Wageningen University
Wageningen University is a university that is part of the pulse of the water sector. Here we bring together everything it publishes on Smart Water Magazine: its news, its blogs and the events it takes part in.
Researchers focus on tipping points in river deltas to better manage flood risks
Climate change not only leads to rising sea levels, but also puts our rivers to the test. Researchers of Wageningen University & Research warn that rivers are becoming more vulnerable to sudden, permanent changes, such as a river spontaneously changing its course. This happens when an extreme condition—for example, a peak water level or flow—pushes […]
How to save a sinking city
What do Venice, Jakarta, Manilla and Bangkok have in common? They are, or were, sinking cities. Philip Minderhoud studies the causes of subsidence in these cities. Groundwater extraction plays an important part in all cases. The good news is that this can be avoided. The best-known example of a sinking city is Jakarta. Large sections […]
The number of global river basins with water scarcity will triple due to future nitrogen pollution
Scientists introduced a new indicator: the Clean-Water Scarcity indicator that is based on both water quantity and water quality. Researchers found that the number of river sub-basins facing water scarcity triples due to future nitrogen pollution worldwide.When nitrogen concentrations in rivers are high, harmful algal blooms can develop, which produce toxins contaminating the water.
River floods and plastics: Where did the litter go when the Meuse flooded?
Plastic pollution is a global problem and Dutch rivers are no exception. Anyone who has ever walked along their banks will know the sight of bottles, caps and food packaging. But some of that litter may originate from elsewhere. How much plastic waste is transported and deposited by rivers? And what happens during floods? Researchers […]
Disappearing Himalayan snow & ice will impact food production in one of world’s major rice bowls
A major new assessment report from an eight-nation body, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), to which WUR contributed, reveals the changes to the glaciers, snow and permafrost of the Hindu Kush Himalayan region driven by global warming are “unprecedented and largely irreversible.” The study, Water, Ice, Society, and Ecosystems in the Hindu Kush […]
Drought makes heatwaves hotter, but less deadly
During heatwaves, there is no rain and the soil dries out. This further enhances the rising of heatwave temperatures. But remarkably, desiccated soils also have an advantage: they reduce air humidity and make a heatwave less deadly to humans. Heatwaves and droughts are causing acute excess mortality and damage to society worldwide. The number of […]
Scientists from Israel and the Netherlands find a new way to remove troublesome ions from water
Converting seawater into fresh water is important in water-scarce countries. For that process, certain charged particles – known as ions – have to be removed from the water. However, some ions are difficult to remove from water due to their chemical properties. Recent research by scientists from Israel and the Netherlands is helping to improve […]
Separating specific nutrients from wastewater is getting closer and closer
The possibility of extracting specific nutrients from wastewater in a very targeted manner is becoming increasingly important. Louis de Smet's research group, part of Organic Chemistry at Wageningen University & Research, has published about this in the prestigious journal Energy & Environmental Science. The study was conducted by an international consortium of diverse experts, consisting of colleagues […]
Purification of wastewater may lead to an imbalance between nitrogen and phosphorus
The amount of nitrogen and phosphorus in surface water has been reduced through purification of wastewater. Nonetheless, toxic algae blooms still flourish frequently. Because the purification plants are better at removing phosphorus than nitrogen, the balance between these two elements is shifting on a global scale. This results in a comparatively high level of nitrogen […]