How vulnerable is a water system to climate change?

Each water system is unique and will respond differently to the effects of climate change. One body of water will be more vulnerable than another. However, waters that are already under pressure because of pollution will generally be more vulnerable than less polluted waters. Would you, in your capacity as water management body, like to gain insight into a particular water system’s vulnerability to climate change? The tools on this page can help you on your way.

Guide to Water Quality Stress Tests to gain insight into vulnerable water systems

What bodies of water are vulnerable to the consequences of climate change? And why? In 2022, the Foundation for Applied Water Research (STOWA) commissioned the development of a Guide to Water Quality Stress Tests. Such stress tests are intended to map out vulnerabilities by following a few simple steps. The method has been elaborated for urban areas but can also be applied to rural areas or national bodies of water. It comprises three levels: an initial analysis, a rough analysis and a detailed analysis.

  1. Initial analysis: an initial analysis is conducted on the basis of regional information available on system characteristics, condition variables and pressure factors.
  2. Rough analysis: computational climate scenarios are used to conduct a rough analysis. A calculation tool (stress test meta model) can be used for this step.
  3. Detailed analysis: a detailed analysis is subsequently conducted using a detailed system analysis approach.

The Guide to Water Quality Stress Tests serves the following purposes:

  • It provides you with insight into which waters are vulnerable and what makes these systems vulnerable;
  • Based on this information, you can draw up and assess measures;
  • It enables you to compile scenarios and simulate the effectiveness of measures and the scope of the Water Framework Directive.

The Guide to Water Quality Stress Tests has been developed in coordination with the National Water and Climate Knowledge and Innovation Programme (NKWK). In addition, the Guide is appended to the Guidelines for Standardised Stress Tests of the Delta Programme for Spatial Adaptation (DPRA) as a technical annex.

Go to the Guide, the corresponding calculation tool and the worksheets

Guide to Assessing Water Priorities provides guidelines for area development

The “Guide to Assessing Water Priorities. Climate change and water quality“ developed by the Foundation for Applied Water Research (STOWA) gives practical guidelines for taking account of water quality and climate change in area developments. The guide translates general points of departure relating to water quality into concrete guidelines for the design, use, management and maintenance of water systems and their environment. The points of departure and guidelines provide designers and plan assessors with a basis for the drafting and assessment of new spatial plans. Wherever possible, substantiated limiting values are provided for the designs. The report ties in with the more comprehensive publication entitled “Assessment of Water Priorities” which is currently being developed by the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG), the Dutch Water Authorities (UvW), the Association of Provincial Authorities (IPO) and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. This publication focuses on embedding water priorities in design and decision-making processes.

Roadmap shows measures to improve water quality

Would you like to know how to resolve ongoing water quality issues? An online tool developed by the Foundation for Applied Water Research (STOWA) – Roadmap to water quality measures  – will be helpful. The tool presents an overview of potential measures appropriate to your situation and indicates which sources or symptoms should be addressed first. You start by answering a number of questions, on the basis of which the tool will systematically collect data on the case. However, to develop an actual action perspective, you will need additional expert advice and/or to conduct additional analyses. The tool ties in with the Guide to Water Quality Stress Tests. For example, if a stress test shows that a water system is vulnerable on account of its excessive nutrient content, the tool will indicate which measures you can take to tackle the problem.

Limiting values tool shows the functional uses for which a water system is suitable

Water management bodies can use the Limiting Values for Urban Water Quality, Climate and Adaptation tool to gain insight into a water system’s vulnerability to climate change and what is causing such vulnerability. For each functional use, the tool shows the limiting values relating to various control variables. Based on the data entered, the tool draws up graphs, which immediately show whether or not the water system is suitable for a particular functional use and what control variables are responsible for the outcome. The tool can be used for the following purposes:

  • In the tool, you can indicate the current functional uses of a water system or any functional uses that may be of interest in the future.
  • The tool will indicate the current value of each control variable.
  • In the tool, you can indicate whether the value of a control variable will go up or down as a result of climate change, or whether it will remain constant.
  • The limiting values used in the tool are based on literature and expert opinions. However, these limiting values can be adjusted according to your own policy or requirements.
  • The results produced by the tool can be exported to a document in the form of graphs, if so desired.

Knowledge document shows effects of climate change or adaptation measures

Would you like immediate insight into the effects of climate change or adaptation measures on water quality in an urban area? Helpful information can be found in the knowledge document Urban Water Quality, Climate and Adaptation (pdf, 13 MB). This interactive document shows how climate change and adaptation measures can affect a water system’s vulnerability. The knowledge document is user-friendly and allows you to click through to topics of interest.

Guide to limiting values tool and knowledge document

Would you like to use both the limiting values tool and the above knowledge document to gain a picture of water quality in a particular water system? The Guide to Exploration of Climate Impact on Urban Water (pdf, 3.3 MB) will be helpful. It is based on a step-by-step plan, but you are free to follow your own path. On average, careful completion of the step-by-step plan will take 1 to 2 days.