Themes and Topics
Contributions are solicited according to the following themes, themes A through G.
Themes
A.. Increasing system knowledge: research to increase understanding and improving modelling of the hydro(geo)logical, geochemical and biochemical reality
B.. Impact of climate change and hydrological/weather variability: assessment of effect on groundwater and surface water quality and distinguishing from manmade effects
C.. Assessment of national policy: effectiveness of programmes of measures on water quality on a regional and national scale
D.. Field research and data interpretation: research (monitoring and modelling) at plot and field scale for quantifying effects of farming practices and changes in land use
E.. Managing protected areas: risk assessment monitoring and modelling of water quality and quantity, for drinking water supply and ecosystem conservation within Habitat and Species Protection Areas
F and G.. Decision-making and implementation: role of policy, stakeholder and science in decision-making, and social and economic incentives and constraints for implementation (carrots and sticks)
Topics per theme
The topics listed within a theme are intended as an indication for the subjects relevant for a theme, without the intention to be limitative for a given theme.
A.. Increasing system knowledge: research to increase understanding and improving modelling of the hydro(geo)logical, geochemical and biochemical reality
Tools and methods to describe and increase knowledge about processes (water and mass flux, and chemical and biological reactions of pollutants) are a pre-requisite for sound and effective monitoring, modelling and predicting effectiveness of programmes of measures on water quality.
| A.1. | Transport and transformation of nutrients, pesticides, other agrochemicals and heavy metals in groundwater, unsaturated zone, surface waters; field to catchment scale |
| A.2. | Groundwater – surface water interactions; field to catchment scale |
| A.3. | Effect of changes in groundwater quantity on groundwater and surface water quality |
| A.4. | Source apportionment of inorganic compounds; contribution of agricultural, natural, and other sources of nutrients, and heavy metals |
| A.5. | Source apportionment of organic compounds; contribution of agricultural, natural, and other sources of pesticides and other organic substances, and other xenobiotics |
| A.6. | Biological, hydrological and physical interactions and water quality management options |
| A.7. | Denitrification – an effective but temporary limited process reducing the nitrate concentration in groundwater? |
| A.8. | Groundwater – terrestrial ecosystems interactions, impact of nutrients, pesticides, other agrochemicals and heavy metals, and water abstraction by agriculture |
B.. Impact of climate change and hydrological/weather variability: assessment of effect on groundwater and surface water quality and distinguishing from manmade effects
Trends in water quality depend on two major factors, namely change in land use and climate change. Though climate change is important and will also be considered in LuWQ2015, the primary focus of LuWQ2015 is on the effect of land use changes on water quality, on all scales, including the global, national and local scale. Effects from changes on land use due to climate change can interfere with protection measures, especially due to changes in crop patterns and the possibility of shift toward multiple annual crops in many northern European countries. Also year-to-year variability in weather may mask improvements in water quality, while climate change may hamper or strengthen water quality improvements achieved due to programmes of measures. These effects can lead to wrong conclusions about the effectiveness of the programmes. In addition, well-founded knowledge on effectiveness of climate change on water quality is essential for making science-based predictions of the effectiveness of programmes of measures.
| B.1. | Assessment of climate change effects on transport and biochemical processes of nutrients, pesticides, other agrochemicals and heavy metals in groundwater and surface waters |
| B.2. | Assessment of climate change effects on changes in crop growth and organic matter (carbon cycle) |
| B.3. | Distinguishing between human activities and climate change/hydrological/weather variability, when analysing trends in water quality and water quantity vis-à-vis water quality issues (focus is on how to identify the impact of human activities) |
| B.4. | Risk and vulnerability assessment of climate change and hydrological/weather variability on water quality |
| B.5. | Mitigation and adaption strategies to minimise effects of climate change and hydrological/weather variability on water quality |
| B.6. | Impact of the interaction between climate change and land use changes on environmental flows, i.e. , on ‘the quality, quantity, and timing of water flows required to maintain the components, functions, processes, and resilience of aquatic ecosystems which provide goods and services to people’ (World Bank) |
C.. Assessment of national policy: effectiveness of programmes of measures on water quality on a regional and national scale
All EU Member States have to monitor and model water quality in order to assess the effectiveness of Nitrate Directive action programmes and WFD river basin management plans on a national scale and to report to the European Commission. In addition, assessments on international scale are made for evaluation and renegotiation of international policies. This theme focuses on the discussion of methodologies and approaches for surveillance and operational monitoring, modelling for underpinning monitoring results and modelling to forecast future evolution of water quality.
| C.1. | Methodologies and approaches of monitoring and / or modelling of effectiveness of programmes of measures on water quality in groundwater and surface waters – rivers, lakes and estuaries |
| C.2. | Analysis of uncertainty in monitoring and modelling of effectiveness of programmes of measures on water quality |
| C.3. | Developments (progress) in use of models for data interpretation of monitoring networks |
| C.4. | Use of models for prediction of effects on water quality of on-going and future programmes of measures |
| C.5. | Comparison of derogation and non-derogation areas or vulnerable and non-vulnerable zones concerning effectiveness of measures |
D.. Field research and data interpretation: research (monitoring and modelling) at plot and field scale for quantifying effects of farming practices and changes in land use
To show effects of specific farming practices (use of catch crops; amount, methods and timing of application of fertilisers and manure; grassland renewal, etcetera) on water quality. It gives the research perspective, approaches and results of investigative monitoring, field studies and modelling (including case studies) to show the effectiveness of specific farming practices incorporated or to be incorporated in programmes of measures. The scale of the studies is often on the plot or field level, but may include studies on farm or catchment scale.
| D.1. | Land conversion; quantifying effects of conversion of agricultural land to other land uses on water quality |
| D.2. | Crop rotation and soil management; quantifying effects of grassland management, arable crop rotation and different soil tillage strategies |
| D.3. | The soil-water-plant system, quantifying water pollution as a consequence of use of nutrients, pesticides and heavy metals |
| D.4. | Structural Best Management Practices to mitigate the effects of agriculture on water quality, such as vegetated buffer strips, sedimentation ponds and constructed wetlands |
| D.5. | Non-structural Best Management Practices to mitigate the effects of agriculture on water quality, such as, minimal tillage, new fertilisation techniques, and precision agriculture |
| D.6. | Assessment of optimal land use (agricultural use) for water quality protection in relation to environmental (physical and chemical) boundary conditions and/or in relation to the protection of ecosystem services |
| D.7. | Management and monitoring of agricultural point sources of pollution, for example, farmyard run-off and leaching from temporary manure deposits |
| D.8. | Prediction of the effects on water quality of crop cultivation for biomass production as source for renewable energy |
| D.9. | Development in methodologies and technologies for emission based controls and management of nutrient emissions from agriculture |
E.. Managing protected areas: risk assessment monitoring and modelling of water quality and quantity, for drinking water supply and ecosystem conservation within Habitat and Species Protection Areas
WFD sets additional monitoring requirements for protected areas. Protected Areas include bodies of surface water and groundwater used for the abstraction of drinking water, and habitat and species protection areas identified under the Birds Directive or the Habitats Directive. This theme also deals with problems of classification of the ecological status of waters.
| E.1. | Drinking water supply areas; observing and predicting quality and quantity – as far as relevant for quality – of groundwater and surface water in abstraction areas |
| E.2. | Aquatic ecosystems; observing and predicting changes in ecological status of waters (biodiversity) |
| E.3. | Chemical water quality as predictor for ecological status |
| E.4. | Terrestrial ecosystems: observing and predicting water quality in wetlands and nature areas with agriculture related atmospheric N deposition |
| E.5. | Management options to mitigate effects on water quality in protected areas |
| E.6. | Management of nutrients and agrochemicals in drinking water supply areas (safe guard zones) – water quality protection versus water purification |
| E.7. | Designation and management of protection zones within vulnerable areas (NVZ) with use of additional measures |
| E.8. | Modelling delayed effects (time lag) in slowly responding groundwater systems |
F and G.. Decision-making and implementation: role of policy, stakeholder and science in decision-making, and social and economic incentives and constraints for implementation (carrots and sticks)
Political, social and economic aspects play an important role in designing new programmes of measures, in decision-making, and in implementation of programmes of measures. Scientists evaluate programmes of measures based on results of research, monitoring and modelling. However, it is governments and members of parliament that discuss and decide on new measures and tightening of existing regulations. What is the importance of targets groups and science in this debate in the political arena? Which aspects play an important role in the success or failure of these programmes to realise the goals set in advance? These themes focus on good governance, successful implementation strategies and options to involve farmers and other stakeholders in monitoring and research.
F.. Decision-making on Programmes of Measures
| F.1. | The influence of science in the political debate; experiences and philosophic opinions on the science-policy interface |
| F.2. | Policy evaluation and development of programmes of measures; difference between countries in ways to abate pollution |
G.. Implementation of Programmes of Measures
| G.1. | Socio-economic opportunities and constraints of implementing programmes of measures, successes and failures |
| G.2. | Pros and cons of involving policy makers and stakeholders in monitoring and research |
| G.3. | Cost effectiveness of measures (including, for example, the role of EU support schemes for the agricultural sector) |
| G.4. | Use and development of user-friendly conjunctive models (surface and groundwater) for policy makers to analyse water resources and demands |
| G.5. | Use of ‘carrots’ (voluntary measures, training courses and funding) or ‘sticks’ (laws and regulations) to reach good chemical status of groundwater and surface waters |
