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  • Integrated water resource management
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  • Water resources
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Human activity in a water catchment area may well pose a severe threat to fresh water resources - both surface water and groundwater. NIRAS provides technical assistance on all aspect related to management and investigation of water resources.

Surface water

Good surface water quality in rivers, lakes and coastal areas and the right physical conditions in rivers are vital to achieve environmental objectives and biodiversity. During the industrial development rivers, lakes and coastal areas has suffered from anthropogenic pressures. Discharge of nutrient and xenobiotic pollutants cause both short and long term deterioration of the water quality. In addition, using rivers and lakes as infrastructural transport of water has imposed physical changes like dams and weirs and straightening of the river.

NIRAS has a long record of successful completed projects of restoring the physical conditions in rivers using in house expertises within hydrology, hydraulic, morphology and biology. The projects often involve the use of advanced numerical modelling tools to design the physical changes.

Water quality modelling has been used to calculate the needed reduction of nitrate load into rivers, lakes and coastal areas to achieve the required water quality. The modelling tools are state of the art calculating the flow in one, two or three dimensions adding the water quality modelling of the total nutrient cycle.

Groundwater

Since the first Danish soil and groundwater clean-up Act was passed more than 20 years ago, NIRAS has been one of the leading experts on groundwater resource investigations. By interpretation of land use, water chemistry and geological data we make action plans for the protection of vulnerable watersheds. We assist with all aspects from preliminary investigations and risk assessments to planning, design and operation of remedial action. In this regard, we subscribe to Danish and international environmental protection guidelines.

NIRAS has been actively involved in the preparation of guidelines, technological development projects and other materials for the Danish Environmental Protection Agency and other public institutions. We strive to continue to be a leading groundwater resource expert in Denmark and internationally.

NIRAS’ services include:

• Mapping of groundwater catchment areas based on geology and groundwater chemistry.
• Assessment of land use and chemical load (e.g. nitrate, pesticides, organic compounds)
• Groundwater modelling (flow, land use load, transport of chemicals and risk assessments)
• Preparation and implementation of action plans to secure future drinking water supplies
• Assistance in relation to agricultural interests in the preparation of action plans and negotiations