New policy brief on groundwater published by the ZeroPollution4Water cluster

A new policy brief focusing on groundwater protection has been officially published by the ZeroPollution4Water cluster, with contributions from the NIAGARA project.

This document, titled *“Reinforcing EU Groundwater Policy for Emerging Risks”, provides a set of strategic recommendations to strengthen the implementation of the Groundwater Directive (GWD) and address emerging challenges such as pollution, climate change and increasing pressure on water resources.

Groundwater plays a critical role in Europe, supplying around 75% of drinking water and supporting agriculture, industry and ecosystems. However, it is increasingly threatened by diffuse pollution, emerging contaminants and overexploitation, making its protection a key priority at EU level.

The policy brief outlines several key recommendations, including:

• strengthening digital and integrated groundwater monitoring systems,
• developing microbiological watch lists,
• supporting sustainable agricultural practices,
• restricting harmful substances such as PFAS,
• and promoting nature-based solutions (NbS) to mitigate pollution.

Developed within the ZeroPollution4Water cluster, which brings together 19 European projects, this publication contributes to advancing the EU’s zero-pollution ambition and improving groundwater resilience through innovation, cooperation and evidence-based policy making.