1. 20 november 2018
Groundwater aspects in the Guidance No.24 on River Basin Management in a Changing Climate
Groundwater aspects in the Guidance No.24 on River Basin Management in a Changing Climate (Klaus Hinsby/Hans Peter Broers/Ronald Kozel/Elisabetta Prezioso)
which issues which are not covered with respect to groundwater?
What issues should be taken into account in RBMP’s
Sophie Vermooten (Deltares,the Netherlands)
with contributions from:
Elisabetta Preziosi (IRSA-CNR, Italy)
Hans Peter Broers (TNO/Deltares, the Netherlands)
Klaus Hinsby (Geus, Denmark)
Ronald Kozel (Bafu, Switzerland)

2. Content Introduction on Method
20 november 2018
Content
Introduction on Method
Impact of Climate Change on groundwater, primary and secondary impacts
Introduction WFD, GWD and RBMP
RBMP steps; gaps in relation to groundwater and climate change
Conclusion
I think that we should also briefly mention the Groundwater Directive from and how it relates to the WFD (Klaus)
20 November 2018

3. Groundwater and climate change
20 november 2018
Groundwater and climate change
Functions of Groundwater:
Groundwater for use (agriculture, domestic, industry, strategic resource)
Groundwater for environment (environmental flow needs, quality)
Groundwater for stability (‘subsidence control’, slope stability, infrastucture instability risks)
Groundwater as energy source (ATES Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage, Geothermal)
Aquifers as storage (Artificial recharge, CO2, nuclear waste?)
Groundwater as archive (data climate change in past, historical pollution loads)
Groundwater as a component of the global hydrological cycle
Gw mainly considered asa sustain for the GW dep ecosyst or as drinking resource in a receptor oriented approach so the maintenance of its status for itself is not considered so far. This shoudl change in favour of a more detailed knowledge of sw /gw interrelation an dchanging xlimate on the whole system.
Resource
Preservation
Safety
Energy
Reservoir
Preservation of CC records in gw major and trace elements chemistry, stable and isotopic composition and noble gas content!
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4. 20 november 2018
Method
T.R. Green et al. (2011)
Journal of Hydrology
Intro
As a minimum, this will require Member States to clearly demonstrate how climate change projections have been
considered in the assessment of pressures and impacts, monitoring programmes and appraisal of measures.
Guiding principles
Guiding principles are introduced in text boxes in the beginning of each chapter or key
subchapter. The principles are meant to be generally applicable and intentionally broad to
be valid across all Member States. The text boxes are followed by more detailed text
explaining the principles.
Suggested actions
Following the explanatory texts of the guiding principles, text boxes introduce more concrete
and practical actions to be taken in the coming years in order to apply the principles
EP maybe an example of a text box introducing practical actions could help
Purpose: Illustrate ways in which preparations can be made for climate change within the second and third RBMP cycles, including provision for floods and droughts.
Guiding principles => Suggested actions
20 November 2018

5. Groundwater Directive
Not once explicitely mentioned in Guidance document No 24
Art 3; Assessing groundwater chemical status and threshold values
Art 5; Identification of significant and sustained upward trends
and the definition of starting points for trend reversals
Art 6; Measures to prevent or limit inputs of pollutants into
groundwater
Do you need to take climate change into account when deriving the threshold values and determining the trends?
Input for the 2013 revision of the GWD?
Would this be a reason to revise the GWD?
20 November 2018

6. Intro: Impact of Climate Change on groundwater
20 november 2018
Intro: Impact of Climate Change on groundwater
Primary impact
Water availability (changing groundwater recharge and quality of groundwater renewal)
Saline intrusion in coastal aquifers and raise of the salinity of groundwater due to increased evapotranspiration losses, decreased recharge and increased sea levels
Biodiversity in aquatic/terrestrial ecosystems due to reduced/increased groundwater flow towards the ecosystems
Change in redox-hydrochemistry due to changes in temperature
Groundwater flooding
Source of info = guidance doc
Paper eurogeosurveys:
Much is still unknown about the patters of changing groundwater recharge and the quality of groundwater renewal, about the impact on groundwater and stream fluxes towards aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and about the general effects on groundwater-surface water interactions and evolution in quantity and quality driven by climate change[1].
However, the largest effects of climate change might be due to human actions that react on the actual and predicted changes in precipitation and temperature patterns. Examples of such secondary impacts are the increase of water demands and abstractions of groundwater for irrigation due to higher evaporation which may lead to falling water tables and salt water intrusion and the increased production of biofuel which may change groundwater quality by introduction of fertilizer and pesticides and increased water needs which may also effect the net groundwater recharge.
Changes in spatial variability and seasonal patterns
Ronald
Increase of water demand (esp. increased groundwater abstraction during periods of drought for agriculture mostly but also cooling of buildings?);
Subsidence due to groundwater pumping increasing impact of flooding
Use of biofuel impacting on the groundwater quality due to fertilizer and pesticides.
Infrastructure unstability/damage due to change in groundwater pressure / water tables e.g. Undermining of roads and railroad tracks
Increase of pollution by nutrients etc. due to higher temperatures and higher rainfall intensity / runoff and increasing risk of eutrophication and loss of biodiversity
Increased groundwater acidification due to enhaced acid deposition
20 November 2018

7. Intro: Impact of Climate Change on groundwater
20 november 2018
Intro: Impact of Climate Change on groundwater
Secondary impact (due to human activity adapting to climate change)
Increase of water demand (esp. increased groundwater abstraction during periods of drought for agriculture mostly);
Subsidence due to groundwater pumping => increasing impact of flooding
Changed land use practices and impact on water quality (biofuels, rates of nutrients leaching to surface water)
Infrastructure unstability/damage due to change in groundwater pressure
Saline intrusion due to (over)pumping
New energy strategies (heat/cold storage, carbon capture…)
Source of info = guidance doc
Paper eurogeosurveys:
Much is still unknown about the patters of changing groundwater recharge and the quality of groundwater renewal, about the impact on groundwater and stream fluxes towards aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and about the general effects on groundwater-surface water interactions and evolution in quantity and quality driven by climate change[1].
However, the largest effects of climate change might be due to human actions that react on the actual and predicted changes in precipitation and temperature patterns. Examples of such secondary impacts are the increase of water demands and abstractions of groundwater for irrigation due to higher evaporation which may lead to falling water tables and salt water intrusion and the increased production of biofuel which may change groundwater quality by introduction of fertilizer and pesticides and increased water needs which may also effect the net groundwater recharge.
Changes in spatial variability and seasonal patterns
Ronald
Increase of water demand (esp. increased groundwater abstraction during periods of drought for agriculture mostly but also cooling of buildings?);
Subsidence due to groundwater pumping increasing impact of flooding
Use of biofuel impacting on the groundwater quality due to fertilizer and pesticides.
Infrastructure unstability/damage due to change in groundwater pressure / water tables e.g. Undermining of roads and railroad tracks
Increase of pollution by nutrients etc. due to higher temperatures and higher rainfall intensity / runoff and increasing risk of eutrophication and loss of biodiversity
Increased groundwater acidification due to enhaced acid deposition
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8. WFD cycle 2012 Make operational programmes of measures Art. 11 2015
20 november 2018
WFD cycle
Year
Issue
Reference
2000
Directive entered into force
Art. 25
2003
Transposition in national legislation
Identification of River Basin Districts and Authorities
Art. 23
Art. 3
2004
Characterisation of river basin: pressures, impacts and economic analysis
Art. 5
2006
Establishment of monitoring network
Start public consultation (at the latest)
Adoption of groundwater directive
Art. 8
Art. 14
2008
Present draft river basin management plan
Art. 13
2009
Finalise river basin management plan including programme of measures
Art. 13 & 11
2010
Introduce pricing policies
Art. 9
2012
Make operational programmes of measures
Art. 11
2015
Meet environmental objectives First management cycle ends Second river basin management plan & first flood risk management plan.
Art. 4
2021
Second management cycle ends
Art. 4 & 13
2027
Third management cycle ends, final deadline for meeting objectives
Intro
Across Member States, consideration of climate change has been introduced to river basin management processes in a largely qualitative way, if at all, for the 1st RBM cycle for the
WFD. In some cases, adaptation has tended to be considered towards the end of the river basin management process. For the 1st cycle, the Policy Paper of the Water Directors placed
particular emphasis on ensuring that the Programmes of Measures are sufficiently adaptive to future climate conditions (so-called climate-check of the Programme of Measures, based on
available knowledge, data and common sense). For the 2nd and 3rd RBM cycles for the WFD, it is expected that climate change should be fully integrated into the process of river basin management
GWD
This new directive establishes a regime which sets underground water quality standards and introduces measures to prevent or limit inputs of pollutants into groundwater. The directive establishes quality criteria that takes account local characteristics and allows for further improvements to be made based on monitoring data and new scientific knowledge. The directive thus represents a proportionate and scientifically sound response to the requirements of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) as it relates to assessments on chemical status of groundwater and the identification and reversal of significant and sustained upward trends in pollutant concentrations. Member States will have to establish the standards at the most appropriate level and take into account local or regional conditions.
The groundwater directive complements the Water Framework Directive. It requires:
-groundwater quality standards to be established by the end of 2008;
-pollution trend studies to be carried out by using existing data and data which is mandatory by the Water Framework Directive (referred to as "baseline level" data obtained in );
-pollution trends to be reversed so that environmental objectives are achieved by 2015 by using the measures set out in the WFD;
-measures to prevent or limit inputs of pollutants into groundwater to be operational so that WFD environmental objectives can be achieved by 2015;
-reviews of technical provisions of the directive to be carried out in 2013 and every six years thereafter;
-compliance with good chemical status criteria (based on EU standards of nitrates and pesticides and on threshold values established by Member States).
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9. WFD RBM steps Risk assessment
20 november 2018
WFD RBM steps
Risk assessment
Monitoring and assessment of the status of surface water (ecological and chemical) and groundwater (chemical and quantitative)
Objective setting
Economic analysis
Programme of measures to achieve the environmental objectives
----
6. Link to Flood directive;
WFD-proof Flood Risk Management Plans
7. Link to Drought management and water scarcity:
WFD as basic methodological framework to achieve climate change adaptation in water-scarce areas and to reduce the impacts of droughts.
1 the summary of significant pressures and impacts of human activity on the status of surface water and groundwater (Article 5);
(Article 8, Annex V and the GWD);
- under Article 4 for surface waters, groundwater and protected areas, including in particular identification of instances where use has been made of exemptions (Article 4(4), (5), (6) and (7));
3. a summary of the economic analysis of water use as required by Article 5 and Annex III.
Intro
Flood directive
Pay special attention to the requirements of WFD Article 4.7 when developing flood
protection measures
18. Determine on the basis of robust scientific evidence and on a case-by-case basis
whether an extreme flood allows for the application of WFD Article 4.6.
19. Pay special attention to the vulnerability of protected areas in view of changed flood
patterns
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10. 20 november 2018
Step 1. Risk assessment; assessing pressures and impacts on water bodies
Mentioned
Change in groundwater demand and recharge system
Salt water intrusion
Effect of decreasing groundwater levels on dependent terrestrial ecosystem
Effect of large scale plantations for energy crops?
Lacking/ not mentioned
Surface water/groundwater interactions
change in contaminants fluxes towards surface water and coastal waters due to groundwater development or less recharge
Change in timing of Snowpack melting/glacier/permafrost groundwater dynamics
Groundwater flooding
Recharge mechanisms/storage capacity and residence time of high elevation aquifers
Leakage processes associated with carbon capture
Impact of heat-island effect on subsurface temperatures
Transboundary issues
Step 1. Risk assessment - the summary of significant pressures and impacts of human activity on the status of surface water and groundwater (Article 5);
Assess how CC will add or reduce the level of risk in order to effectivelly plan appropriate measures
Changes in spatial variability and seasonal patterns
example:
For example, Sandstrom (1995) showed
that a 15% reduction in precipitation, with no change ina 15% reduction in precipitation resulted in a 40/50% reduction in recharge (no change in temperature)
20 November 2018

11. 20 november 2018
Step 2. Monitoring and assessment of the status of surface water (ecological and chemical) and groundwater (chemical and quantitative)
Mentioned
Maintain groundwater surveillance monitoring for long time series + Monitoring of climate change hot-spots
Include reference sites in long term monitoring programmes
Lacking
Lack of monitoring of recharge processes
Assessment of Surface water/ groundwater interaction
Monitoring of salt intrusion in aquifers
Lack of long term monitoring of groundwater levels/spring discharge
Integrated monitoring and modeling of both groundwater and surface water
2. Maintain both surface and groundwater surveillance
monitoring sites for long time series. Set up an investigative
monitoring programme for climate change and for monitoring
climate change “hot spots”, and try to combine them as much as
possible with the results from the operational monitoring
programme.
3. Include reference sites in long term monitoring
programmes to understand the extent and causes of natural
variability and impact of climate change.
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12. Step 3. Objective setting
20 november 2018
Step 3. Objective setting
Mentioned
- Achieve good status of groundwater at the latest 15 years from the date of entry into force of the WFD (exemptions possible)
Questions?
How to deal with the RBMP timescale of 15 years versus groundwater slow dynamics
When considering impacts of climate change as a basis for justifying exemptions, how to establish climate change as the most probable cause of observed groundwater changes?
How will different climate change scenarios affect groundwater threshold values
under Article 4 for surface waters, groundwater and protected areas, including in particular identification of instances where use has been made of exemptions (Article 4(4), (5), (6) and (7));
4. Avoid using climate change as a general justification for
relaxing objectives, but follow the steps and conditions set out in
the WFD.
EP I would underline that WFD allows for derogation to meeting the environmental objectives in relation to exceptional causes such as extreme floods or prolonged droughts (Art.11.5)
20 November 2018

13. Step 4. Economic analysis
20 november 2018
Step 4. Economic analysis
Mentioned
Long term forecasts in supply and demand for water incorporating scenarios of CC. (groundwater supply for agriculture for ex.)
Robust/flexibel measures to a range of possible climatic futures
Lacking
Knowlegde on impacts of change of groundwater dynamics on measures (infrastructures= dams,dykes, etc.. )
Knowledge on possible groundwater related measures and its economic impact (artificial recharge, ATES )
Knowledge of economic impacts of groundwater level decrease due to reduced recharge (increase of pumping costs?)
Economical scenario’s on conjunctive use of surface water and groundwater resources
Economic analysis - a summary of the economic analysis of water use as required by Article 5 and Annex III.
5. Consider climate change when taking account of long term
forecasts of supply and demand and favour options that are robust
to the uncertainty in climate projections.
more energy required to pump the same amount of water --> costs increase
Types of adaptation options for water supply and demand (IPCC, 2008):
Supply-side
Increase storage capacity by building reservoirs and dams
Desalinate seawater
Expand rain-water storage
Remove invasive non-native vegetation from riparian areas
Prospect and extract groundwater
Develop new wells and deepen existing wells
Maintain well condition and performance
Develop conjunctive use of surface water and groundwater resources
Develop surface water storage reservoirs filled by wet season pumping from surface water and groundwater
Develop artificial recharge schemes using treated wastewater discharges
Develop riverbank filtration schemes with vertical and inclined bank-side wells
Develop groundwater management plans that manipulate groundwater storage, e.g. resting coastal wells during times of low groundwater levels
Develop groundwater protection strategies to avoid loss of groundwater resources from surface contamination
Manage soils to avoid land degradation to maintain and enhance groundwater recharge
Demand-side
Improve water-use efficiency by recycling water
Reduce water demand for irrigation by changing the cropping calendar, crop mix, irrigation method and area planted
Promote traditional practices for sustainable water use
Expand use of water markets to reallocate water to highly valued uses
Expand use of economic incentives including metering and pricing to encourage water conservation
Introduce drip-feed irrigation technology
License groundwater abstractions
Meter and price groundwater abstractions
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14. 20 november 2018
Step 5. Programme of measures to achieve the environmental objectives (Article 11).
Farming practices? Extra irrigation from groundwater
Artificial recharge?
Mentioned
- Counterproductivity of measures that decrease the resilience of water ecosystems.
- Apply WFD Article 4.7 to adaptation measures that are modifying the physical characteristics of water bodies (e.g. reservoirs, water abstractions, dykes) and may cause deterioration in water status. No
Knowledge on robustness of groundwater related measures ( artificial recharge?)
Knowledge on counterproductiveness of measures with respect to the groundwater dynamics?
Knowledge on counterproductiveness of measures with respect to the aquifer ecosystems (microcosms) ?
6. Take account of likely or possible future changes in climate when planning measures today, especially when these measures
have a long lifetime and are cost-intensive, and assess whether these measures are still effective under the likely or possible future
climate changes.
7. Favour measures that are robust and flexible to the uncertainty and cater for the range of potential variation related to
future climate conditions. Design measures on the basis of the pressures assessment carried out previously including climate
projections.
8. Choose sustainable adaptation measures, especially those with cross-sectoral benefits, and which have the least
environmental impact, including GHG emissions.
EP Knowledge of aquifer ecosystems (microcosms) and their alteration due to CC is very poor. Possible impacts on the aquifer ecosystems of measures such as ground water recharge (can exogenous waters carry different microcosms in aquifers??) are not considered
KLAUS: Conflicts between intensive agriculture and groundwater quantitative and chemical status especially based on environmental objectives for ecosystems
River morphology?
Counterproductiveness of measures?
20 November 2018

15. Green et al. 2011
Exanples of adaptation options; nl to stop gw heffing door waterleiding, provincies
20 November 2018

16. Flood risk management and adaptation
Lacking
Knowledge on impact of change in flood vulnerability =>Increase of loading of common urban contaminants to groundwater (oil, solvents, sewage)
Benefits of flooding for groundwater recharge (quantity and quality)
Relation between protected groundwater dependent terrestrial ecosystems and flooding?
20 November 2018

17. Drought management and water scarcity and adaptation
Mentioned
- Make full use of the WFD environmental objectives, e.g. the requirement to achieve good groundwater quantitative status helps to ensure a robust water system, which is more resilient to climate change impacts.
Lacking
Role of groundwater in drought mitigation
potentially less sensitive to CC than surface water bodies which often rely on groundwater discharge to maintain baseflow conditions
groundwater storage as a buffer versus protection of groundwater dependent environmental systems
large storage capacity
Groundwater as a strategic reserve
Knowledge on Environmental flow needs with respect to groundwater
Alteration of hydraulic properties of aquifers, such as transmissivities due to persistent and severe dry periods and its effect on recharge
20 November 2018

18. Conclusions (top 3?)
Secondary impacts are much more important than primary impacts
Land use change
Quality of groundwater renewal
Increased irrigation from groundwater
Increased salt water intrusion due to overpumping
Groundwater directive not mentioned
Groundwater quality aspects not yet addressed
Climate proof long-term groundwater management plans
Conjunctive use
Changes in groundwater recharge patterns
Changes in pollutant pathways
Groundwater/surface water interaction (quantity and quality)
Groundwater dependent ecosystems
Crops/ biofuels… no restrictions in using fertilizers!!
20 November 2018

19. Questions?
Donal Dealy ?? Groundwater and visual
20 November 2018