Water policies play a critical role in preventing groundwater pollution by establishing regulatory frameworks, quality standards, and management practices that protect aquifer systems from contamination. Effective policies set clear guidelines for land use, industrial discharge, agricultural practices, and wastewater treatment, ensuring that potential pollutants are controlled at their source before they can reach groundwater resources. They also promote the adoption of sustainable water management strategies, such as Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR), by providing legal support, incentive mechanisms, and coordination among stakeholders. Furthermore, robust water policies facilitate monitoring and enforcement, enable early detection of contamination risks, and ensure accountability across sectors. By integrating scientific evidence with precautionary principles, water policies create a proactive approach to groundwater protection, safeguarding this vital resource for current and future generations while supporting environmental sustainability and public health.

By integrating policy recommendations, the tool not only informs technical and operational decisions but also guides institutional and regulatory actions that are critical for the long-term success of MAR initiatives across different contexts and jurisdictions.

The policy recommendations are a work on progress. The final assessment will be finalized by the end of the project. The platform will be later updated with the final recommendations as they are a crucial aspect to support decisions not only for policy makers but also for the users.

MAR2PROTECT has developed 2 policy briefs for EU-level policy makers and for policy makers at national level in EU Member States.

POLICY BRIEF 1

Recommendations for EU-level policy makers

POLICY BRIEF 2

Recommendations for policy makers at the national level in EU Member States

As MAR2PROTECT project is part of the ZeroPollution4Water Cluster, it has participated in the elaboration of a joint policy brief “Preventing groundwater contamination and securing drinking water quality”

JOINT POLICY BRIEF

Preventing groundwater contamination and securing drinking water quality