EU-Interreg project TOPSOIL

Country / Region: North Sea Region

Begin of project: December 1, 2015

End of project: February 1, 2020

Status of project: September 1, 2016

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The EU Interreg project TOPSOIL investigates opportunities to improve surface and groundwater quality as well as water management strategies under the consideration of climate adaptation challenges. Individual sub-projects focus on the topics agriculture, water supply and city planning. As all countries bordering the North Sea face similar challenges, joint solution strategies are elaborated. Denmark, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium and England work in partnership in this project.

Soil scientific field work (ram coring) south of Oldenburg, Germany Source: BGR

Soil sample acquisition by coring Source: BGR

Within the framework of the project, working together with the ‚Oldenburgisch-Ostfriesischen Wasserverband‘ (Waterboard of Oldenburg and East Frisia), BGR investigates the transport behavior of percolation water in the unsaturated zone, the migration of nitrogen and pharmaceuticals in soils, and - together with different stakeholders (e.g. farmers, water supply companies) - develops common strategies to minimize the migration of these substances into the groundwater. The aim of investigations in the pilot area south of Oldenburg, Germany, is the development of measures for a sustainable soil and groundwater protection. These measures need to be applicable within potential ranges of climate change.