Assessing the Effectiveness of the WFD as a Tool to Address Different Levels of Water Scarcity Based on Two Case Studies of the Mediterranean Region
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Methodology
3. Results
3.1. Evrotas, Greece—A Case of Seasonal Water Scarcity and Seasonal Flooding
3.1.1. Physical Characterization of the Region
3.1.2. Measures as a Response to Water Availability Issues
3.1.3. Climate Change Projections on Water Scarcity
3.2. Souss Massa, Morocco—A Case of Severe Water Scarcity
3.2.1. Physical Characterization of the Region
3.2.2. Measures as a Response to Water Availability Issues
3.2.3. Climate Change Projections on Water Scarcity
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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INSTRUMENTS | LEVEL OF APPLICABILITY | |
---|---|---|
EVROTAS | Regulatory and Legal Instruments | |
Monitoring and protection of water bodies, protection of biodiversity, reduction if pollutant loads, elimination of risks, regulation of wastewater treatment. | High level of applicability through national legislation | |
Technical Measures | ||
Establishment of protection zones around sinkholes; Enhancement of existing water supply network; Support of organic farming; Support tertiary wastewater treatment; Protection of geothermal hot springs; Groundwater quality monitoring; Prioritization on full cost recovery | Ongoing processes | |
Hydrogeomorphological Measures | ||
Foreseen reconstruction and restoration of wetlands areas; Artificial recharge of the groundwater aquifer; Demand management measures; Measures of efficiency and reuse; Construction projects such as desalination plants; Extensive abstractions control; Rehabilitation projects; Sediment control | Long-run measures - Financial constraints affect applicability | |
SOUSS MASSA | Regulatory and legal Instruments | |
Enhance controls; Support institutional change; Introduce codes of agricultural practice; Enable zoning (e.g. designating land use based on GIS maps) for improved land use planning; Introduce specific action plans and programs; Environmental permits and licensing | Applicability through national legislation – ongoing progress | |
Technical Measures | ||
Reduction of the fertilizer and pesticide application; Support of organic farming; Monitoring of hydrogeomorphological parameters; Improved irrigation efficiency; Creation of enhanced buffer zones/wetlands or floodplain management; Codes of agricultural practice; Zoning; Pricing instruments in irrigation; Land cover compensation | High level of applicability of interventions in the agricultural sector. | |
Hydrogeomorphological Measures | ||
Restoration of bank and degraded bed structure; Lowering of river banks; Reconnection of meander bends or side arms and remeandering of formerly straightened water courses; Restoration of transitional and/or coastal water through operational modifications; Modification of dredging hydropeaking; Sediment/debris management; Removal of structures: weirs, barriers, bank reinforcement; Bypass channels inundation of flood plains; Construction of retention basin; Habitat restoration (building spawning and breeding areas, fish ladders); Dam construction; Wastewater treatment; Measures to enable water reuse (rainwater harvesting); Seawater desalination | Long-run measures - Financial constraints affect applicability |
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Apostolaki, S.; Akinsete, E.; Tsani, S.; Koundouri, P.; Pittis, N.; Levantis, E. Assessing the Effectiveness of the WFD as a Tool to Address Different Levels of Water Scarcity Based on Two Case Studies of the Mediterranean Region. Water 2019, 11, 840. https://doi.org/10.3390/w11040840
Apostolaki S, Akinsete E, Tsani S, Koundouri P, Pittis N, Levantis E. Assessing the Effectiveness of the WFD as a Tool to Address Different Levels of Water Scarcity Based on Two Case Studies of the Mediterranean Region. Water. 2019; 11(4):840. https://doi.org/10.3390/w11040840
Chicago/Turabian StyleApostolaki, Stella, Ebun Akinsete, Stella Tsani, Phoebe Koundouri, Nikittas Pittis, and Eleftherios Levantis. 2019. "Assessing the Effectiveness of the WFD as a Tool to Address Different Levels of Water Scarcity Based on Two Case Studies of the Mediterranean Region" Water 11, no. 4: 840. https://doi.org/10.3390/w11040840