Hydrogeological processes and geological settings over Europe controlling dissolved geogenic and anthropogenic elements in groundwater of relevance to human health and the status of dependent ecosystem

Abstract

[EN] Groundwater protection is a priority of the EU environmental policy. Water Directives provide a framework for pollution prevention and control, including provisions for assessing natural conditions or Natural Background Levels (NBLs). Determining NBLs of a substance is important, since groundwater naturally containing high concentrations of a certain substance should not be classified in poor status for this reason alone.