What is the main focus of your Expert Group?
This group aims to address challenges related to groundwater depletion, contamination, water-related soil degradation, and ecosystem health through research, innovation, and collaboration. The water-soil and land use interactions, resumed by the concept of Critical Zone, will be addressed together with understanding synergies between policies. Integrated management of surface and subsurface use of the resource will need a holistic approach considered surface water-groundwater-soil interaction in quality and quantity.
What are the opportunities and challenges in your field that the Expert group is addressing?
The EG will have opportunities to work on the protecting areas, concept included both in the WFD and the DWD, sharing knowledge for evaluation of natural background levels for chemical and physical properties of soil and groundwater, investigate the impact of economic activities on water temperature and the consequences for ecology and human uses of long-term changes of water physico-chemistry, efficiency and good practice in NBS for flood reduction, monitoring soil quality and linking to water quality, etc.
In relation to the implementation of the WFD, the working group may discuss on prevention and control of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) to monitor or better understand their behaviour in the environment. The characteristics of soils are essential for aquifer recharge evaluation and impact of climate (and global) change on groundwater, taking into account modification in soil properties (capacity of soil to retain water, compaction, erosion).
How does your Expert Group plan to achieve its goals, and how will it contribute to Water Europe’s Vision of a Water-Smart Society?
The Expert Group is dedicated to advancing research and innovation in groundwater and soil management, with a strong focus on sustainable groundwater abstraction, recharge, pollution prevention, soil conservation, and ecosystem restoration. It actively promotes the adoption of nature-based solutions (NBS), grey-green infrastructure, and best management practices to protect and restore groundwater resources, soil health, and biodiversity. Through the development of targeted reports, such as white papers, and the organisation of knowledge-sharing webinars in collaboration with initiatives like Water4All, the group fosters collaboration, innovation, and the dissemination of best practices across sectors. It also plays a key role in influencing policy by advocating for the integration of groundwater and soil systems into broader EU directives, using a nexus approach that bridges environmental, agricultural, and water policies. Technical contributions to EU working groups further support this policy engagement. Addressing the core objectives of Water Europe’s Vision, the group prioritises climate resilience and long-term water sustainability, with a strong commitment to human and ecosystem health. It brings together experts from both the soil and water communities to drive systemic, science-based solutions for a Water-Smart Society.
