Lessons learned about the effect of reduced anthropogenic activities on water quality in a large lake system and opportunities towards sustainable management

Abstract

Despite considerable efforts to protect vulnerable marine, coastal, and freshwater ecosystems, anthropogenic activities remain one of the main causes of poor water quality in rivers, lakes and wetland systems worldwide [1]. To move towards the sustainable management of coastal and aquatic ecosystems, it is important to understand how both natural and anthropogenic processes affect water quality. In 2020, a unique opportunity arose to study water quality in a large lake system in the southwest of India during a period when anthropogenic pressures were reduced due to a nationwide lockdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Using remote sensing and in situ observations to analyse changes in five different water quality indicators, we showed that water quality improved in large areas of Lake Vembanad during the lockdown in 2020 [2]. The lessons learned illustrate that a coordinated response in reducing anthropogenic activities, as seen during the lockdown, could help achieve the targets set out in United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals 3, 6 and 14 and significantly reduce aquatic pollution and improve water quality by 2030