MARCLAIMED: Developing solutions to droughts and water scarcity
Drought and water shortages are placing growing pressure on countries across both southern and northern Europe. The Netherlands has reported a water shortage after persistent dry weather caused river levels to fall and waterways in some regions to dry up.
The shortage is being driven by limited rainfall in different European regions that feed the Rhine and Meuse. At the same time, higher temperatures are increasing evaporation and raising demand from agriculture, households and natural ecosystems. Groundwater levels are falling, while weaker river flows are allowing seawater to move farther inland, threatening farmland, nature and freshwater intake points.
Authorities are responding by retaining and redistributing the available freshwater, giving priority to safety and drinking water.
Meanwhile, at its demonstration site on Texel, MARCLAIMED contributes to longer-term drought resilience by:
- Creating a local water reserve: Agricultural drainage water is collected, treated using granular activated carbon and stored in an underground aquifer for use during dry periods.
- Reusing existing water: Water that would normally drain away becomes a potential source of irrigation water for farmers.
- Protecting groundwater: The project monitors nutrients, pesticides and other risks before water is stored.
- Supporting future decisions: MARCLAIMED is developing tools to help authorities evaluate water availability, quality, risks, costs and system performance.
