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LimCo International

Our goals

To manage water in a natural manner means to get inspired by nature and to use or imitate natural processes effectively and efficiently, in order to sustainably protect water quality in a good status for future generations. Since the foundation of LimCo International we work for innovative and sustainable water management worldwide, concentrating on the interfaces between science/research, economy/industry and consulting/training.

  • As scientific company LimCo International offers junior scientists an ambitious platform to act in projects related to aquatic ecology, ecotoxicology, biology and environmental sciences.
  • As partner for industry and authorities LimCo International performs toxicological tests, ecotoxicity assessments, bioassessments and online biomonitoring according to OECD guidelines and EU water legislation, hence supports the practical application of nature-based solutions in water management worldwide.
  • As consulting and training institution LimCo International acts as multiplicator for scientific knowledge, by transferring scientific results and new technical developments in the water sector to the public and future generations.

Our goals follow the international UN-Decade “Water for Sustainable Development” (2018-2028), the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the UN World Water Report on “Nature-based solutions for water” (2018) and especially also the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) and related regulations. As well as the new National Water Strategy Germany (2023), the new European Urban Wastewater Directive 2023, and the UN-Decade for restoration of Ecosystems (2021-2030).

Please feel free to contact us. We are pleased to advise you personally and individually to design and install your water quality online biomonitoring system according to your specific aims and local conditions.

LimCo International Forschung
LimCo International Forschung
LimCo International Wasseraufbereitung

News from the water sector

What does climate change mean for our water?

 The federal government's national water strategy aims to "protect, restore and permanently secure the natural water balance, as well as to prevent water shortages and conflicting objectives."

As part of the German climate change adaptation strategy, various climate risks for water were identified:

Excess water caused by heavy rain and flooding has the following ecological and economic consequences with urgent needs for action:

  • soil erosion,
  • leaching and entry of nutrients, pollutants and pathogenes into water,
  • overloading of flood protection systems,
  • overflow from rainwater and combined sewer systems,
  • damage to agriculture and buildings, etc.

Water shortages caused by temperature increases (drought, extremely low water levels) have the following ecological and economic consequences with urgent need for action:

  • lack of water in soil and groundwater,
  • “shrinking lakes” worldwide,
  • biodiversity depletion (see below),
  • falling productivity of the soil for agriculture, crop failures ,
  • forest fire risk and forest dieback,
  • navigability of inland waters for the transport of goods, etc.

Climate effects on water quality are:

  • changes in stratification and mixing in lakes, e.g. oxygen deficiency zones,
  • change in food webs and possibly destabilization of the ecosystem,
  • entry of nutrients and pollutants during heavy rain and floods,
  • algae blooms, eutrophication and toxic blue-green algae blooms etc.

Climate impacts on biodiversity are:

  • loss of wetlands,floodplains and shallow water zones with their species communities,
  • loss of cold-loving species, e.g. trout,
  • immigration of heat-loving neobiota with risk of uncontrolled mass development (e.g.         Quagga),
  • loss of ecosystem services. etc.

Reference: Schauser, I. & C. Baumgarten (2024): Der Klimawandel und das Wasser: Risiken für Deutschland. KW Wasserwirtschaft, 17 (2), 89-95.

Links

https://www.bmuv.de/wasserstrategie

https://www.bmuv.de/themen/klimaanpassung/die-deutsche-anpassungsstrategie-an-den-klimawandel

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