Danube Hazard m3c: Tackling hazardous substances pollution in the Danube River Basin by Measuring, Modelling-based Management and Capacity Building

Duration:
07.2020-12.2022

Financing:
Interreg Danube Transnational Programme.

Contact:
Ottavia Zolboli ozoboli@iwag.tuwien.ac.at, Matthias Zessner mzessner@iwag.tuwien.ac.at

Project staff:
Ottavia Zoboli, Steffen Kittlaus, Renata Kaps, Nikolaus Weber

Official project website, opens an external URL in a new window

Short description

Danube Hazard m3c builds on the three elements of water governance (m3: measuring, modelling and management) complemented by c: capacity building. Specifically, the project aims to improve the knowledge and understanding of the status quo of hazardous substances (HS) water pollution in the Danube River Basin, by integrating and harmonizing available existing data of HS concentration levels and by modelling emissions at catchment scale in pilot regions. To bridge critical knowledge gaps and to provide a robust basis for modelling and management, targeted measurement campaigns will be carried out not only in rivers but also in environmental and anthropogenic compartments leading to emissions of HS, such as soils, atmospheric deposition and wastewater treatment plants. A further goal is to enhance the transnational management of HS water pollution, through: i) coordinated prioritization of transnational measures with consideration of territorial needs, pursued through basin-wide emission modelling, assessment of management scenarios and elaboration of recommendations for the Danube River Basin Management Plan and ii) tailor-made training activities and workshops. According to the EU Water Framework Directive, HS pollution is a major water quality issue to be tackled in the Danube River Basin (DRB). This also applies to non-EU Member States, which committed to pursue similar goals within the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR). Despite a significant risk of failing to achieve such goals, this topic is heavily underrepresented in the current DRB District Management Plan (DRBMP) and national plans, mostly owing to substantial knowledge gaps and to the lack of system understanding as well as institutional capacity regarding HS emissions pathways and effective management options. The project aims to achieve a durable and effective transnational control and reduction of HS water pollution. Danube Hazard m3c is led by the TU Wien and counts on a strong partnership of top experts and stakeholders from universities, national authorities, international organisations, interest groups and environmental agencies.