Journal article

Publication year: 2020

Pages: 12-17

Journal: Wasserwirtschaft : Technik, Forschung, Praxis

Volume number: 110

Issue number: 6

ISSN: 0043-0978

eISSN: 2192-8762

Publisher: Springer Vieweg

Abstract: 
In the context of the current debate on the extent of groundwater nitrate pollution in Germany disparate data is quoted. Beginning with the first government nitrate report, five different monitoring networks were evaluated on this question, spanning from 162 to 1 215 measurement sites in Germany. The information on the proportion of sites >50 mg NO3/I ranges from 10.4% to 49.4%. Two maps on the spatial extent of nitrate contaminated areas give 10.4% and 27.1% polluted groundwater bodies. In terms of the amount of nitrogen input into the groundwater with 88% the major part is caused by agriculture. The contribution from urban areas and the exfiltration of wastewater from sewer systems is only small. In summary, we state that agriculture emits an excessive amount of reactive nitrogen (nitrate, ammonia and nitrous oxide) into the environment, which pollutes hydrosphere and atmosphere.

Harvard Citation style: Bach, M., Knoll, L., Häußermann, U. and Breuer, L. (2020) Nitratbelastung des Grundwassers in Deutschland - Ist das Messnetz schuld?, Wasserwirtschaft : Technik, Forschung, Praxis, 110(6), pp. 12-17

APA Citation style: Bach, M., Knoll, L., Häußermann, U., & Breuer, L. (2020). Nitratbelastung des Grundwassers in Deutschland - Ist das Messnetz schuld?. Wasserwirtschaft : Technik, Forschung, Praxis. 110(6), 12-17.