Methods of in situ groundwater quality monitoring: Basis for the efficiency survey of agricultural groundwater conservation measures

Abstract

Against the background of the paramount importance of fresh water resources for human well-being in Europe’s industrialised societies, the protection of groundwater bodies is one of the top themes of the environmental ambitions of the European Union. This holds true especially for areas under predominantly agricultural use against nitrates from plant production. A catalogue of agricultural measures of groundwater conservation is available in general. It is to be supplemented by a methodology for in situ monitoring of the groundwater quality as the basis for surveying the efficiency of those measures. General characteristics, the benefits, and the disadvantages of recent monitoring methods are presented, summarised and rated under the term ‘‘appropriateness for efficiency survey’.