T. G. MASARYK WATER RESEARCH INSTITUTE PUBLIC RESEARCH INSTITUTION Branch of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Hydrogeology The Branch focuses its activities on hydrology and hydraulics of surface water and groundwater. These activities include quantification and protection of water resources, studies of water circulation in natural and artificial environments, development and practical application of methods for the measurement and monitoring of water flows in rivers, reservoirs and aquifers, and issues of hydroecology. The Branch carries out expert assessments and participates in numerous national and international projects. Activities of the Branch are organised through the following departments: Rakovnický Brook after flood in May 1872 and in 2009 Hydraulic model of Děčín weir in a large hall of TGM Water Research Institute, public research institution Department of Hydrology Research on surface water and groundwater regimes, including assessment of long-range development and anthropogenic impacts; Studies of impacts of climate change on water regime and use of water resources; Balance assessments of water resources, optimisation of their use, cooperation in proposing measures in river basin plans; Development and application of methods for hydrological modelling and derivation of hydrological data; Assessments of extreme hydrological events (floods and droughts) and relevant protection measures; Field works in hydrology, preparation of hydrological data for restoration of landscape water regime affected by anthropogenic impacts; Cooperation in projects focused on restoration of rivers, landscape and on improvements of water quality in rivers. Department of Hydraulics Hydraulic research focused on watercourses and structures on watercourses; Monitoring and modelling of pollutant transport with suspended and resuspended sediments; Studies on derivation of minimum ecological flows in watercourses; Research on ice phenomena and impacts of thermal regime of watercourses and reservoirs on water quality; Modelling research of structures and river stretches in hydraulic and aerodynamic laboratories; Studies on flow conditions; Studies on flood protection of urban areas; Mathematical modelling of nutrients in rivers; International cooperation in studies on flood impacts in the Elbe River.
Department of Groundwater Protection Groundwater quantity and quality balance studies; Development of methods and tools for assessment of risk that good status of groundwater will not be reached and development of strategic tools for groundwater protection; Identification and assessment of diffuse pollution and exposure of groundwater to acidification and pesticides, revisions of vulnerable zones; Development of methods for the assessment of surface water and groundwater interactions and groundwater impacts on terrestrial ecosystems. Spring yield measurement by using rectangle weir Department of Hydrogeology and Environmental Burdens Expert activities in applied hydrogeology; Development of methods for identification, surveying, remediation and monitoring of contaminated sites and environmental risk assessment; Expert supervision in groundwater and soil air sampling. Czech Calibration Station for Current Meters The Calibration Station is accredited by Czech Accreditation Institute and carries out calibration of current meters that are used for measurements of flow velocities in open channels. Wastewater infiltration The main projects Sustainable use of water resources under conditions of climate change The project aims at evaluating future groundwater and surface water resources and likely development of the water balance conditions affected by the ongoing climate change. An example of the relationship between peak flows on the Tichá Orlice River at Sobkovice and their reduction consequently to transformation effect of polders in the upper part of the basin (below: Lichkov polder) The approaches currently recommended for assessments of future water balance conditions do not match current conditions, which are already affected by climate change and consequent change in water regime in the Czech Republic. New software tools are therefore being developed, particularly for addressing the links between hydrological water balance components and water management components of surface water and groundwater, and for simulation of future water resources. Strategy for managing emergency situations induced by occurrence of drought and water scarcity The objective of the project is to develop methods for managing emergency situations that can occur consequently to the occurrence of drought. The output of the project should include also a proposal for relevant legal framework, similarly to that, which has already been adopted for protection against floods in the Czech Republic. This will include setting up degrees Holedeč water gauging station on the Blšanka River
of drought (equivalent to degrees of flood protection activities) by using knowledge on drought indicators and knowledge of water management authorities, state institutions and enterprises involved in problems concerning water resources and water demands, particularly during dry periods. In addition to defining the degrees of drought, the output of the project should propose necessary powers of the state and regional authorities in water management and priorities for the use of water during dry periods. Development of mathematical models for water balance simulation, identification of their parameters and experimental testing For a long period of time, the Department of Hydrology permanently develops modifications and applications of Bilan water balance model, which originally operated in monthly step. The project currently focuses on calibration and verification of the model for daily step and its modification aimed at better reflection of the relationships between total runoff from a catchment and groundwater drainage. Ongoing is a study of sensitivity of changes in air temperature, precipitation and relative air humidity on results of the simulation of runoff and groundwater recharge. Example of runoff simulation by Bilan Hydraulic survey of Děčín weir on the lower Elbe River The research was launched in 2002 on a hydraulic model scaled 1 : 70, located in the large hall of Hydraulic Laboratory, and simultaneously 1D, 2D and 3D mathematical models were applied. A hydraulic model with a fixed bottom was used to optimise the arrangement of the weir and to design partitioning walls of the lock. A hydraulic model with a moving bottom was used to verify conditions for fluent routing of floods and to propose necessary structural modifications of all objects and their reinforcements, in particular at the inflow and outflow sections of the hydroelectric power plant. In 2010 the research activities were focused on optimisation of a proposed bio-corridor. The research was carried out on two hydraulic models based on experience from similar already built and operated facilities. In 2011 the hydraulic model in scale 1 : 70 was used to optimise operation of weir doors with respect to effective outflow of ice from the upper reservoir. In addition, the research was also aimed at examining options for cleaning the shipway during the beginning of ice phenomena and putting it into operation in the early thaw period. Motor freighter on a shipway at the beginning of a frost period Determination of minimum residual flows In connection with an amendment of the Water Act (specifically Section 36), it was decided that setting of minimum residual flows will be approved by a regulation of the Government of the Czech Republic. This issue is responsibility of Ministry of the Environment and therefore TGM WRI was commissioned to develop methods for their determination. This method will apply an algorithm to analyze long-term hydrological conditions of a basin under consideration and their seasonal and regional variability. Subsequently, this method will deal with uncertainty analysis of hydrological data and with determination of exemptions for selected types of water withdrawals. Final arrangement of a bio-corridor without bifurcation Development and accuracy of measurements of quantitative parameters of hydrosphere The Branch also develops measurement instrumentation for specific parameters of hydrosphere: For accurate measurement of changes in water level in hydraulic models and recording the changes in a time interval of hundredths a second simultaneously at several sites, e.g. for simulation of emergency shut down of a hydroelectric power plant. Preparation of a cable suspended current meter with 50 kg sinker for calibration
For measurement of depth of soil freezing, which is important in determining the volume of infiltration by melted snow after winter period, applicable particularly for more accurate forecasting of floods and in a number of applications in forestry and agriculture. For determination of water equivalent of snow cover, which is an important water cycle component in winter season, applicable in rainfall-runoff modelling for prediction of runoff and flood flows. Development of methodology for assessing artificial recharge in the Czech Republic The project, implemented in 2010 by T. G. Masaryk Water Research Institute, p.r.i., contributes to the strategy aimed at increasing the adaptability of the Czech Republic to climate change. Its objective was to prepare technical background for the development of methods, which have a long tradition in Bohemia, but in recent decades they have been almost completely forgotten. In particular, the project was focused on preparation of a great artificial recharge project, which could be financed from the Operational Environmental Fund. The individual aims were as follows: 1. To review current national and international knowledge on groundwater recharge. Particular attention was paid to the knowledge from the southern regions of Europe and the semi-arid type of climate. 2. To develop a method for evaluation of the territory of the Czech Republic in terms of infiltration capacities and identification of areas potentially suitable for artificial recharge. 3. To draft technical solutions for selected pilot localities. 4. To assess and recommend methods for mathematical modelling of the problem. 5. To encourage awareness of the water authorities, water management authorities, municipalities, regions, associations of municipalities and organizations involved in groundwater survey, withdrawal, distribution and treatment. Revision of vulnerable zones for the implementation of Nitrate Directive (91/676/EEC) The vulnerable zones, whose waters are polluted or in risk to be polluted by nitrates from agricultural sources, were designated in 2003 and subsequently, for the purposes of the implementation of measures for reduction of nitrates in their waters, declared by Government Decree No. 103/2003 Coll. on designation of vulnerable zones and on the use and storing of fertilizers and manure, rotation of crops and implementation of anti-erosion measures in these zones. According to this decree, Ministry of the Environment undertakes responsibility for revising the designation of vulnerable zones within four years of its coming into force. The revision of vulnerable zones is conducted by an authorised institution, which is TGM Water Research Institute, p.r.i. The first revision of the zones was performed in 2007 and second in 2011. Designation of vulnerable zones in 2003 and its revision in 2007 and 2011 Suitability of the CR territory for various kinds of artificial recharge a) bank infiltration, b) infiltration of water from urban agglomerations, c) local scale infiltration
Interactions between water, rock and landscape and their use for the protection of groundwater in the Czech Republic The Institute, together with other institutions, participates in a project on Development of methods and tools for creating river basin district plans in the CR and achieving environmental objectives in water quality, which is a supporting project aimed at meeting the European requirements for groundwater protection. Its output includes methods for determining the levels of indicators of good groundwater chemical status, their application to hydrogeological regions and groundwater bodies in the Czech Republic, methods for assessing regime of groundwater levels, particularly in deep hydrogeological structures and internet pages providing methods and data for the development of river basin district plans in the CR. Development of an integrated conceptual model for simulation of impacts of anthropogenic activities on groundwater in its interaction with surface ecosystems This project is aimed at assessing impacts of anthropogenic activities on groundwater, in particular in terms of its quality. An attention is paid to the interactions between surface water and groundwater, with emphasis on the impact of the status of groundwater on ecological and chemical status of groundwater bodies. Special attention is also paid to groundwater pollution by nitrogen and acidifying substances originating from diffuse sources. The project combines approaches aimed primarily at research and the application of the results in legislation and guidelines to be applied mainly for the implementation of the Water Framework Directive. Contaminated sites The Branch also ensures research on methods of contaminated sites surveying and assessing and conducts its own monitoring of contamination and its impacts on the environment at several locations. These activities include also identification, registration and passportization of localities contaminated with PCB. Their list presently contains 47 localities that have been identified in the Czech Republic. Within Elbe Project the impacts of selected contaminated sites on the Elbe River are investigated. Important activities include also consultancy and deliverance services in the area of contaminated sites, wastewater infiltration sites, single wells, boreholes and water withdrawal structures. Localities contaminated by PCB in the Czech Republic Czech Calibration Station for Current Meters The Czech Calibration Station for Current Meters has been in permanent operation since 1930. The total length of the calibration channel is 250 m, of which 183 m (2.5 m in width and 2.1 m in depth) is used for the calibration of current meters. The calibration meets the requirements of ČSN ISO 3455 standard from 1993, which is identical with an international standard ISO 2537 from 1976. The Calibration Station is accredited by Czech Accreditation Institute. In addition to current meters, the Station calibrates also atypical flow measurement devices in the flow range between 0.02 and 7.00 m.s 1. The calibration channel can be used also for research experiments, such as an analysis of instability risks posed by floods in flooded areas that has been carried out by Czech Technical University in Prague. Calibration cart and calibration channel (Photos and figures: Archive of TGM WRI, p.r.i.)
International cooperation The international cooperation is an important component of the activities of the Branch. The most important international activities include participation in WATCH (Water and global change) and FRIEND (Flow regimes from international experimental and network data) projects, which are focused on impacts of climate change on hydrological regimes and the occurrence of hydrological drought. Great progress was also made in the activities of working groups for transboundary waters with Poland and Germany in the area of groundwater. In 2011, a consortium of TGM WRI, p.r.i., Envigeo, IMEC (Belgium) and Armoric (France) performed an environmental audit of mineral water in Ukraine IDS Borjomi Comp. The Branch staff participates in Floodfreq (European Procedures for flood frequency estimation, ESSEM COST Action ES0901) project, whose aim is primarily to compare and assess different methods in use in European countries for flood frequency analysis. These methods are evaluated mainly in terms of their suitability for assessing environmental change impacts on floods frequency. Services of the Branch Integrated research and development in hydrology (processing of hydrological data, hydrological balance assessments, extreme hydrological phenomena, hydrological forecasting, climate change, adaptation measures, anthropogenic impacts on the hydrological regime and related consequences, landscape and river systems reclamation, etc.); Integrated research and development of methods in hydraulics (river channels, hydraulic structures, hydraulics in transport infrastructure, health engineering, energy production and industrial sectors, evaluation of processes in aquatic ecosystems, physical and mathematical modelling, etc.); Integrated research and development of methods in the areas of groundwater protection, hydrogeology and ecological burdens (groundwater and surface water resources, their quality, variability in space and time, protection against pollution, identification, reclamation, monitoring, etc.); Hydraulic, hydrological and hydrogeological surveys; Professional support to Technical Commission for Standardisation; Calibration of current meters and all water measuring equipment that can be calibrated in accordance with the national standard ČSN ISO 3455. Contacts Head of Branch of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Hydrogeology Anna Hrabánková, tel.: (+420) 220 197 437, e-mail: anna_hrabankova@vuv.cz Department of Hydrology Josef Vojtěch Datel, tel.: (+420) 220 197 543, e-mail: josef_datel@vuv.cz Department of Hydraulics Pavel Balvín, tel.: (+420) 220 197 313, e-mail: pavel_balvin@vuv.cz Department of Groundwater Protection Zbyněk Hrkal, tel.: (+420) 220 197 463, e-mail: zbynek_hrkal@vuv.cz Department of Hydrogeology and Environmental Burdens Pavel Eckhardt, tel.: (+420) 220 197 439, e-mail: pavel_eckhardt@vuv.cz Czech Calibration Station for Current Meters Libuše Ramešová, tel.: (+420) 220 197 302, e-mail: libuse_ramesova@vuv.cz