Integration of climate seasonal prediction and ecosystem impact modelling for an efficient adaptation of water resources management to increasing climate extreme events (WATExR)

Water resources are closely dependent on the services supplied by ecosystems that maintain both water quantity and quality. Climate Extreme Events, like heat waves, droughts and floods, stress ecosystems and compromise their capacity to provide key services related to water (e.g., decreased streamflows, reduced capacity to process nutrients and organic matter, mobilization of pollutants, compromised fish stocks). Despite the vulnerability of the water quality sector to climate change, there has been limited development of solution-oriented tools integrating climate services and ecosystem impacts modelling for efficient adaptation to climate extreme events. Anticipating these events can help reduce the associated risks, and may result in a substantial reduction in financial costs associated with the mitigation of and adaptation to climate extreme events. 

WATExR aims to integrate state-of-the-art seasonal climate predictions and water quality simulations that ensures efficient decision making and adaptation of water resources management to an increasing frequency of climate extreme events. The main goal of the project is to bridge the gap between two research communities (climate and freshwater sciences) that have been working in isolation, to offer solutions to anticipate and manage the impacts of extreme events on water quality.

WATExR co-develop advanced, standardized tools tailored to end-user demands in six different case-studies of catchments across Europe (plus one in Australia), which cover a wide range of water management issues affected by climate extreme events including recreation, fisheries, drinking water supply, and the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive.