A novel LUMNAqSoP approach for prioritising groundwater monitoring stations for implementation of the Nitrates Directive

G. Ondrasek,H. Bakić Begić,M. Bubalo Kovačić,Ž. Brkić,D. Romić,S. Husnjak

doi:10.1186/s12302-021-00467-1

G. Ondrasek, H. Bakić Begić + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12302-021-00467-1

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Abstract

BackgroundThe Nitrates Directive (ND) is an EU anti-pollution legislative that, for almost 30 years, has controlled and protected hydro-resources against excessive levels of nitrates originating from agroecosystems, striving to prevent the further exacerbation of the nitrates in aquatic environments. ND sets several principal goals that member states must accomplish, such as performing spatiotemporal nitrate analyses in ground/surface water networks to achieve national water quality monitoring programme.ResultsIn this study, using the novel LUMNAqSoP approach, the prioritisation of 151 candidate groundwater stations for ND monitoring in Croatia was performed. The LUMNAqSoP integratively evaluates: (i) the most dominant loads from the agroecosystem (land use and management, net nitrogen application) and (ii) environmental (aquifer and soil) vulnerabilities and sensitivities of groundwater resources to nitrate pollution. By comparing stations which scored the most agro-environmental loads vs. the data from water stations containing elevated mean nitrate concentrations (from existing monitoring programmes) a very good agreement was confirmed. Moreover, deviations close to large urban zones were detected, suggesting that elevated nitrates in groundwaters in those areas likely originated from municipal/industrial rather than agricultural sources; however, further studies are needed for elucidation.ConclusionsThe presented approach can serve as a useful tool to policy makers and regulators for: (i) more efficient and reliable establishment of water monitoring programme pursuant to ND, as well as (ii) better management and shaping (designating/derogating) of nitrate-vulnerable zones, especially in diverse environmental conditions and dynamic agroecosystems as have been confirmed in recent decades across the EU member states.

Highlights

The Nitrates Directive (ND) is an European Union (EU) anti-pollution legislative that, for almost 30 years, has controlled and protected hydro-resources against excessive levels of nitrates originating from agroecosystems, striving to prevent the further exacerbation of the nitrates in aquatic environments
We propose a novel robust LUMNAqSoP approach for prioritising 151 candidate groundwater monitoring stations for implementation of the ND at national level in Croatia, covering an area of ~ 56,600 km2, from highly diverse Mediterranean over mountainous to continental ecosystems [30]
Of the total agricultural land in 2017, a significant share (~ 25%, 594,764 ha) was characterised as unutilised, in both the continental and Mediterranean regions (Additional file 1: Figure S1 and Table S1). Such a large share of unutilised agricultural land is one the indicators of pronounced de-agrarianisation, which is very likely related to depopulation and de-ruralisation that Croatia has experienced over recent decades, albeit inadequate agricultural/demographic strategies and politics cannot be disregarded

Summary

Introduction

The Nitrates Directive (ND) is an EU anti-pollution legislative that, for almost 30 years, has controlled and protected hydro-resources against excessive levels of nitrates originating from agroecosystems, striving to prevent the further exacerbation of the nitrates in aquatic environments. Some of the most recent reports have indicated that in many EU member states, the agri-sector (mostly intensive livestock and crop farming) represents the predominant source of nitrogen discharged into the (aquatic) environment [12, 16, 17]. In such contexts, very complex and dependent relationships in the agricultural-environmental nexus have been recognised at the EU level through the development of more ‘specific’ or ‘targeted’ agro-environmental (inter)national directives and incentives. The situation at EU level is not yet that optimistic and sustainable, despite some well-defined milestones required of member states, including: (i) designation of nitrate-vulnerable zones (i.e., areas in which water resources are or could be nitrate-affected and eutrophicated), (ii) spatiotemporal analysis of nitrates in groundwater and surface waters, and (iii) implementation of a comprehensive water quality monitoring programme [18]

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