Piloting the risk assessment phase of the Watershed Safety Plan (WSSP) is completed
During the first year of the project, we have collected data about the pilot areas, prepared risk factors and discussed them extensively within the partnership and with target groups. As a result, we have successfully created risk maps for the pilot areas, which marks the final step in the risk assessment stage of the WSSP operational model.
The WSSP project has reached an important milestone as the first of the three key phases, the risk assessment pilot, is completed.
Piloting the risk assessment stage of the WSSP operational model
Creating diffuse pollution risk maps for the pilot areas
Piloting the field stage of the WSSP operational model
Designing, implementing, and testing water protection measures in the pilot areas
Creating a guide for the WSSP operational model and recommendations for future development
The risk assessment stage consists of three main tasks: data collection, identification of risk factors, and creation of risk maps.
Data collection forms the foundation for the risk assessment
Data collection includes collecting background information about the catchment area. Examples of background information are climate data and what type of activities, such as traffic or agriculture, take place in the catchment area. In addition, taking water samples to set the baseline level of pollution levels is crucial. To further investigate the characteristics of the catchment area, the Geological Information System (GIS) mapping tools were used to identify the hydrologic network and land use areas, for example.
Risk factors determine the magnitude of diffuse pollution risk
In the WSSP operational model, mapping of the diffuse pollution risk areas is based on specific risk factors. The factors are divided into biological, physical, and those caused by human activities, such as typical nutrient load and the number of actors per area in selected land use areas. Deciding the relevant risk factors and land use categories for the operational model required a lot of discussion within the partnership. The main challenge is to develop a risk assessment that is simple enough to implement but still reliable.
Risk maps – the key activity in the risk assessment
Risk factors are used to create risk maps that show the areas where the risk of diffuse pollution is most significant. Risk maps therefore help to decide the locations of water protection measures.
Our approach to creating the risk maps included pre-defined steps that consisted of partners’ independent work on their pilot areas and joint meetings for presenting results, solving problems, and sharing learnings. In the first test round, basic versions of the risk maps were created. They were refined with country-specific data in the second round. The results of the second round were satisfactory as the risk maps presented the diffuse pollution risk of the catchment areas quite well.
Next: Focus on water protection measures
Partners will now focus on piloting the field stage of the WSSP operational model which includes implementing and testing water protection measures in the pilot areas. We will also begin to prepare the guide for the WSSP operational model which is a key result of the project. Later in the project, we will organize training sessions about implementing the risk assessment and field stage of the WSSP operational model.
About the project
Improving water management with a watershed-based operational model in the Central Baltic Sea area
The Baltic Sea is one of the world’s most sensitive and polluted seas. About half of the nutrient load in the Baltic Sea comes from diffuse pollution, which accumulates for example from urban areas, agriculture, and forestry. The WSSP project promotes a practical and resource-wise Watershed Safety Plan (WSSP) operational model that enables municipalities, water utilities and other relevant actors to reduce the amount of diffuse pollution from reaching the Baltic Sea.
