2023

Susanne Schmeier: "Better co-operation around the Meuse to avoid conflict"

When we think of tensions or conflicts over water, we may mainly think of the Middle East and Africa. But they also exist in Europe and around the Meuse River. We talked about it with Susanne Schmeier of the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education.

Susanne Schmeier is the Associate Professor of Water Law and Diplomacy, and her work revolves around conflicts over water, "because there is too little or too much of it. Or because the water is highly polluted," she says. We might expect these kinds of tension to play out in the Middle East and Africa, but she says: "They also occur in Europe, and the potential for conflict is greater because of climate change, increased use of water in agriculture and households."

Water diplomacy is Schmeier's field: "We try to prevent the escalation of tensions and conflicts to subsequently avoid negative impacts on people, animals and the environment. Water can be a source of conflict, but fortunately it can also bring us together."

In Europe, we have good ways of dealing with water conflicts, she says. For example, talks and negotiations between politicians and the staff of organisations such as Rijkswaterstaat (the Department of Waterways and Public Works) and the International Meuse Commission, or going to court if necessary. "But relationships are not so good in other parts of the world, and then problems can arise more easily." 

Cars and greenery

Schmeier, who is from Germany, cites the Tesla plant which recently opened near Berlin as an example of conflict in Europe – producing cars requires huge amounts of water. "This is an area with a lot of water scarcity. In summer, residents are subject to restrictions: you are not allowed to water your garden or wash your car, and then suddenly this big factory arrives. As a result, there are tensions, and residents have started legal cases against the company."

Another example is the battle for water between Spain and Portugal. Several rivers flow through both countries and treaties define who gets how much. "In recent years, Spain took more water than allowed from the river flowing into Portugal," she says. In addition, she said: "The water all goes to agriculture for vegetables we eat here, while people there don't have enough water." 

Pointing at each other

Closer to home, Schmeier points to the fact that river flows in recent summers have been quite low in the Netherlands and surrounding countries. Too little water flowed through the Rhine, and in the Meuse, besides quantity, quality was a problem because pollutants were not diluted enough.

When water contains overly high concentrations of pollutants and drinking water companies have to stop their abstraction, tensions can arise between countries and sectors as to where the pollution comes from, she explains. "Everyone then points at each other." There is no accurate, complete overview of permits for discharging pollutants, so we do not have a good idea of what is entering the Meuse. 

Dykes instead of drinking water

To avoid tensions, it must first be clear which sectors and groups use water and exactly how much they need, Schmeier explains: households, agriculture, industry, shipping, the energy sector, tourism, fishing. 

But what if there is not enough for everyone – who gets priority? "Yes, that is a challenge," she says. Countries can use legal rankings to distribute water in case of water scarcity. In the Netherlands this is called the priority sequence, and in Flanders it is known as the assessment framework for priority water use. Unlike in most other countries, the Netherlands' first priority is dykes rather than drinking water. "These need to stay damp," Schmeier explains. "If the water in the rivers and groundwater is too low, they can break up and then when there is a lot of rain, you have a problem." The priority sequence and the assessment framework for priority water use do not take water quality into account.

Photo 1: Susanne Schmeier, Associate Professor of Water Law and Diplomacy at the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education.

And what do you do when rivers flow through multiple countries? Schmeier: "This is often not regulated internationally, including in the Meuse river basin. It is difficult to explain to people from another country that they will be getting less drinking water because their neighbours need the water for something." In short, you have to deal with all kinds of feelings: make everyone understands who needs water for what and then find a compromise. So it is helpful to have an accurate picture of which sectors and groups use water and exactly how much they need. 

More research on drought

Tensions about water are still fairly new in Europe, says Schmeier. "We are now slowly looking at what can be done about it." Better data are needed first of all, she stresses. On how much water flows through rivers, what the difference is between summer and winter and what we can expect in 10, 30 and 50 years in light of climate change. And what effect could that have on pollutants and what does that mean for our drinking water and also for animals and plants?

Most studies on water in Europe focus on water quality, not water scarcity, says Schmeier. "The subject of drought has not been on the map in the Netherlands for a long time, as there was always the feeling that we had plenty of water. The Netherlands has a lot of experience in flood management, which we now need to reinforce with knowledge and expertise in drought management."

Better technology

With the right data on drought in the Netherlands, we can negotiate, reach agreements and take policy measures for the international Meuse river basin: prepare together, adapt, develop and invest in better technology. As an example, she cites more efficient irrigation technology by delivering water directly to the roots of plants instead of spraying over them, which leads to water evaporation. And if we invest more in solar and wind power, less cooling water will be needed for power plants.

Another option is to build more dams and reservoirs to hold water when it rains large amounts. Schmeier: "But that would result in many environmental problems. That's why we must carefully weigh up all the different options and consider how to deal with the challenges ahead. Thus, in this context, investments across borders can potentially contribute to solutions."

It is important that countries inform each other about what they want to do and plan together, she says. A few years ago, for instance, the Egyptian president threatened to send his army to Ethiopia because the Ethiopians were building a dam, affecting the amount of water in Egypt's Nile. 

Greater understanding through serious games

The IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, where Schmeier works, uses 'serious games' to illustrate theory and build understanding of different water needs. The Institute uses these for teaching students and for training staff from foreign government agencies, research institutes and NGOs.

Different scenarios are built into the serious games: more or less population growth, climate change, one or more dams, for example. Participants are given different roles: one plays the minister of environmental affairs, another an NGO representative, a third a resident. "Normally you think mainly about your own perspective and national interests," says Schmeier. "By playing a game like this, you can look at it much more neutrally and objectively and discuss the best solution together." 

War about water

Water conflicts come in many gradations. Conflicts like the one between Egypt and Ethiopia are unknown in Europe and, as far as we know, only once in history has a real war broken out over water, says Schmeier. That was more than 3,000 years ago between the kingdoms of Umma and Lagash in present-day Iraq.

After all, you can't win a war about water. "Water is so important that countries eventually decide to work together," she says. "Because what can you do if your neighbour builds a dam? If you blow up the dam, you'll get flooded." Moreover, countries in conflict about water often still have trade relations. "Are you going to risk that and fight about water? I don't think so."

Tensions that persist for a long time do occur. In Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria, for example, around the Euphrates and Tigris rivers. "Then it's the local population that suffers." Another example she cites are areas in Africa where there is competition and local violence between farmers and shepherds about access to a water source.

Taking action

Back to the Meuse. Schmeier stresses that the countries around this river have been co-operating for a long time: in 1863, there was already a treaty on the use of Meuse water. "Very good, this long history of co-operation. On the other hand, there are many new problems, with not enough being done about them yet." She is referring to the decline in water quality as there is often less water flowing through the Meuse, leading to the rise in harmful chemicals, such as PFAS. "Everyone knows about these problems, but too little is being done about them.”

As a good example of how things can be done, she cites the countries around the Danube River that have agreed on a strategy on how to deal with low water levels due to climate change. "I think there is still a lot of work to do in the Meuse river basin. If those 19 countries around the Danube can do it, it should also be possible for the Meuse. It is high time for the countries and sectors around the Meuse to co-operate more and take action. This will allow us to avoid tensions that affect the population, the environment and the economy."