scholarly journals Mixtures of chemicals are important drivers of impacts on ecological status in European surface waters

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leo Posthuma ◽  
Werner Brack ◽  
Jos van Gils ◽  
Andreas Focks ◽  
Christin Müller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Quality Management ◽  
Surface Waters ◽  
Water Quality Management ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Chemical Pollution ◽  
Individual Species ◽  
Integrated Analysis ◽  
Chemical Mixtures

Abstract The ecological status of European surface waters may be affected by multiple stressors including exposure to chemical mixtures. Currently, two different approaches are used separately to inform water quality management: the diagnosis of the deterioration of aquatic ecosystems caused by nutrient loads and habitat quality, and assessment of chemical pollution based on a small set of chemicals. As integrated assessments would improve the basis for sound water quality management, it is recommended to apply a holistic approach to integrated water quality status assessment and management. This allows for estimating the relative contributions of exposure to mixtures of the chemicals present and of other stressors to impaired ecological status of European water bodies. Improved component- and effect-based methods for chemicals are available to support this. By applying those methods, it was shown that a holistic diagnostic approach is feasible, and that chemical pollution acts as a limiting factor for the ecological status of European surface waters. In a case study on Dutch surface waters, the impact on ecological status could be traced back to chemical pollution affecting individual species. The results are also useful as calibration of the outcomes of component-based mixture assessment (risk quotients or mixture toxic pressures) on ecological impacts. These novel findings provide a basis for a causal and integrated analysis of water quality and improved methods for the identification of the most important stressor groups, including chemical mixtures, to support integrated knowledge-guided management decisions on water quality.

scholarly journals Chemical pollution imposes limitations to the ecological status of European surface waters

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leo Posthuma ◽  
Michiel C. Zijp ◽  
Dick De Zwart ◽  
Dik Van de Meent ◽  
Lidija Globevnik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Surface Waters ◽  
Water Quality Management ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
Water Quality Assessment ◽  
Current Approach ◽  
Toxicity Tests ◽  
Chemical Pollution ◽  
Applied Ecology ◽  
Good Ecological Status

Abstract Aquatic ecosystems are affected by man-made pressures, often causing combined impacts. The analysis of the impacts of chemical pollution is however commonly separate from that of other pressures and their impacts. This evolved from differences in the data available for applied ecology vis-à-vis applied ecotoxicology, which are field gradients and laboratory toxicity tests, respectively. With this study, we demonstrate that the current approach of chemical impact assessment, consisting of comparing measured concentrations to protective environmental quality standards for individual chemicals, is not optimal. In reply, and preparing for a method that would enable the comprehensive assessment and management of water quality pressures, we evaluate various quantitative chemical pollution pressure metrics for mixtures of chemicals in a case study with 24 priority substances of Europe-wide concern. We demonstrate why current methods are sub-optimal for water quality management prioritization and that chemical pollution currently imposes limitations to the ecological status of European surface waters. We discuss why management efforts may currently fail to restore a good ecological status, given that to date only 0.2% of the compounds in trade are considered in European water quality assessment and management.

New Trends in Water Quality Management

1982 ◽  
Vol 14 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 47-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Benedek
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Quality Management ◽  
Surface Waters ◽  
Suspended Solids ◽  
Quality Management System ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
Water Quality Management ◽  
Danube River ◽  
Drinking Water Production

In the present water quality management practice the ambient water quality is determined on the basis of classification of recipients. This system disregards, however, the fact that the majority of hazardous micropollutants is tending to accumulate in suspended solids and may contaminate the bottom sediment. The proposed water quality management system is aiming at providing potable water of good quality without any regards to classification of surface waters. The tasks are outlined on the basis of morphological, hydrological, hydraulic and technological conditions of drinking water production. In this approach both the previous events i.e. deposition or scouring of polluted bottom silt and the transport of suspended solids with coupled micropollutants are involved. The new system is focused on Danube river, since the water supply or rather the bank-filtered water resources along it is endangered at many locations by accumulated pollutants in bed load.

Water Quality Management – A Total Catchment Management Approach

1989 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 281-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. J. Hawkins ◽  
D. A. Geering
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Quality Management ◽  
Water Quality Management ◽  
Management Approach ◽  
Catchment Management ◽  
Know How ◽  
Wild And Scenic Rivers ◽  
Resource Managers ◽  
Resource Protection ◽  
Development Resource

Water quality standards set in the past have not helped resource managers in the decisions that they face in seeking sustainable development. Resource managers are looking for meaningful information on water quality so as to evaluate the resource, set priorities for action, and to monitor progress. Resource managers need to know how water quality affects, and is affected by, catchment uses and activities. Examples of three wild and scenic rivers, the Nymboida, Murrumbidgee, and Hawkesbury/Nepean River systems, demonstrate how a ‘Total Catchment Management' approach to resource use and resource protection has advantages for water quality management.

The Gulf Coast Waste Disposal Authority: A Regional Approach to Water Quality Management

1984 ◽  
Vol 16 (5-7) ◽  
pp. 473-480
Author(s):  
L Jack Davis
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Quality Management ◽  
Waste Disposal ◽  
Gulf Coast ◽  
Water Quality Management ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Public Agency ◽  
Public Managers ◽  
Public Reaction ◽  
Public And Private Sector

The Gulf Coast Waste Disposal Authority is a regional public agency created by the State of Texas to design and implement water quality management systems in three counties surrounding Galveston Bay. This article will outline the water quality management strategy employed by the Authority for a highly industrialized and populated region. Regional treatment and public and private sector cooperation will be presented as a management objective for muncipal and industrial waste disposal. A description of the background and operations of the Authority will be included along with examples of joint or combined wastewater treatment. The pressing problem of hazardous waste management in Texas will be discussed. The Authority's experiences with facility siting and public reaction will be summarized and a new approach to help resolve these issues will be presented. The article will conclude with some thoughts on strategic planning for public managers.

Institutional and legislative structure of water quality management in Turkey

1994 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 261-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Selmin Burak ◽  
I. Ethem Gönenç ◽  
Arzu Erol
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Water Quality ◽  
Quality Management ◽  
Water Quality Management ◽  
Secondary Importance ◽  
Structure Of Water ◽  
Legal Structure ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Legislative Structure

This paper examines the administrative and legal structure of the wastewater sector in Turkey, identifying its shortcomings and their causes, and suggests solutions. The study begins by outlining the existing administrative and legal structure, then focusing on the areas where difficulties are faced and seeking solutions to them. Those administrative and legal facets which have produced improvements and/or function effectively have been analysed so as to provide examples for other areas. When examining the sector it was observed that problems common to every area are the failure to adequately define powers and responsibilities, the lack of coordination between sectoral organisations, and the fact that attention is generally concentrated on routine matters of secondary importance. The fact that numerous organisations share powers in the same area causes confusion. Plurality also creates difficulties where enforcement is concerned. The existence of more than one set of regulations relating to the same area gives rise to loopholes. At the same time, unrealistic, and hence unenforceable standards undermine the effectiveness of sanctions. It has been concluded that a single organisation should be invested with the legal powers to lay down the principles of water management, that environmental courts should be set up to enforce legislation by means of sanctions; and that for this purpose existing legislation should be reexamined and revised as necessary and/or brought up to date.

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