THE CHALLENGE OF AGRICULTURE

SUCCESS STORIES

Ground water protection in sensitive areas

Grundwasser 2000

Project: Ground water protection in sensitive areas.

Location: Upper-Austria

Problem: Studies showed that agriculture was the main contributor to the high levels of nitrates, phosphate and pesticide residues found in the region's ground water.

Description: More than 2000 farmers in Upper-Austria signed up to the project which aimed at reducing the amount of nitrates in the ground water through the use of catch crops and reducing the amount of natural and artificial fertilisers used on the land.

Achievements: Significant improvement in the quality of water in the region.

Success stories:

• Treated water reuse models
• “Cross compliance” in agriculture
• Saving water from mobile phones
• Healthy lands – Creation of marshlands
• The European Maritime Safety Agency - EMSA