What are the important factor(s) in maintaining the sustainability and adaption of the water resources within the watershed?

This is Peter Petersen.  I am currently writing a manual on the impact of the climate change on the hydrological cycle. One of topics is dealing with what do the water treatment operators and water resources managers need to know about the things that impact their watersheds in terms of sustainability and adaption particularly when they are experiencing an increase flux of people moving into their watersheds, like one example is the southwestern region of USA. I would appreciate any assistance that you might have. Thanks.   

Taxonomy

• Watershed Management
• Watershed
• Integrated Watershed Management

3 Answers

1. Your use of the term "watershed" is confusing - presumably you mean a 'catchment'?

   1 Comment

   1. Hi Peter,

      Good morning. The term, catchment, is a part of the watershed. what about the mountains, hills, and ridges where the water such as rain or snow is collected or settled and runs down the slope into a body of water such as a lake, or a river? In another words, watershed includes the land forms.  

2. One factor decreased water permeability to the watershed.  As open spaces (farmland, forests, etc.) are developed with buildings, roads, driveways, sidewalks and patios, rain water is directed to storm sewers, which redirect water to streams and rivers.  I can think of two solutions.  1)  recover storm water for treatment and 2) use permeable concrete and blacktop.  My son operates a masonry business and has installed permeable driveways, sidewalks and patios.  He often struggles with getting permits because many municipalities are unfamiliar with the material differences and installation techniques.

3. Hello Peter,

   This is a complicated issue that affects many water supply operators. Climate change increases evaporation rates (ET) and will likely cause a change in precipitation (P) inputs. This affects available water quantity and quality (e.g. temperature, sediment concentration, biological status)  At best, these changes in ET and P will cancel out on an annual basis, but you could still experience longer dry periods causing water shortages or floods in case of surface water use.

   The influx of people leads to an increase in demand for water supply operators but often also in more agricultural activity. Water extraction during dry periods for irrigation may then increase water use / shortages, such that the situation becomes unsustainable and there is an increased release of fertilizer and pesticides. Long-term monitoring of river and groundwater resources in the source area is key to detecting changes and for sustainability evaluation. Water supply operators should realise that off-site changes in their source areas can cause changes in both quantity and quality (e.g. nutrients, pesticides, sediment concentrations, other contaminants) at their water intakes / pumping stations.

   The power of water supply operators to implement restrictions on water use by others in their source areas is often limited and they need to collaborate with all stakeholders to develop a master plan that guarantees that they have sufficient resources of good quality to meet future demands under a changing climate. Water supply operators should therefore not only focus on their plant, but also work together with other stakeholders (government agencies, agricultural sector, industry) to promote integrated water resource management in their source areas. A first step could be for water supply operators to make a climate resilience study, also taking into account population growth and land use change.

   I am involved in giving training to water supply operators in developing countries on this issue and I hope the above explanation helps.

   Regards,

   Maarten

   1 Comment

   1. Hello, one of topics relating to the impact of the climate change on the hydrological cycle is dealing with  watersheds prior the drought event. I am looking for types of sustainable water management tools that are available to be used on watersheds. These would be tools that would  become part of the planning process to put conservation measures in place in case of a drought event comes along. These tools would general enough to cover a wide range of scenario that a watershed would encounter. It would be up to the local water operator and water resources managers pick parts that are applicable to their situation.