Jointly understanding and validating the system and challenges
Inhoud
Development of the delta or region
Elaborate on the (vision about) developments of the Zuidwestelijke Delta in the long run (time scale: ages).
Themes and challenges in subregions or basins
Elaborate on the (vision about the) development of societal relevant themes and challenges in the Eastern Scheldt and Western Scheldt. Time scale: decades.
Challenges in this living lab / project
Low coastal areas like the Netherlands and Belgium experience salt water intrusion and therefore limited sources for fresh water. In the south-western region of the Netherlands fresh water is obtained from the Biesbosch basins, which are located at least 100 km from the consumers. These consumers are industry, households and agriculture/livestock. With increasing fluctuations in precipitation and (likely) sea level rise, this fresh water stress is very likely to increase in the (near) future. In order to decrease the dependence on remote fresh water sources, and thus increase local resilience, precipitation should be better collected and preserved, instead of immediate discharge to the (saline) sea in order to prevent flooding. Integrating fresh water storage and supply in spatial planning, while maintaining or even upgrading the water quality, benefitting all stakeholders is quite a challenge for current and future delta development.
Boundary conditions
- Serving multiple goals, like ecosystem, water availability and use, tourism
- Quality: use, reuse, discharge
- Quantity: precipitation, groundwater flow, buffering
- Sustainability: circular, safe, robust
- Location: Land use, spatial planning, salt intrusion, land ownership, environment, access
- Meeting local needs: safety, agriculture, industry, households
- Acceptance
Stakeholders involved
- Industry
- Agriculture, horticulture, livestock
- Government (water board, municipality, …)
- Consumers/community/households
