control is very important. Consequently, an adaptation to climate change is only
possible by an adaptation of the management of the dams.
In addition to flood protection, the ‘Rurtalsperre’ reservoir system serves additional important aims. Among the reservoir system’s functions is that of providing
good quality raw water for drinking water production. Whereas the different aims
do not always go in line with each other, still all of them have to be served. For
example, sometimes a controlled high discharge out of the reservoir is needed in
order to prevent flooding, but this can only be carried out to such an extent that
there is still enough water in the reservoirs to produce drinking water and maintain
the flow in dry periods.
Recently, Eifel-Rur region has experienced somewhat dryer periods during the
spring season, as a result of which the water flow through the reservoirs decreases.
Stillwater and falling water levels in reservoirs bear the risk of a decrease in water
quality, which results in a higher amount of production work and possibly drinking
water production problems; stillwater in these reservoirs always bears the risk of
eutrophication with effects such as algal blooms. Due to the topography and the
limited capacity, the ‘Oleftalsperre’ and the ‘Urfttalsperre’ run the risk of more algal
blooms during long dry periods. This can also have consequences on the reservoirs
‘Obersee’ and ‘Rurtalsperre’ downstream.
Concerning climate change with longer dry and sunny periods this problem is
expected to increase. At present there is a lack of knowledge about the behaviour of
the water quality within the dry scenario. The long dry periods in spring in the last
years already resulted in a loss of water quality in some of the reservoirs.
The following map presents the main surface water reservoirs’ location
(Fig. 4.1).
The Waterboard Eifel-Rur has executed a project to improve water reservoir
management. The project aims to prevent deterioration of the water quality in the
reservoir system. To this purpose the waterboard analysed the inflow patterns in the
different dams. Based on these results, a study was carried out on the management
system of the dams with respect to water quantity and quality. Suggestions for the
adaptation of the management plan emerged: one of the best results obtained is to
add a drought index in the management plan, which will help prevent the release of
too much discharge in an earlier stage compared to today’s practice. This leads to a
credit of water in dry periods.
The project thus managed to flexibilise operational decisions to improve the
performance of the management system, in which the different obligations of the
system are now still met under a wider array of meteorological and flow conditions.
Whereas certain dry conditions in the past would have made it impossible to
meet all obligations, under the improved system this would now be possible.
However, the issue of flexibilising the obligations is in our opinion not yet satisfactorily addressed. Particularly, the water rights regime ensures constant supply to
water users, and contains no incentives to reduce these water rights where there
could be potential for such reductions. The following sections present this situation
in more detail.
72
R. Vidaurre et al.
possible by an adaptation of the management of the dams.
In addition to flood protection, the ‘Rurtalsperre’ reservoir system serves additional important aims. Among the reservoir system’s functions is that of providing
good quality raw water for drinking water production. Whereas the different aims
do not always go in line with each other, still all of them have to be served. For
example, sometimes a controlled high discharge out of the reservoir is needed in
order to prevent flooding, but this can only be carried out to such an extent that
there is still enough water in the reservoirs to produce drinking water and maintain
the flow in dry periods.
Recently, Eifel-Rur region has experienced somewhat dryer periods during the
spring season, as a result of which the water flow through the reservoirs decreases.
Stillwater and falling water levels in reservoirs bear the risk of a decrease in water
quality, which results in a higher amount of production work and possibly drinking
water production problems; stillwater in these reservoirs always bears the risk of
eutrophication with effects such as algal blooms. Due to the topography and the
limited capacity, the ‘Oleftalsperre’ and the ‘Urfttalsperre’ run the risk of more algal
blooms during long dry periods. This can also have consequences on the reservoirs
‘Obersee’ and ‘Rurtalsperre’ downstream.
Concerning climate change with longer dry and sunny periods this problem is
expected to increase. At present there is a lack of knowledge about the behaviour of
the water quality within the dry scenario. The long dry periods in spring in the last
years already resulted in a loss of water quality in some of the reservoirs.
The following map presents the main surface water reservoirs’ location
(Fig. 4.1).
The Waterboard Eifel-Rur has executed a project to improve water reservoir
management. The project aims to prevent deterioration of the water quality in the
reservoir system. To this purpose the waterboard analysed the inflow patterns in the
different dams. Based on these results, a study was carried out on the management
system of the dams with respect to water quantity and quality. Suggestions for the
adaptation of the management plan emerged: one of the best results obtained is to
add a drought index in the management plan, which will help prevent the release of
too much discharge in an earlier stage compared to today’s practice. This leads to a
credit of water in dry periods.
The project thus managed to flexibilise operational decisions to improve the
performance of the management system, in which the different obligations of the
system are now still met under a wider array of meteorological and flow conditions.
Whereas certain dry conditions in the past would have made it impossible to
meet all obligations, under the improved system this would now be possible.
However, the issue of flexibilising the obligations is in our opinion not yet satisfactorily addressed. Particularly, the water rights regime ensures constant supply to
water users, and contains no incentives to reduce these water rights where there
could be potential for such reductions. The following sections present this situation
in more detail.
72
R. Vidaurre et al.