Check out the Policy Brief on reinforcing EU Groundwater Protection for emerging risks
The recent ZeroPollution4Water policy Brief brought together findings from 19 European research projects and it provides recommendations to strengthen the implementation of the Groundwater Directive, while also protecting groundwater from pollution, overexploitation and the growing effects of climate change.
Groundwater is an essential source of drinking water and supports agriculture, industry and ecosystems. However, once it becomes polluted, restoring its quality can be difficult, costly and, in some cases, impossible. For this reason, the policy brief places particular emphasis on preventing pollution before it reaches groundwater.
The main recommendations include
- Strengthening digital and integrated groundwater monitoring.
- Improving the monitoring of individual pesticides.
- Restricting persistent and mobile pollutants such as PFAS.
- Supporting nature-based solutions.
These work closely in line with UNIVERSWATER developments, as the project works on sensors, satellite-based monitoring and AI-supported decision tools. All of which help farmers and water managers understand local conditions and make more informed decisions.
The Policy Brief recommendations can help identify emerging monitoring priorities and demonstrate how agricultural water management can protect groundwater while supporting safe reuse and more efficient resource use.
