Water quality management in the coastal city in the period of considerable water consumption decrease

Abstract

Gdansk water supply system belongs among the oldest in Continental Europe. In 1992 one of the first joint-venture water companies was established in the city. Under a contract concluded between the firm and the municipality, the company was obliged to secure quick and considerable improvement of drinking water quality. At the same time a considerable water consumption decrease was observed. The drop entails new environmental, technical and economic problems. The biggest threat to the supplies of safe and good quality water is the phenomenon of secondary pollution of water resulting from the overdimensioning of the water supply network. Positive aspects of water consumption decrease are related to the opportunity of more rational and sustainable water resources management. The solutions adopted in Gdansk can serve as a starting point for working out the best model for water quality management in the coastal cities.

The influence of city water consumption on the water balance and quality of drinking water supply with implications for altered operating rules

“…The decrease in drinking water consumption in cities is not a new phenomenon; it has been reported in both old and new member states of the European Union (Bogdanowicz et al 2001;Rajala & Katko 2004). Both an increase and a decrease in water consumption provide new challenges to water works and resource managers.…”

A sensitivity analysis of the European Union coastal zone based on environmental and socio-economic sustainability indicators

“…More specific aspects of sustainability have also been addressed, for instance water quality [38] and resource management in coastal waters -aquaculture [39], fishing or mussel cultivation [40]. The results of the quantitative assessment of habitat and nutrient fluxes in coastal areas as an environmental factor were analysed [41,42].…”