Europe’s groundwater – a key resource under pressure

Summary:

Groundwater: making the invisible visible is the World Water Day theme for 22 March 2022. In recognition of this, this briefing provides an overview of the state of groundwater in the European Union (EU).

Groundwater stores almost one third of total global freshwater resources and, in the EU, supplies 65% of drinking water and 25% of water for agricultural irrigation. Groundwater pollution is a serious threat to this resource. Recovery from pollution is not easy, as removing pollutants is difficult, meaning that they can accumulate. Groundwater resources are also under increasing pressure from water abstraction and climate change.

• Alternative Source 1

Official

European Environment Agency (EU EEA): News, 22/03/2022: World Water Day: attention on Europe’s groundwater https://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/world-water-day-attention-on

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