Danube Watch 2/2019 - Joint Danube Survey 4
T he Joint Danube Survey is the most extensive investigation of a large river and its tributaries in the world. After the official start on the 27th of June 2019 in Budapest, sample-taking and testing began at predetermined sampling locations around the Danube River Basin. Its goal: to capture biological, chemical, and water structures; to examine Danube fish; to implement new methods of examination; and to test for micro-plastics along the entire Danube. The value of this river examination, the largest of its kind globally, lies in the high quality of the data and the Danube-wide comparability of the findings. Aside from the pre-existing parameters, 2019 brings in an additional focus on state-of-the-art methods.
The examination of invasive species will provide information about the effects of foreign plants and animals that have moved (or were brought) into the Danube. Invasive species often pose a serious threat to the well-being of native plants and animals. Therefore, understanding the depth of the threat they pose, as well as where they are predominantly found, can lead to the formulation of ways to combat their spread and prevent future introductions into the Danube's ecosystem.
Specially developed collection tools for micro-plastics ascertain the amount of plastic particles that are transported in the water flow of the Danube. With increased concern over the amount of micro-plastics contamination in the Danube and the recognition that nearly all of the Earth's water systems have been contaminated, systematic testing of the river for micro-plastics for the first time will secure a base-line understanding of the extent of the problem. This will allow for further testing in the future that can be compared in order to understand the developing state of the issue. The tests, as part of JDS4, will also provide vital information on the type of micro-plastics pollution, problem locations, possible origins and relative amounts – all of which will inform future policy decisions designed to address this troubling problem. See pages 18-19 for a more in-depth look.
A microbiology programme under Austrian leadership is concerning itself with the potential dangers from faecal germs and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This programme seeks to track the number of dangerous faecal-related germs and bacteria, especially E.coli, found along the Danube. Sampling and testing in areas immediately downstream from large metropolitan areas is especially important as sewage waste-water released in these areas is a major source of faecal contamination. Tied to this investigation is sampling to detect the number and varieties of antibiotic-resist bacteria in the river in order to discover how they develop as well as potential solutions. See pages 20-21 for more information.
For the first time in a major river, the largest investigation of eDNA (environmental DNA) will be undertaken. Within the scope of this, DNA will be examined in the water and compared to DNA information in a databank. What species live in the Danube can be determined through a water sample with this method and without the need to remove the plants and animals themselves from the river. These modern techniques will revolutionise and streamline ecological investigations in the future. Biological research and monitoring for the assessment of ecological quality could also very well become greatly advanced through the use of this method. It will have further serious positive effects on more specific research, such as the investigation of invasive species as mentioned above.
In addition to the targeted investigations of a number of pollutants, the technique of non-target-screenings will be put to use. Through this method, a digital fingerprint of the chemical make-up of the water will be created that will contain more than several tens of thousands of substances in small concentrations. From this fingerprint, the levels of natural and man-made substances can be ascertained, thereby providing information about the health of the river and the theoretical sources of unwanted pollutants. Samples are being taken from a total of 51 sampling locations as part of JDS4.
The goal of the Joint Danube Surveys is to fulfil the strong requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive in order to achieve good standing for all Danube River Basin waters. It is assumed from this that the findings of JDS4 will be able to reaffirm the positive trends created through the cooperative efforts of the Danube countries. The last JDS showed a consistently good water quality in the Danube for many stretches of the river and improved water quality among all of the Danube countries. The findings of JDS4 will provide an important decision-making basis for further necessary measures along the Danube.
Along with all of the new methods, focuses and equipment in play for JDS4, a vigorous communications and public outreach strategy has been put in place to make information on all aspects of the Joint Danube Survey and its findings not only available to the public, but also relevant. The concept of science communications is extremely important in that it provides a bridge between scientific experts and the general public. Making sure that the public has access to scientific findings and, more importantly, understands the importance of any findings offers potentially massive positive effects for both parties. See a more detailed explanation of science communications on pages 16-17.
Clean water does not mean an absence of all other substances. This is also true for river systems like the Danube. Lifestyles and business practices are reflected by the waters’ general health. On the basis of new analytical processes, a number of substance groups are detectable these days. The difference between dangerous and non-dangerous substances is what is important. Therefore, the current controls on the quality of the Danube are vital. These controls are regularly carried out in the national monitoring programmes of various Danube River Basin countries and often in cooperation with one another.
The ICPDR has organised the Joint Danube Survey, with renowned scientific teams, every six years since 2001. Thirteen states of the Danube River Basin, from Germany to Ukraine, cooperate on its implementation. With sampling and testing well under way, the full findings of JDS4 are expected to be to be released in by the end of 2020.
