Today is 22 March and the World Water Day, this year with a focus on groundwater: "Make the invisible visible". At SLU, we pay a little extra attention to water issues and their role in the global sustainability goals this week.
At SLU, more than 400 researchers and experts work extensively with water. From the springs and sources, via streams and lakes, through forest and agricultural landscapes and cities, all the way out to the coasts and seas. The availability of good quality groundwater is crucial to our and all other life forms' existence on the planet earth. At SLU, we focus on groundwater issues such as pollution and environmental toxins, technologies for purifying water and producing good quality drinking water, the impact of climate change on and the microbiological life in deep groundwater reservoirs.
Lutz Ahrens is an associate professor at SLU and works extensively with issues relating to drinking water. What is his view on this year's theme for the World Water Day? We asked him three questions.
What does water mean to you?
- Water is life. Sustainable management of water resources and access to safe water are essential for humans and ecosystems. Nowadays, freshwater scarcity and water quality degradation across the world is a serious problem that is threatening human and ecosystem health. Future water quality challenges include the impact of emerging pollutants and safe water reuse.
What is the status of groundwater globally and what do we need to do to assure a long-term and secure groundwater supply?
- Groundwater plays a key role in sustaining human life and activities. Groundwater is an important natural resource for drinking water and has hence a high economic value and social significance. Today, however, groundwater is at risk from water quality degradation from human activities and climate change. Agriculture is a large contributor to this degradation via long-term input of organic and inorganic pollutants such as nutrients and pesticides. It is thus of key importance to protect groundwater reservoirs and secure a safe and sustainable supply of drinking water in the future.
What does SLU do related to groundwater?
- Groundwater has a central role in the education, research, and environmental monitoring and assessment at SLU. I would like to highlight just a few examples of ongoing research on groundwater at SLU, including investigations on the impact of agriculture on groundwater quality, the sustainable management of groundwater in a circular economy, and the protection of groundwater as a drinking water source. The groundwater issues will become more important in the future due to the increased risk of groundwater quality degradation from human activities and climate change.
Aquaculture collaboration between SLU and University of Dar Es Salaam, by Anna Norman Haldén and Dirk-Jan de Koning, SLU.
Is there a definite value of water? By Professor Jennie Barron, SLU.
Trees and water, don't underestimate the connection, by Douglas Sheil, Norwegian University of Life Sciences.