Restoring groundwater quality at the drinking water catchment scale: A multidisciplinary and participatory approach

Preserving or restoring the quality of groundwater resources with regard to nitrate is a major challenge. To date, useful and easily applicable tools to identify the best measures to implement at local scale are lacking. An innovative methodology is proposed to identify cost-effective restoration measures at the drinking water catchment scale. The methodology is based on the articulation of two tools: a model simulating nitrate groundwater contamination time series and an economic evaluation, within a participatory approach. It was applied to a representative drinking water catchment in Northwest France that has been affected by nitrate contamination for decades. Five scenarios of measures (changes in fertilization and intercropping practices, or in cropping patterns) were co-constructed with stakeholders, evaluated in terms of cost and impact on groundwater nitrate concentration, and discussed with stakeholders. Overall, two scenarios stand out. Introducing hemp in crop rotations is the only scenario generating an economic benefit, but for a very low impact on nitrate concentration (decrease of 4 mg/l by 2050 for 10% of hemp in crop rotations). Introducing alfalfa in crop rotations is the most effective measure to decrease nitrate concentration (decrease of 23 mg/l by 2050 for 20% of alfalfa in crop rotations), and for a moderate cost compared to the other scenarios (25-51 €/ha/year). Results show that substantial changes in cropping patterns - more important than those imagined initially by stakeholders (e.g. converting 40% of cropland to alfalfa) are needed to restore groundwater quality targets in the medium-long term. Measures deemed promising and achievable by the stakeholders proved to be insufficiently effective. The approach developed has been shown to provide valued and trusted information to stakeholders and to objectify debates. Stakeholders have shown interest in the evaluation of costs and further socio-economic information, in addition to the evaluation of the effectiveness of measures on groundwater quality, validating the multidisciplinary dimension of the approach. The approach has the advantage of being easy to implement, and is therefore applicable to other study sites where needed.