Background
Safe drinking water is vital for human health. Diffuse pollution of nitrogen and pesticides from agriculture is the main obstacle to meet drinking water quality targets. Policies to protect drinking water resources have not achieved a consistent effectiveness in all member states.
Objectives
The overall objective of the FAIRWAY project is to review current approaches and measures for protection of drinking water resources against pollution caused by pesticides and nitrate from agriculture, and to identify and further develop innovative measures and governance approaches for a more effective drinking water protection, together with relevant local, regional and national actors.
Specific objectives of FAIRWAY are
- to increase the scientific understanding of the relationship between agriculture and drinking water protection,
- to increase the understanding of the social, technical and economic barriers to practical implementing of measures,
- to deliver innovative measures and tools to overcome these barriers,
- to develop protocols and data-sets for monitoring of farming practices and water quality, and to increase awareness and involvement of farmers and other citizens in the monitoring of water supplies,
- to develop effective governance approaches for small to large water supplies,
- to identify key strategies and good practices for drinking water protection and assess the implications of these options for policy and practice.
Project details
Topics: Water farms – improving farming and its impact on the supply of drinking water
Call: RUR-04-2016
Type of Action RIA- Research and Innovation action
Coordinator: Wageningen Research