through biodegradation, which is hindered when there is a reduced amount of
dissolved oxygen. Consequently, when precipitation events occur, the contaminants
are flushed into waterways and drinking reservoirs, leading to significant health
implications.
Although freshwater is the main issue of the two pilot cases mentioned above,
other DROP cases also face challenges concerning drinking water provision due to
the risk of droughts and water scarcity. For instance, due to its hydrographical
situation, water quality in Flanders is subjected to strong impacts on their water
volumes and quality caused by upstream countries (see Chap. 7). When interviewed
about drought and water scarcity, stakeholders insisted that a rigorous transnational
agreement on water volumes and quality crossing the border is essential to avoid
political tensions. Another example is the case study in the United Kingdom (see
Chap. 5). In order to improve service and quality standards related to drinking
water, water companies have been privatized since 1989, in order to increase
investment in water and wastewater infrastructure (Water UK 2015). Finally, for
both pilot cases in the Netherlands (see Chaps. 8 and 9), water quality has been
mentioned as an issue that has been well regulated by successive programs, among
which the most recent one is the Delta Decision Freshwater in 2015. Ensuring
sufficient freshwater for all water uses, including the environmental (“nature”)
perspective, is in principle a public task in the Netherlands.
11.2.2 The Diversity of Water Consumption Monitoring
Situations
Besides intensifying the challenge of maintaining freshwater quality and quantity
for drinking water provision, drought and water scarcity planning also requires
better monitoring systems of withdraws to manage water flow and freshwater
availability. Monitoring water use, particularly for groundwater, is an issue that is
treated differently in each site studied within the DROP project. For instance, in the
Vilaine pilot, we observe that only withdrawals related to drinking water are systematically monitored. The knowledge on the water extractions for other uses
(industrial, irrigation, and livestock) is much more fragmented because it is not
relayed to the water administration, even though it is a legal obligation.
In Groot Salland, in the Netherlands, the water boards ask each farmer once a
year to inform about their water extraction levels, although they have concluded
that this information is not accurate enough to manage water flows and groundwater
levels. Farmers rarely admit having exceeded withdrawal limits. To face current
monitoring challenges there are plans to introduce flow meters to monitor water
withdrawals at the field. Stakeholders of different water sectors in Flanders also
believe that providing drought-risk-related data and good risk communication are
essential to incorporate drought risks into their risk management practices in their
business. The situation is quite different in Eifel-Rur, where stakeholders indicated
220
C. Furusho et al.
dissolved oxygen. Consequently, when precipitation events occur, the contaminants
are flushed into waterways and drinking reservoirs, leading to significant health
implications.
Although freshwater is the main issue of the two pilot cases mentioned above,
other DROP cases also face challenges concerning drinking water provision due to
the risk of droughts and water scarcity. For instance, due to its hydrographical
situation, water quality in Flanders is subjected to strong impacts on their water
volumes and quality caused by upstream countries (see Chap. 7). When interviewed
about drought and water scarcity, stakeholders insisted that a rigorous transnational
agreement on water volumes and quality crossing the border is essential to avoid
political tensions. Another example is the case study in the United Kingdom (see
Chap. 5). In order to improve service and quality standards related to drinking
water, water companies have been privatized since 1989, in order to increase
investment in water and wastewater infrastructure (Water UK 2015). Finally, for
both pilot cases in the Netherlands (see Chaps. 8 and 9), water quality has been
mentioned as an issue that has been well regulated by successive programs, among
which the most recent one is the Delta Decision Freshwater in 2015. Ensuring
sufficient freshwater for all water uses, including the environmental (“nature”)
perspective, is in principle a public task in the Netherlands.
11.2.2 The Diversity of Water Consumption Monitoring
Situations
Besides intensifying the challenge of maintaining freshwater quality and quantity
for drinking water provision, drought and water scarcity planning also requires
better monitoring systems of withdraws to manage water flow and freshwater
availability. Monitoring water use, particularly for groundwater, is an issue that is
treated differently in each site studied within the DROP project. For instance, in the
Vilaine pilot, we observe that only withdrawals related to drinking water are systematically monitored. The knowledge on the water extractions for other uses
(industrial, irrigation, and livestock) is much more fragmented because it is not
relayed to the water administration, even though it is a legal obligation.
In Groot Salland, in the Netherlands, the water boards ask each farmer once a
year to inform about their water extraction levels, although they have concluded
that this information is not accurate enough to manage water flows and groundwater
levels. Farmers rarely admit having exceeded withdrawal limits. To face current
monitoring challenges there are plans to introduce flow meters to monitor water
withdrawals at the field. Stakeholders of different water sectors in Flanders also
believe that providing drought-risk-related data and good risk communication are
essential to incorporate drought risks into their risk management practices in their
business. The situation is quite different in Eifel-Rur, where stakeholders indicated
220
C. Furusho et al.