Author(s)

J. Grima, J. López & B. Ballesteros

Abstract

Sustainable management of groundwater resources with regard to contaminated land, RTD needs J. Grima1, J. Lopez1 & B. Ballesteros1 Valencia Regional Office, Geological Survey, Spain Abstract Environmental policies for water resources have evolved over time. Some years ago, only emission of hazardous substances into surface waters was controlled. Now, with the enforcement of the Water Framework Directive, water resources are considered as a whole resource that must be protected at catchment scale. The good ecological status of groundwater is a requirement of the Directive, and to address this goal, Member States should implement a programme of measures over the coming years. The close link between soil and watercycle demands an overall strategy for the management of natural resources. In most industrialised countries brownfields are an origin of groundwater pollution and, in the opposite way, water pollution can be an important source of soil contamination. In order to reach the goal of successfully protecting water resources from point source contamination, some issues should be addressed, like obtaining public awareness of groundwater contamination, permitting activities potentially contaminating, identifying point sources and improving groundwater remediation techniques. Research and technological programmes are vital to achieving groundwater protection. Finally, it is important to involve the stakeholders by means of appropriate, evident and transparent criteria. 1 Introduction As pointed out, water is the pillar of life. Its quality and quantity determines the quality of our lives and the places where we live, access to clean drinking water is a human right. According to EUROGEOSURVEYS (Eurogeosurveys [l]), of

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