In collaboration with the Public Service of Wallonia (SPW) and the Public Water Management Company (SPGE), PRIOR'eau helps the non-profit association PROTECT'eau to better target its actions to protect water resources among Walloon farmers and other users of plant protection products (PPPs).
The project aims to enhance the long-term value of PPP detection and contamination data for Walloon groundwater and surface waters, in order to prioritise field and prevention actions by advisors. To achieve this, it relies on the Calypso and Aquaphyc databases generated by the SPW.
Using data analysis and processing tools, the project identifies areas where observed concentrations range from 30% to 75% of the 100 ng/L groundwater quality standard per active substance, as defined in the Walloon Water Code. Therefore, PROTECT'eau can act preventively before any exceedances occur.
At-risk areas are then examined in detail to identify vulnerability factors, such as carbon-poor soils, karstic zones, or areas where groundwater outcrops. In parallel, crops with the greatest impact on PPP transfer are targeted in order to provide transitional proposals for technical itineraries. This helps reduce the use of pesticides in highly sensitive areas. It has been observed that water body contamination is mainly characterised by the presence of herbicidal substances.
The results are then sent to PROTECT'eau advisors in the form of operational data sheets and geomatic tools, to facilitate the use of the data and improve the implementation of targeted solutions in Wallonia.
Financing: Project subsidised by SPW and SPGE within the PROTECT'eau framework convention.
