nitrate; trend analysis; Belgium; water framework directive; groundwater monitoring
Abstract :
[en] The European Union (EU) has adopted directives requiring that Member States take measures to reach a "good" chemical status of water resources by the year 2015 (Water Framework Directive: WFD). In order to achieve the environmental objectives for groundwater, the identification and reversal of significant upward trends in pollutant concentrations are required. A very detailed dataset available for the Hesbaye chalk aquifer in Belgium is used to evaluate tools and to propose efficient methodologies for identifying and quantifying nitrate trends in groundwater. Results indicate that the parametric linear regression and the non-parametric Mann-Kendall tests are robust; however, the latter test seems more adequate as it does not require verification of the normality of the dataset and it provides calculated nitrate trends very comparable to those obtained using linear regression. From a hydrogeological point of view, results highlight a general upward trend in the whole groundwater basin. The extrapolation of the trend analysis results indicates that measures have to be taken urgently in order to avoid further major degradation of groundwater quality within the next 10-70 years. However, a good groundwater quality status cannot be expected in the Hesbaye aquifer for the 2015 EU WFD deadline.
Orban, Philippe ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département Argenco : Secteur GEO3 > Hydrogéologie & Géologie de l'environnement
Dassargues, Alain ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département Argenco : Secteur GEO3 > Hydrogéologie & Géologie de l'environnement
Brouyère, Serge ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département Argenco : Secteur GEO3 > Hydrogéologie & Géologie de l'environnement
Language :
English
Title :
Identification of groundwater quality trends in a chalk aquifer threatened by intensive agriculture in Belgium
Publication date :
2007
Journal title :
Hydrogeology Journal
ISSN :
1431-2174
Publisher :
Springer Science & Business Media B.V., New York, United States - New York
Volume :
15
Issue :
8
Pages :
1615-1627
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Name of the research project :
AquaTerra
Funders :
European Union FP6 Integrated Project AquaTerra (Project no. 505428), thematic priority : Sustainable Development, Global Change and Ecosystems DGRNE - Région wallonne. Direction générale des Ressources naturelles et de l'Environnement [BE]
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