1st i-adapt workshop:Water Scarcity and Draught: Context

and Approach

Larissa, 3/6/2011

Prof. Maria MimikouSchool of Civil Engineering,

NTUA

Laboratory of Hydrology and Water Resources Management

• The Laboratory of Hydrology and Water Resources Management, which was officially established in 1998, is one of the four Laboratories of the Department of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering at the School of Civil Engineering.

• The Laboratory of Hydrology and Water Resources Management is one of the most active laboratories of the most active laboratories of the Department of Water Resources, Hydraulic and Maritime Engineering and of NTUA in general. Total budget from the research projects over the last 4 years: 7.500.000€ (6,5% of the total).

• The main scientific areas dealt with by the Laboratory relate to Hydrology and Water Resources Management.

Research

• National Projects (indicative) National Data Bank of Hydrological and Meteorological InformationEstimation and Management of the Water Resource Potential in the Island of Kos

• European Projects (indicative) Epi water: Evaluating Economic Policy Instruments for Sustainable Water Management in Europe ETC: European Topic Centre on WaterBringing the Open-Mi to Life Fladar: Flood zoning in Southeast Attica using gauge calibrated radar rainfall and advanced modelling techniques

The web sites of the Laboratory

• www.chi.civil.ntua.gr• http://hoa.ntua.gr• http://i-adapt.gr/

Our objectives for the day

• Introduce the context of this research and develop a common understanding of the programme and DG Environment’s interests

• Introduce the i-adapt project to stakeholders and get your initial reactions and ideas.

• Collect existing knowledge from past and ongoing work – by both speakers and audience

• Ask for your feedback on a series of questions (questionnaire)

What is water scarcity and droughts?

Droughts

Temporary decrease in water availability due – for instance

– to rainfall deficiency

Natural phenomenon

Impacts of droughts in case of water scarcity

Water scarcity

Water demand for human activities exceeds water resources available

and the natural recharge

Human-driven phenomenon

Impacts of water scarcity in case of drought

Water scarcity & drought in Europe

Reservoir, Sicily

Reservoir, Cyprus

River Elbe, Dresden

The climate is already changing

And could be getting worse…..

Why is water scarcity & droughts a concern in Europe?

• Balance between demand and availability has reached a critical level in many areas of Europe (water scarcity)

• More and more areas are affected by weather changes, in particular less rain (droughts)

• Climate change will almost certainly make the situation worse • More frequent and severe droughts expected across Europe and the

neighbouring countries• Total water abstraction in EU 247 billion m³/year

– 44% for energy production, – 24% for agriculture, – 17% for public water supply – 15% for industry

Business as usual scenario: Total abstraction will increase by 16% by 2030

Potential for water savings:• Potential for water savings in the EU nearly 40%

– technological improvements alone – Further increased by changes in human behaviour or production

patterns • Water Supply infrastructure: potential saving up to 33% of

today’s abstraction• Agriculture: potential saving 43% of current agricultural

abstraction from: – Improved efficiency - 15% to 60% of water use. – changes in irrigation practices (30%), – use of more drought-resistant crops (up to 50%)– reuse of treated sewage effluent (around 10%)

• Industry: estimated savings 15 - 90% average 43%• Tourism: potential of 80-90% savings• Irrigation of golf courses and sporting areas: 70%

What’s nextIn 2012, the Commission will publish a "Blueprint to Safeguard European Waters"

– Review of the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (includes Water efficiency of buildings)

– Review of the Strategy for Water Scarcity and Droughts – Review of the vulnerability of water and natural resources

to climate impacts and man-made pressures.

Key challenges for the Blue Print

• Costs and Competition for water supply– Transfers– Desalinisation– GW extraction

• A water and env. resources efficient economy

• Ecosystem-based approach• Facing gradual changes &

extreme events

• Trade-offs/conflicts between:– Economy & ecosystems– Sectors– Regions– Land / sea

• Instruments– Pricing / regulation

• Land-use planning– Room for the river– Water (& carbon) retention

Main information needs now - 2012

• Water Framework Directive:– information base: the River Basin Management plans– key issue: comparability of information in the plans

• Water Scarcity and Droughts:– a wide range of data regarding the scale of the problem, the effectiveness of existing

policy measures and the costs and benefits of possible additional measures, information on water availability, water allocations

• Vulnerability of environmental resources:– methods, models, data sets, prediction tools and indicators to better monitor the impact

of climate change– including vulnerability impacts and progress on adaptation

• Studies launched to assess the possible introduction of measures for water efficiency in agriculture, in buildings and leakage reduction in the supply systems

Action at EU level: Commission Communication WS&D 2007 - 7 policy

options• Putting the right price tag on water• Improving drought risk management• Fostering water efficient technologies and practices• Fostering the emergence of a water-saving culture• Allocating water & water-related funding efficiently• Considering additional water supply infrastructures• Improve knowledge and data collection

What are we looking at?

WS & D GAP Analysis:– Overview of problem & existing measures

• Where is WS&D a problem & how big is the problem?• What are the driving forces?• What & how big are the pressures?• What are the impacts?• Which measures are already in place?

– Identification of gaps – Proposal of new measures– Assessment of Impact of new measures

WS&D - the basic principle:the water hierarchy

• Address demand side measures first:– demand management– water-saving– water efficiency– water-pricing

• Only then additional water supply infrastructures:– water transfers – desalination plants – waste-water re-use– etc.

Other areas:

• Alternative water supply • Waste water re-use…• Water consumption in products

– water related information on food and agricultural products

– Assessment of the reliability and effectiveness of the "water footprinting" method

• Eco design, Green Public Procurement

Background of the Desertification Pilot Projects

• 2009 - EP requests preparatory actions to halt desertification in Europe

• 2010 activities- launch of the contract to assist COM in the

preparatory works and evaluation- call for proposals (priority sectors and regions)- Signature of four grant agreements by DG

Environment• 2011 - start of the pilot projects• 2012 spring – end of pilot projects (15 months)

The i-adapt project

Partners1. National Technical University of

Athens, School of Civil Engineering, Laboratory of Hydrology and Water Resources Management (NTUA)

2. National Agricultural Research Foundation, Institute of Soil, Mapping and Classification (N.AG.RE.F)

3. Hydroexigiantiki (HYDEX)4. LDK Consultants (LDK)

Associate: Secretariat for Water, Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change (SfW)

Objectives• Provide a specific,

actionable plan for combating desertification

• Use of emerging technologies, piloted in the Pinios River Basin

• Quantify the expected impact of this plan on Pinios

Expected Results of the project

• A critical assessment of the potential for application and expected impact of promising emerging technologies for combating desertification in Pinios.

• Pilot applications of a number of these technologies in selected areas of the Pinios Basin.

• A comprehensive, reliable model of Pinios able to simulate agricultural water uses and assess the effects of new technologies and techniques.

• Decision support tools to facilitate the application of new technologies and techniques in specific locations of the Pinios Basin and estimate their impact on desertification indicators under climatic and landuse scenarios.

• Clear action plan and recommendations to be embedded in the next round of RBMPs.

…

• More explanation of the work in the next presentation

• Thank you for your attendance and attention – and we are very keen to get your feedback.