Developing methods to assess the presence, functions and sensitivity of groundwater ecosystems

Expected Outcome: Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes: the knowledge of existing groundwater ecosystems [1] is improved, supporting policymakers and technical experts in assessments of their presence, functions and condition or status, and their role for climate change mitigation; society benefits from enhanced knowledge and awareness of pollution and overexploitation risks to groundwater ecosystems and the ecosystem services provided by them, including of possible implications for other related ecosystems (associated aquatic and dependent terrestrial ecosystems) and for human health as well as for food and water security, disaster risk reduction and resilience building; the EU water polices are supported with new scientific evidence and public authorities are better equipped for setting effective measures for the protection of groundwater biodiversity and their possible links to groundwater-dependent ecosystems. Scope: The European Environment Agency (EEA)’s report on Europe's state of water (2024) [2] highlighted that 77% of groundwater, which supplies two thirds of the EU's drinking water, is in good chemical status. For groundwater not reaching good chemical status, the report identified nitrates, pesticides and pharmaceuticals among main issues. However, less is known about contaminants of emerging concern, such as perfluorinated substances (e.g. PFAS), microplastics and antimicrobial resistance. The Commission proposal [3] to revise the lists of surface- and groundwater pollutants and their standards in the Water Framework Directive, in the Groundwater Directive and in the Environmental Quality Standards Directive aims to address these concerns. Although freshwater standards can serve as a benchmark, standards that are protective for freshwater ecosystems may not be sufficiently protective for groundwater ecosystems. [4] Much stronger evidence on presence, functions and sensitivity of groundwater ecosystems is required for a reliable hazard assessment. Significant knowledge gaps exist regarding groundwater ecosystems and their biodiversity in Europe, making it challenging to establish their effective protection. Proposals should address such gaps, which would ultimately lead to better protection of our precious drinking water resources, as well as groundwater biodiversity and geodiversity, but also groundwater (aquatic and terrestrial)-dependent ecosystems and biodiversity. More specifically proposals under this topic should include all of the following activities: improve and develop innovative meth…

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