DIVERSIFIERAT BRUKANDE AV SJÖAR OCH VATTENDRAG: EN FRAMTIDSVISION FOR SVENSK VATTENVÅRD / Diversified use of water resources
The technical knowledge on how to improve the water quality in eutrophicated waters is relatively well known, whereas the tools available for society to manage and sustain reasonable water quality are less developed. We suggest that instead of viewing freshwater systems as problems, they should be viewed as resources possible to make use of in the same way as forests and agricultural land. Possible products include fish, drinking water, energy, tourism, biodiversity and recreation. Since some of these products cannot be harvested in the same water body, a diversified use may have to be applied where some waters are devoted for, e.g. fish farming, others for drinking water and biodiversity. By planning each catchment area from a diversified use perspective and facilitating a sustainable use of water resources, we forsee an improved overall water quality and an improved economic basis, especially for regions suffering from low population levels due to urbanization.