Die salzhaltigen Abwässer des Kalibergbaues führen in natürlichen Süßwassersystemen zu Ionenimbalanzen und einer sekundären Versalzung der Werra in Deutschland. Die Auswirkungen dieser Ionenungleichgewichte auf die Reproduktion von Süßwasserfischen wurden unter Verwendung der Modellfischart Danio rerio untersucht. Angepasst an die aktuellen Grenzwerte für die Einleitung der Abwässer aus dem Kalibergbau wurden fünf verschiedene Kombinationen erhöhter Ionenkonzentrationen getestet. Während eines partiellen Lebenszyklustests wurden adulte Fische 35 Tage lang in den Salzkombinationen exponiert. Anschließend wurden die Nachkommen dieser Fische bis zum 8. Tag nach der Befruchtung den gleichen Salzkonzentrationen ausgesetzt. Zusätzlich wurden Early-Life-Stage-Tests (ELST) mit den Nachkommen von nicht exponierten Eltern durchgeführt. Im Vergleich zu natürlich vorkommenden Ionenkonzentrationen und -verhältnissen in Süßwassersystemen war die Befruchtungsrate der Eier für alle Ionenkombinationen signifikant niedriger, die Koagulations- und Deformationsrate jedoch signifikant höher. Die ELST ergaben bei den Embryonen und Larven u.a. vorzeitige und verlängerte Schlupfzeiten, verringerte Überlebensraten, erhöhte Deformationsraten und Herzschlagfrequenzen sowie Unregelmäßigkeiten des Ganzkörpergehalts von K, Mg, Na und Ca und des Ganzkörper-Ionenverhältnisses von Ca:Mg bei erhöhten Ionenkonzentrationen und Ionenimbalanzen. Im Vergleich zu den Effekten auf die Fortpflanzung und Entwicklung der Nachkommen waren die Effekte auf die adulten Tiere moderat. Die Ergebnisse dieser Dissertation zeigen, dass Teillebenszyklus-Tests besser als Fischeitests oder ELST geeignet sind, die Effekte von durch Abwasser verursachten Ionenimbalanzen, auf die Fortpflanzung und frühe Entwicklung von Süßwasserfischen, zu untersuchen. Weder die momentan gültigen noch die zukünftig herabgesetzten Grenzwerte bis 2027 sind danach als unschädlich, für die Reproduktion von Süßwasserfischen, zu betrachten. / The potash mining industry discharges saline effluents which generate ion imbalances in natural freshwater systems and cause severe secondary salinization in the river Werra in Germany. The effects of these ion imbalances on reproduction of freshwater fish were investigated using the fish model species Danio rerio. Five different combinations of elevated ion concentrations adjusted to the current threshold values for the discharge of potash mining effluents in Germany were tested. During a partial life cycle test, adult fish were exposed to the salt combinations for 35 days. Subsequently, the offspring were exposed to the same concentrations until hatch, and the larvae were further reared at the exposure concentrations from hatch until the 8th day post fertilization. Additionally, a standard early life stage test with offspring from unexposed parents was performed. Compared to naturally occurring ion concentrations and ratios in freshwater systems, the fertilization rate of the eggs was significantly lower for all ion combinations, while coagulation and deformation rates were significantly higher. Early life stage tests on embryos and larvae revealed premature and prolonged hatching times, reduced survival rates, increased deformation and heart rates and irregularities in whole body content of K, Mg, Na and Ca and whole body Ca:Mg ratios at elevated ion concentrations and imbalances of ion ratios. Compared to effects on reproduction and development of the offspring, effects on the parental generation were moderate. The results of this dissertation indicate that partial life cycle tests instead of fish egg tests or ELST are needed to examine most sensitively the effects of ion imbalances caused by potash mining effluents on reproduction and early development of freshwater fish. Neither the recent German threshold values nor the future reduced values until 2027 are safe for the reproduction of freshwater fish.

Tesis por compendio / [ES] The pursuit of sustainable development in urban areas is crucial due to their significance as the primary human habitat and resource consumer. Rapid urbanization poses significant challenges for city management, necessitating actions to ensure sustainability and mitigate resource depletion. The conservation of water resources turns out to be an important focus, particularly in society's development due to the number of factors that depend on this resource. Water resources are essential for, serving critical roles in human health, agriculture, and industry, while also facilitating economic activities, cultural values, and climate regulation. In this context, the sustainability of water systems encompasses social, environmental, economic, and asset dimensions. Nevertheless, the accelerated social growth, exacerbates the strain on water supplies, necessitating measures to ensure sustainability. Key considerations include ensuring equitable access to water services, minimizing environmental impact, implementing cost-effective policies, and enhancing infrastructure resilience. Adopting sustainable practices encounters obstacles, particularly in data measurement and analysis, hindered by the complexities of emerging technologies. Addressing these challenges requires leveraging indicators to assess progress towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) quantitatively. Despite significant strides, evaluating progress toward SDGs remains a complex task, particularly in urban water systems. Consequently, ongoing efforts are essential to advance sustainable development initiatives and ensure the long-term viability of urban water resources. Even though the SDGs have motivated several projects to advance sustainable development. However, it is complex to determine the progress made in fulfilling these goals, especially in particular cases like urban water systems. The development of a framework to measure sustainability in urban water systems contributes to the decision- making process to optimize system performance across the entire water cycle. These decision-making processes are crucial for various stakeholders, including governmental entities, the general population, and, of course, water resource managers. Considering the above, the main objective of this doctoral thesis consists of the development of a methodology to measure and categorize hydraulic systems according to their contribution to sustainability from their three dimensions. The methodology is based on the implementation of a series of indicators linked to each of the goals of the Sustainable Development Goals established by the UN. In this way and as a result of this work, it will be possible to categorize any type of urban water system with labels that indicate the level of contribution to achieving the SDGs and highlight the importance of water resources in meeting the SDGs. Also, another objective of the methodology's implementation is to validate by assessing the progress of the indicators if it is sufficient, or if acceleration and additional measures are required. This will serve as a benchmarking tool, as a support point for decision-making by the different actors involved in hydraulic management, thus achieving more sustainable water management. To achieve this objective, the doctoral thesis has been developed in three phases, the results of which have been published in 3 articles in indexed journals (JCR). The phases of work development are as follows: (i) Contextualization and development of the methodology (Publication I): an investigation was carried out on the concept of sustainability and what it encompassed, as well as the definition of the goals, their progress, and indicators currently used by both the UN and other entities for the evaluation of these. To complement this, case studies of urban hydraulic systems in which sustainability was evaluated were reviewed. Based on the information collected and as a result of the research, the evaluation methodolo / [CA] La cerca del desenvolupament sostenible en les zones urbanes és crucial a causa de la seua importància com a principal hàbitat humà i consumidor de recursos. La ràpida urbanització planteja desafiaments importants per a la gestió de la ciutat, la qual cosa requerix accions per a garantir la sostenibilitat i mitigar l'esgotament dels recursos. La conservació del recurs hídric resulta ser un focus important, particularment en el desenvolupament de la societat a causa de la quantitat de factors que depenen d'este recurs. Els recursos hídrics són essencials per a exercir funcions crítiques en la salut humana, l'agricultura i la indústria, al mateix temps que faciliten les activitats econòmiques, els valors culturals i la regulació del clima. En este context, la sostenibilitat dels sistemes hídrics abasta dimensions socials, ambientals, econòmiques i d'actius. No obstant això, el creixement social accelerat exacerba la pressió sobre el subministrament d'aigua, la qual cosa requerix mesures per a garantir la sostenibilitat. Les consideracions clau en este assumpte inclouen garantir l'accés equitatiu als servicis d'aigua, minimitzar l'impacte ambiental, implementar polítiques rendibles i millorar la resiliència de la infraestructura. L'adopció de pràctiques sostenibles troba obstacles, particularment en el mesurament i anàlisi de dades, obstaculitzats per les complexitats de les tecnologies emergents. Per a abordar estos desafiaments és necessari aprofitar els indicadors per a avaluar quantitativament el progrés cap als Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible (*ODS). Malgrat els importants avanços, avaluar el progrés cap als *ODS continua sent una tasca complexa, particularment en els sistemes d'aigua urbans. En conseqüència, els esforços continus són essencials per a promoure iniciatives de desenvolupament sostenible i garantir la viabilitat a llarg termini dels recursos hídrics urbans. Encara que els *ODS han motivat diversos projectes per a avançar en el desenvolupament sostenible. No obstant això, és complex determinar els avanços en el compliment d'estes metes, especialment en casos particulars com els sistemes d'aigua urbans. El desenvolupament d'un marc per a mesurar la sostenibilitat en els sistemes d'aigua urbans contribuïx al procés de presa de decisions per a optimitzar el rendiment del sistema al llarg de tot el cicle de l'aigua. Estos processos de presa de decisions són crucials per a diverses parts interessades, incloses entitats governamentals, la població en general i, per descomptat, els administradors de recursos hídrics. Considerant l'anterior, l'objectiu principal d'esta tesi doctoral consistix en el desenvolupament d'una metodologia per a mesurar i categoritzar els sistemes hidràulics segons la seua contribució a la sostenibilitat des de les seues tres dimensions. La metodologia es basa en la implementació d'una sèrie d'indicadors vinculats a cadascuna de les metes dels Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible establits per l'ONU. D'esta manera i com a resultat d'este treball, serà possible categoritzar qualsevol tipus de sistema d'aigua urbà amb etiquetes que indiquen el nivell de contribució a l'assoliment dels *ODS i ressalten la importància dels recursos hídrics en el compliment dels *ODS. Així mateix, un altre objectiu de la implementació de la metodologia és validar avaluant l'avanç dels indicadors si és suficient, o si es requerix acceleració i mesures addicionals. Això servirà com a ferramenta de benchmarking, com a punt de suport per a la presa de decisions dels diferents actors implicats en la gestió hidràulica, aconseguint així una gestió més sostenible de l'aigua. Per a aconseguir este objectiu, la tesi doctoral s'ha desenvolupat en tres fases, els resultats de les quals s'han publicat en 3 articles en revistes indexades (*JCR). Les fases del desenvolupament del treball són les següents: (i) Contextualització i desenvolupament de la metodologia (Publicació I): es va realitzar una investigació sobre e / [EN] The pursuit of sustainable development in urban areas is crucial due to their significance as the primary human habitat and resource consumer. Rapid urbanization poses significant challenges for city management, necessitating actions to ensure sustainability and mitigate resource depletion. The conservation of water resources turns out to be an important focus, particularly in society's development due to the number of factors that depend on this resource. Water resources are essential for, serving critical roles in human health, agriculture, and industry, while also facilitating economic activities, cultural values, and climate regulation. In this context, the sustainability of water systems encompasses social, environmental, economic, and asset dimensions. Nevertheless, the accelerated social growth, exacerbates the strain on water supplies, necessitating measures to ensure sustainability. Key considerations include ensuring equitable access to water services, minimizing environmental impact, implementing cost-effective policies, and enhancing infrastructure resilience. Adopting sustainable practices encounters obstacles, particularly in data measurement and analysis, hindered by the complexities of emerging technologies. Addressing these challenges requires leveraging indicators to assess progress towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) quantitatively. Despite significant strides, evaluating progress toward SDGs remains a complex task, particularly in urban water systems. Consequently, ongoing efforts are essential to advance sustainable development initiatives and ensure the long-term viability of urban water resources. Even though the SDGs have motivated several projects to advance sustainable development. However, it is complex to determine the progress made in fulfilling these goals, especially in particular cases like urban water systems. The development of a framework to measure sustainability in urban water systems contributes to the decision- making process to optimize system performance across the entire water cycle. These decision-making processes are crucial for various stakeholders, including governmental entities, the general population, and, of course, water resource managers. Considering the above, the main objective of this doctoral thesis consists of the development of a methodology to measure and categorize hydraulic systems according to their contribution to sustainability from their three dimensions. The methodology is based on the implementation of a series of indicators linked to each of the goals of the Sustainable Development Goals established by the UN. In this way and as a result of this work, it will be possible to categorize any type of urban water system with labels that indicate the level of contribution to achieving the SDGs and highlight the importance of water resources in meeting the SDGs. Also, another objective of the methodology's implementation is to validate by assessing the progress of the indicators if it is sufficient, or if acceleration and additional measures are required. This will serve as a benchmarking tool, as a support point for decision-making by the different actors involved in hydraulic management, thus achieving more sustainable water management. To achieve this objective, the doctoral thesis has been developed in three phases, the results of which have been published in 3 articles in indexed journals (JCR). The phases of work development are as follows: (i) Contextualization and development of the methodology (Publication I): an investigation was carried out on the concept of sustainability and what it encompassed, as well as the definition of the goals, their progress, and indicators currently used by both the UN and other entities for the evaluation of these. To complement this, case studies of urban hydraulic systems in which sustainability was evaluated were reviewed. Based on the information collected and as a result of the research, the evaluation methodolo / Garcia Rodriguez, CA. (2024). Development of a Methodology to Characterize Sustainability in Hidraulic Systems by Applying Indicators that Evaluate Goals Contained in the Sustainable Development Goals [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/213236 / Compendio