Identifying human induced pressures and their impact on water resources - the assessment of hydrological quality in river basins

The assessment procedure presented in this paper is a combination of tools, by which identification and quantification of human impacts on the quantity and quality of water resources within a catchment can be carried out. The application of the procedure is demonstrated in a meso-scale catchment. Quantitative pressures on water resources are identified using criteria of land-use structure, river morphology, water consumption, water abstraction and transfer, and the storage volume of dams and reservoirs. Additionally, human induced alterations of runoff dynamics are evaluated using statistical methods, taking into account climatic effects. Pressures on water quality are characterized using criteria for land use, agricultural intensity, population density, sewage system and urban runoff, as well as a detailed water and nutrient balance. To examine the human impact on water quality, different scenarios are calculated and compared to the actual status. The potential range of error in the predictions is estimated based on a sensitivity analysis.