Bridging science and policy for effective implementation of EU groundwater legislation

The EU groundwater regulatory framework imposes Member States to evaluate deterioration risks (both quantitative and qualitative), to monitor groundwater status and to take appropriate measures to combat or mitigate pollution and deterioration. The legislation is hence based on technical milestones that follow Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) principles that are reflected in the development of the river basin management planning under the Water Framework Directive (WFD). This paper summarises the main technical challenges of this legislation and highlights the needs to "break the walls" between science and policy to ensure an appropriate scientific response and transfer of knowledge for a better implementation.