GOODWATER

RESEARCH TRAINING FOR GOOD EUROPEAN GROUND WATER RESOURCES

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'On 1st January 2007 the Ground Water sub-directive (COM/2003/550) complementing the European Water Framework Directive (COM/2000/60/EC) came into force. These two directives enforce the protection, maintenance and sustainable use of groundwater resources in the European Union. However, today around 750 000 sites are contaminated with substances including hydrocarbons, chlorinated solvents, and diffuse organic contaminants throughout Europe. Microbial processes can play an important role in the remediation and protection of groundwater resources and there is an urgent need for a better integration of microbial process understanding in current management schemes. Groundwater management must take into account different characteristics and degradation capacities for pollutants and sites, and requires a comprehensive understanding of contaminant fate, degradation pathways, and remediation potentials. Today, in Europe there is a shortage of scientists and environmental engineers with the interdisciplinary understanding of groundwater contaminant behaviour required when embarking on the tasks of protecting and sustainably managing groundwater resources, remediating existing contaminations, and performing risk assessment. The aim of the GOODWATER ITN is to educate a new generation of groundwater professionals with targeted multidisciplinary expertise and process understanding, including microbiological, hydrogeological, chemical, and stable isotope aspects. For this purpose, some of Europe’s most esteemed groundwater experts from the different fields join forces to guarantee a cutting-edge scientific research training platform. The network will offer individual expert training by research, and network-wide training by workshops, summer schools, and laboratory exchange. Moreover, stakeholders from industry and authorities will be involved as associated partners to steer the project towards socio-economic relevance and tutor relevant complementary skills.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Increased training in managing contaminated water sources around Europe will help communities access cleaner water and raise the standard of living.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

The EU has laws that protect and promote sustainable use of ground water resources, yet despite this around 750,000 sites are contaminated with substances from organic contaminants to chlorinated solvents. One solution is to apply microbial processes which can help protect groundwater and improve its management. The EU-funded project 'Research training for good european ground water resources' (Goodwater) trained a new generation of scientists and environmental engineers in microbiological, chemical, hydro-geological, and stable isotope aspects.

The project brought together notable groundwater experts from the EU to develop an advanced training platform involving workshops, summer schools, research opportunities and laboratory exchanges. The initiative also involved stakeholders from government and industry to help incorporate socioeconomic aspects in the tutoring.

To achieve its aims Goodwater established an indoor aquifer model system enabling students and trainees to study aquifer contamination very closely. Programme participants were able to investigate microbial processes from DNA level and m-RNA level to protein level, elaborating protocols to analyse microbial remediation processes effectively.

The project team also developed and conducted quantification trials for specific aerobic and anaerobic degradation genes in order to study remediation processes at the molecular level. In addition to laboratory testing, participants gained the opportunity to study remediation processes of these compounds directly in the environment. This fundamental training in groundwater contamination will help manage water sources better and raise the standard of living in many areas of Europe.