Flow Archive or the British Geological Survey. River water chemistry and ecological data may be obtained from the Environment Agency. Weather data are available from the Met Office.
A substantial part of the data has been made available for the HarmoniRIB database, from where it is freely available for non-commercial research purposes.
Modelling studies and research projects
A wide range of modules were developed for and applied on the study of the Thames Basin over many years. Modelling is primarily used for the studies of flooding forecasting and water quality. Today most of the modelling is overseen by the Environment Agency.
Summary of basin and key water management issues
The Svratka river basin is situated in the Moravian part of the Czech Republic and it is a part of the whole Danube river basin. The catchment area is 4,115 km2. The basin is a part of Ceskomoravska vrchovina highland and the main geomorphological structures are deep and fault igneous rocks, the rest are Perm and Carboniferous structures, unconsolidated Tertiary structures, flysch belts and Quaternary structures.
The key water management issues in the basin are flood protection and quality of surface water bodies. Fast development of the settlement areas in the floodplain during the last century has created problems with flooding in many towns and subsequently requests for long time sustainable flood protection in the basin. Another important issue is the water eutrophication and blue green algae development mainly in the water reservoir Brno on Svratka river resulting in heavy impact on the recreation and water use.
Further descriptions of the catchment, the water management issues and the data can be found in HarmoniRiB reports (http://workplace.wur.nl/harmonirib)
Data availability
As indicated in Table 3 the data availability is good for the Svratka river basin regarding surface water and groundwater. The problem is mainly few biological data.
Data accessibility
The data are generally accessible from state institutions (like Czech Hydrometeorological Institute or Water Research Institute) or from Water Boards. Data are free of charge for governmental, regional and local authorities; other users have to pay for data.
A substantial part of the data has been made available for the HarmoniRiB database, from where it can be made freely available for non-commercial research purposes.
Modelling studies and research projects
Several modelling studies focussing on water management problems in the basin, mainly on flood protection (regional studies of possible flood protection measures) and also regarding quality of surface water (project Clean Svratka river basin) have been carried out in the area.