GEMS: International Exchange on Sustainable Groundwater Management

How can groundwater protection be managed sustainably in a region dominated by agriculture? The project partners addressed these and other questions at the 5th transnational meeting of the GEMS_Interreg Europe project (Groundwater Management in Nitrate Vulnerable Zones with Agricultural Activities) on June 16 and 17, 2026, in Bratislava. The Federal Office for Water Management was represented at the event.

The two-day meeting focused on current challenges in the areas of groundwater protection and agriculture. Topics discussed included:

• Climate change and the water cycle: Effects of climate change on the water cycle
• Nitrates Directive: Implementation of the Nitrates Directive in Slovakia
• Water retention: Measures to improve water retention in agricultural areas
• Best practices: Experiences from partner regions, for example in the areas of groundwater monitoring, digital planning tools, and approaches to reducing nutrient losses

The Federal Acency für Water Management, in collaboration with EVN Wasser, also shared insights from Austria. The presentation covered the long-term trends in nitrate contamination in the groundwater of the Marchfeld region, as well as methods for biological denitrification to ensure drinking water quality.

On-Site Insights

On the second day, the program included field trips. Participants gained insights into:

• drinking water production on the Danube island of Sihoť
• the Environmental Center at the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra

The meeting thus offered both professional exchange and insights into practical and research-based solutions.