Groundwater quality trend and trend reversal assessment in the European Water Framework Directive context: an example with nitrates in Italy

• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-11998-0
• Publication Date: 2021-01-07T10:06:10Z
• Authors: Eleonora Frollini; Elisabetta Preziosi; Nicoletta Calace; Maurizio Guerra; Nicolas Guyennon; Marco Marcaccio; Stefano Menichetti; Emanuele Romano; Stefano Ghergo
• Keywords: Water Framework Directive; Trend analysis

Abstract Groundwater resources are of utmost importance in sustaining water related ecosystems, including humans. The long-lasting impacts from anthropogenic activities require early actions, owing to the natural time lag groundwater formation and renewal. European Union (EU) policy, within implementation Water Framework Directive (WFD), requires Member States identify reverse any significant sustained upward trend concentration pollutants, defining specific protection measures be included River Basin Management Plans (RBMP). In Italy, official guidelines for reversal assessment have been published recently. Statistical methods, such as Mann-Kendall test analysis Sen’s method estimating scenarios, should applied at fixed terms stated by WFD cycles trends, while Pettitt is proposed identification reversal. this paper, we present an application a slightly modified version Italian Guidelines body Northern Italy featuring nitrate pollution discuss its advantages limitations. addition test, analysis, apply two sections compare results. We conclude that seems more reliable than point quality series. overall procedure can easily defined risk across Europe, trends pollutants their reversal, even with little chemical monitoring data. Although focused on EU legislative framework, may relevant wider context, allowing individuate warning contamination processes integrated management context.