Protection of Water Resources from Agriculture Pollution: An Integrated Methodological Approach for the Nitrates Directive 91–676-EEC Implementation

Carmine Massarelli, Daniela Losacco, Marina Tumolo, Claudia Campanale and Vito Felice Uricchio
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Carmine Massarelli: Water Research Institute, Italian National Research Council (CNR-IRSA), Via F. De Blasio 5, Zona Industriale, 70132 Bari, Italy
Daniela Losacco: Water Research Institute, Italian National Research Council (CNR-IRSA), Via F. De Blasio 5, Zona Industriale, 70132 Bari, Italy
Marina Tumolo: Water Research Institute, Italian National Research Council (CNR-IRSA), Via F. De Blasio 5, Zona Industriale, 70132 Bari, Italy
Claudia Campanale: Water Research Institute, Italian National Research Council (CNR-IRSA), Via F. De Blasio 5, Zona Industriale, 70132 Bari, Italy
Vito Felice Uricchio: Water Research Institute, Italian National Research Council (CNR-IRSA), Via F. De Blasio 5, Zona Industriale, 70132 Bari, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 24, 1-26

Abstract: Nitrogen is a vital nutrient helpful to plants and crop growth. However, among the leading causes of water resources pollution is the excess nitrogen from agricultural sources. In European Union countries, the Nitrates Directive has been approved to reduce this problem monitoring of water bodies with regard to nitrate concentrations, designation of Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs), and establishing codes of good agricultural practices and measures to prevent and reduce water pollution from nitrates. In light of this, we propose an integrated methodological approach to better manage a environmental issue as the perimeter of NVZs with the prospective that our approach could be used in the future by other member states representing a Best Practice in that direction. The methodology is based on data integration applied in a GIS environment. Different available data representing the knowledge of the territory were harmonised, systematised and georeferenced, in order to increase the environmental framework, preserve the contamination of the water resource and give indications on the measures to be implemented to apply in the best way possible the Nitrates Directive. Finally, it was also possible to overcome the infringement procedure in progress for Italy and the Puglia region and proceed to new designation of NVZs.

Keywords: Nitrates Directive; water pollution; GIS; microbial source tracking; Puglia Region (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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