The main objective of the DEEPWATER-CE project is to develop integrated environmental management capacities of responsible public actors for a comprehensive transnational approach to planning water resources and adoption of MANAGED AQUIFER RECHARGE (MAR) solutions in Central European (CE) countries as a solution to climate change-induced water scarcity and decreasing usage conflicts with other social and economic sectors.
This is done with analyzing the CE conditions for applicability of tailored MAR solutions, identify the CE areas of highest need through climatic scenarios and study the MAR feasibility in CE identified pilot sites, building on results of relevant previous projects.
7 Partners from 5 Central European countries: Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Parts of Germany, relevant APs and decision-makers representing competent public and private organizations will improve their capacity to apply a comprehensive approach to water planning and management that encompasses ecological, social, and economic objectives, considering the needs of cross-sectorial stakeholders and target groups that are involved since the project very start, building on existing knowledge and best practices and translating the pilot findings into ready-to-implement policy recommendations on MAR adoption through action plans.
PROJECT RELEVANCE AND MAIN OBJECTIVE
The Central Europe region is very rich in water, which is a highly valuable natural resource to be preserved, protected, and if necessary, ecologically restored. Climate-change has however major effects on water resources, that require effective mitigation measures from relevant water management authorities. Due to the effects of climate change, Central Europe has to deal with increasing average air temperatures and an increasing number of extreme weather events such as droughts, heat waves, floods, storms, and landslides.
Thus, the amount and distribution of precipitation over time will alter in Central Europe, leading to hectic variations in the discharge of rivers. A decrease in groundwater recharge will have a strong negative effect on the availability of groundwater resources. At the same time, the constant economic development results in a growing demand for water assets, especially in major water-using sectors, such as agriculture, fisheries, forestry, energy production, and tourism. Hence, it will be increasingly challenging to ensure the balance between supply and demand of groundwater sources.
To prevent and address the arising usage conflicts the transformation of water management with innovative approaches and technologies is necessary.
Underground water storage solutions represent an outstanding potential for adapting to the negative effects of climate change on water resources, thus efficiently contributing to the stable and safe water supply of CE in the long run.
MANAGED AQUIFER RECHARGE (MAR) technology is a viable approach for collecting excess surface water and precipitation in periods characterized by water abundance, and storing it for dry times in underground aquifers.
These offers a specific advantage as it does not divert the use of the surface, decreasing usage conflicts with other social and economic sectors (i.e. agriculture, construction, tourism). “Bank-filtration” systems are the only type of MAR that is abundant along CE rivers allowing surface water retention during floods and buffer capacity for drought periods, however other MAR technologies are an untapped potential yet for CE.
DEEPWATER-CE analyses the conditions for applicability of alternative MAR solutions, identify areas of highest need, and pilots their feasibility in CE, building on results of related FP7 and H2020 projects. Pilot feasibility studies will be performed with a coherent integrated environmental approach involving stakeholders from the very start of the project, to ensure cross information and knowledge exchange and taking into account the ecologic impact of MAR interventions, the effects on economic development of the pilot regions and their social acceptability. Partners, APs and decision-makers representing competent public and private organizations will improve their capacity to a comprehensive approach to water planning and management that encompasses ecological, social, and economic objectives.
This transnational cooperation project is funded by Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE and aims to improve the sustainable use of natural heritage.
