Changes in Regional Practices and Their Effects on the Water Quality of Portuguese Reservoirs
At the global level, numerous reservoirs exhibit a pronounced water degradation. Inadequate land use and climate change effects contribute to freshwater degradation and disrupt the ecosystem balances. This study aimed to evaluate the temporal and spatial effects of the surrounding area on two Portug...
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| author | Ivo Pinto Luísa Azevedo Sara C. Antunes |
| author_facet | Ivo Pinto Luísa Azevedo Sara C. Antunes |
| author_sort | Ivo Pinto |
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| description | At the global level, numerous reservoirs exhibit a pronounced water degradation. Inadequate land use and climate change effects contribute to freshwater degradation and disrupt the ecosystem balances. This study aimed to evaluate the temporal and spatial effects of the surrounding area on two Portuguese reservoirs: Rabagão and Aguieira. For each reservoir sub-watershed scale, the evolution of land use and soil occupation and the pressures reported over the past decade were analyzed. Additionally, official records of water quality parameters were collected, and water quality was assessed according to the Water Framework Directive (WFD). Both reservoirs show anthropogenic pressure, reflected in the water quality. Rabagão has good water quality, associated with undeveloped lands (47%), agriculture (26%), and one pressure on the aquaculture sector. Aguieira is characterized by high nutrient concentrations, low transparency, and phytoplankton. This is linked to various land uses, including forestry (75%), and agriculture (19%), as well as multiple environmental pressures. Key contributors include urban discharge (27 sites) and water catchments allocated for agricultural purposes (89 sites) and others. The long-term data showed an increase in chlorophyll <i>a</i> concentration, water temperature, and pH values, and a decrease in the concentration of total phosphorus, but higher than the reference value. Additionally, the usage of the surrounding area of the hydrographic basin shows that it is extremely important for water quality and should be included in the WFD. Addressing the problems in the surrounding areas reservoirs is essential to adopting measures that improve water quality, therefore guaranteeing the health of the environment as expected under the One Health concept. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9f408e5ac1f54babb7050fbd44e39ff0 |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 2673-4834 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| spelling | doaj-art-9f408e5ac1f54babb7050fbd44e39ff02025-06-25T13:43:41ZengMDPI AGEarth2673-48342025-04-01622910.3390/earth6020029Changes in Regional Practices and Their Effects on the Water Quality of Portuguese ReservoirsIvo Pinto0Luísa Azevedo1Sara C. Antunes2ICBAS—School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, PortugalICBAS—School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, PortugalCIIMAR/CIMAR LA, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, 4450-208 Matosinhos, PortugalAt the global level, numerous reservoirs exhibit a pronounced water degradation. Inadequate land use and climate change effects contribute to freshwater degradation and disrupt the ecosystem balances. This study aimed to evaluate the temporal and spatial effects of the surrounding area on two Portuguese reservoirs: Rabagão and Aguieira. For each reservoir sub-watershed scale, the evolution of land use and soil occupation and the pressures reported over the past decade were analyzed. Additionally, official records of water quality parameters were collected, and water quality was assessed according to the Water Framework Directive (WFD). Both reservoirs show anthropogenic pressure, reflected in the water quality. Rabagão has good water quality, associated with undeveloped lands (47%), agriculture (26%), and one pressure on the aquaculture sector. Aguieira is characterized by high nutrient concentrations, low transparency, and phytoplankton. This is linked to various land uses, including forestry (75%), and agriculture (19%), as well as multiple environmental pressures. Key contributors include urban discharge (27 sites) and water catchments allocated for agricultural purposes (89 sites) and others. The long-term data showed an increase in chlorophyll <i>a</i> concentration, water temperature, and pH values, and a decrease in the concentration of total phosphorus, but higher than the reference value. Additionally, the usage of the surrounding area of the hydrographic basin shows that it is extremely important for water quality and should be included in the WFD. Addressing the problems in the surrounding areas reservoirs is essential to adopting measures that improve water quality, therefore guaranteeing the health of the environment as expected under the One Health concept.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4834/6/2/29land uselandscape metricsspatial effectswatershed managementwater quality |
| spellingShingle | Ivo Pinto Luísa Azevedo Sara C. Antunes Changes in Regional Practices and Their Effects on the Water Quality of Portuguese Reservoirs Earth land use landscape metrics spatial effects watershed management water quality |
| title | Changes in Regional Practices and Their Effects on the Water Quality of Portuguese Reservoirs |
| title_full | Changes in Regional Practices and Their Effects on the Water Quality of Portuguese Reservoirs |
| title_fullStr | Changes in Regional Practices and Their Effects on the Water Quality of Portuguese Reservoirs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Changes in Regional Practices and Their Effects on the Water Quality of Portuguese Reservoirs |
| title_short | Changes in Regional Practices and Their Effects on the Water Quality of Portuguese Reservoirs |
| title_sort | changes in regional practices and their effects on the water quality of portuguese reservoirs |
| topic | land use landscape metrics spatial effects watershed management water quality |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4834/6/2/29 |
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