Saving freshwater from salts: Ion-specific standards are needed to protect biodiversity

Abstract

Water-quality legislation and regulations that target salinity typically focus ondrinking water and irrigation water, which does not automatically protect Biodiversity. We argue that salinity standards for specific ions and ion mixtures, not just for total salinity, should be developed and legally enforced to protect freshwater life and ecosystem services. Technical challenges are exacerbated bythe fact that salinization risks perceived by the public and policy-makers may be much lower than those identified by scientists. Given that evidencewill improve, developing standards and wider governance arrangements will require an iterative approach over time. Several management actions could help meet existing and emerging standards and could prevent or remediate damage associated with freshwater salinization. Prevention of salt damage is muchmore likely if water managers, stakeholders, and scientists work together to identify social, economic, and ecological costs and the benefits that can accrue from prevention and restoration.