Water Quality Knowledge Impulse launched

In early 2016, PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, in its report ‘Water quality now and in the future’ (in Dutch), estimated that the planned improvement measures would very probably not achieve the desired water quality targets in 2027. This is the last deadline by which EU member states must have taken all the measures needed to meet the objectives of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). These objectives comprise both the composition of water flora and fauna, and the concentrations of chemicals. The PBL report also indicated that the objectives could still be met if a smart combination of measures is taken.

Demand-driven programme

The PBL message was heard and, in November 2016, elicited the declaration of intent ‘Delta approach Water Quality and Freshwater’ (in Dutch) from the government. An important component of this declaration is the reinforcement of the knowledge base. What knowledge do water-quality managers as well as stakeholders (such as agriculturalists) need to actually achieve the Delta-approach ambitions and WFD objectives? This question gave rise to the Water Quality Knowledge Impulse. In this research programme the national government, provinces, Water Authorities, water utilities, and the knowledge institutes Deltares, KWR, WUR and RIVM, will work on gaining more insight into the quality of ground- and surface water and into factors that impact this quality – such as nutrients, plant protection products, pharmaceutical residues and other yet unknown chemical substances. This added insight will enable water managers to take the right measures needed to improve water quality and enhance biodiversity.

One gate to existing and new knowledge

Through the Water Quality Knowledge Impulse, the minister of Infrastructure and Water Management has responded to demands from the Lower House for a clear knowledge base for water quality. The participants bring together existing and new knowledge, and make this knowledge (more) applicable in practice. The programme’s initial projects got underway in 2018. Starting today, the programme’s progress, and the knowledge it produces over the next four years, can be followed on its website: kennisimpulswaterkwaliteit.nl. The programme’s budget amounts to more than €10 million. The ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, the Dutch Foundation for Applied Water Research (STOWA), Water Authorities, provinces and water utilities are co-funding the programme.

KWR’s role

KWR leads the ‘Chain Explorer’ and the ‘Knowledge Valorisation’ projects. The Chain Explorer project involves research into those substance groups that still offer opportunities for emission reductions through a chain approach. In the Knowledge Valorisation project we will be coordinating the exchange, use and storage of the results of the Knowledge Impulse’s projects. In addition, KWR researchers will work on projects about behavioural change, nutrient loading, mixture toxicity and groundwater quality.

Start of the Water Quality Knowledge Impulse on 5 April 2019 in Utrecht. With (from left to right): Jeannette Plokker (RWS), Bram de Vos (WUR), Marjan Van Giezen (IenW, DGWB), Birgit Loos, Joost Buntsma (STOWA), Annette Ottolini (Evides), Marcel van den Berg (IenW/RWS), Mariëlle van der Zouwen (KWR) en Gerard Blom (Deltares). (Photo: Gabriël Franken)