Enric Vázquez Suñé is currently a Scientific Researcher at the CSIC, Institute of Environmental Diagnosis and Water Studies (IDAEA), Higher Council for Scientific Research, and the Geosciences-Underground Hydrology Department. His research activity has been based on Underground Hydrology and Hydrogeology. He holds teaching roles in numerous doctoral and master programs and thesis supervision. In order to clarify certain questions about the relationship between climate change and its consequences on water resources and some other issues, he has been kind enough to offer us this interview. “Groundwater is the largest source of freshwater resources in the European Union. “Groundwater makes up the greatest source of freshwater in the European Union.” “It is necessary to study how much water we have and of what quality, apply solutions for its improvement and protect the water, not contaminate it.” “ We will be the only European country, along with Greece, which is part of this list of 30 countries that will suffer the greatest water deficit problems.”
What is the relationship between climate change, water and its price-cost?
The ranking of water stress on the planet is being predicted for 2040. The population and industrial and agricultural activities increase, with which the demand for water and wastewater generation is greater. Water problems are expected to escalate in certain parts of the planet.
In fact, we will be the only European country, along with Greece, which is part of this list of 30 countries that will suffer the greatest water deficit problems. According to the Directive 2006/118 / EC, groundwater is the largest freshwater “source” in the European Union, but it is also the most vulnerable. Therefore, the consequences of climate change are increased costs and competition for water resources. It is therefore necessary to study how much water we have and of what quality, to manage water uses appropriately, to apply solutions for its improvement and to protect water, not to pollute it, not to waste it.
According to Directive 2006/118 / EC, GROUND WATERS are the largest fresh water “source of resources” in the European Union, but they are also the most vulnerable.
The increase in population and the improvement in living standards will increase the demand for water. According to the forecasts on the evolution of the climate in Spain from the calculation models, it seems clear that the temperature will increase, while precipitations will decrease. Scarcity levels will continue to increase as water demand grows, and the effects of climate change are identified (UNHCR 2018).
“The consequences of climate change are increased costs and competition for water resources”
Is the quality of the water we drink really good?
Yes. In Spain and in advanced countries. The average consumption of a Spaniard per day is 130-170 liters. According to the WHO and United Nations, using the minimum consumption to be able to live is 20 liters per day and about 55 (if we include sanitation).
There are standards that define quality objectives based on the uses to which the water is put, and controls that ensure that the quality objectives are met. The importance of the subject by public opinion creates an intense “pressure” on aspects related to water quality. At the European level, these are the Water Framework Directive (WFD), protection of water bodies and ecosystems, promoting their sustainable use. The Directive 2006/118/EC, for the protection of groundwater. The Directive 98/83/EC, for the quality of water intended for human consumption.
At a national level, there’s the law of 1985 (modified in 1999) by Royal Legislative Decree, as protection of a scarce resource, and declares all inland waters to be public domain and forecasts the implementation of a hydrological planning process. Law 11/2005 of June 22 of the National Hydrological Plan. Royal Decree 140/2003 of February 7, establishes the sanitary criteria for the quality of water for human consumption, among othe
How much water reserve is there on the planet? And in Spain, by autonomous communities? Is the lack of water worrying for the future?
“Of all the water on the planet, less than 3% is fresh water.” This leaves us with only a tiny portion of total fresh water. In addition, we imagine that almost all freshwater is in rivers, but no, “the majority is in the form of ice and another large part is groundwater.” Groundwater is the main source in many areas of Spain.
A climate scenario is obtained by simulating the global climate with a general circulation model, or global climate model (GCM), which has been given a certain hypothesis of a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions scenario.
Each climatic projection is a climatic hypothesis that can be analyzed to study the impacts it will produce, among others, on the water cycle.
General trend towards a reduction of water resources: reduction in precipitation, increase in potential Evapotranspiration, slight reductions in real Evapotranspiration and strong reductions in runoff. Administrations both at European level and in Spain are already preparing for this situation. There are control networks to measure water in rivers and aquifers, and the drafting of new rules and regulations. The idea is to avoid serious problems for the population and about significant costs.
“There is a decreasing trend in the annual recharge to aquifers estimated for the whole of Spain during the 2010-2100 period according to all projections.” The tendency of recharging is to concentrate on the winter months and a final reduction of the summer.
What are the main pollutants in water?
Domestic activities, urban pollution, water use in homes, commercial activities and services is what generates wastewater, which is returned to the recipient with fecal water content (with a high biological load), food waste, etc. and currently with a significant increase in chemical products (bleach, detergents, etc.). Currently, a large contributor of diseases, mainly in third world countries, is the lack of resources, and they are transmitted by waterways. Cesspools, indiscriminate dumping, sewer leaks.
Urban pollution, sewer leaks, urban spills, landfills, warehouses, gas stations.
Agricultural activities, in addition to the problems of waterlogging, desertification, salinization, erosion, etc., another environmentally serious effect is the degradation of the quality of water resources, such as fertilizers, irrigation with wastewater, phytosanitary products, soil salinization. It is generally a type of diffuse pollution.
Livestock activities, discharges from farms. Emissions to the environment generated by farms can originate on the farm itself or during storage. Direct emissions to the ground, groundwater, emissions to the air in the form of gases.
Pollution from surface waters to aquifers.
Pollution from mining activities, industrial pollution. Industrial pollution is one of the types that produces the greatest impact, due to the great variety and quantity of materials and energy sources that can contribute to water: organic matter, heavy metals, radioactivity, oils, fats. Among the most polluting industries are petrochemicals, agri-food and energy (thermal, nuclear, water, etc.), paper, steel, food, textiles and mining.
Pollution risk facilities, nuclear plants, radioactive discharges, pharmaceutical industry, pesticide industry.
“Regarding the classification, there are around 70,000 synthetic chemical products, increasing each year by about 200 to 1,000 new chemical substances.”
It has recently been published that some scientists are carrying out a study on the relationship between wastewater and COVID19. What can you tell us about that?
A lot of work is being done on various aspects related to COVID19. (See WEB CSIC: https://www.csic.es/es/pagina-busqueda/covid
Regarding wastewater, IDAEA (Institute of Environmental
Assessment and Water Research) collaborates with the University of Barcelona and Barcelona City Council to determine the presence and behavior of COVID19 in wastewater in the city of Barcelona, in order to estimate the risk it poses to the population. This is something that is also being done in other cities in Spain and Europe.
What is the role that water plays when deciding on an environmental authorization for an industrial complex?
You must know what the previous state is, in quantity and quality. Impacts on the water environment and ecosystems must be forecasted, measures to correct these impacts should be proposed in the event of establishing such activities. There must be measurement and control networks of water resources (water quality, river flows, well levels, etc.) implemented, designed to verify that there are no effects on the water environment due to the activity. Such measurement and control networks must also allow, where appropriate, to measure the effectiveness of the corrective measures adopted.
Do you think that there is enough management in water research and development, is there an investment deficit in Spain?
“In my opinion, much more public investment is required, both in basic and applied research, and in the competent bodies in the management of water resources and management and control tools.”
IDAEA (CSIC) works to give answers and increase knowledge about water resources, to help people and the administration to know the quantity and quality of the water we have, to remedy the problems that are presented to us and to promote a fair and adequate management for the needs of the people, the country and the environment.
What new initiatives are taking place?
There are some European and state research plans, such as the Water JPI for the coordination of European R & D & I in the water sector, whose leader is Spain. Its objective is to achieve optimal coordination of financing activities and to support research in partner countries. Furthermore, the State Plan for Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation 2013-2016, which includes the challenge in action on climate change and efficiency in the use of resources and raw materials, including water resources. And finally, the Marco Program for the 2014-2020 period, through which the Spanish research groups called Horizonte2020 work.