Persistent nitrate and PFAS pollution in Hessian groundwater

Although groundwater quality has improved overall, nitrate and PFAS levels in Hesse are still too high.

Hesse is generally positive about the development of its groundwater quality, but calls for a further reduction in pollution from nitrate and PFAS chemicals. According to the State Agency for Nature Conservation, Environment and Geology (HLNUG) in Wiesbaden, the comparison of the now published 2022 groundwater quality report with the previous analyses from 2017 and 2012 shows less pollution overall with pesticide active substances and their degradation products.

There have also been successes with nitrate in Hesse in co-operation with agriculture. Nevertheless, this component of fertilisers remains the “main contaminant of groundwater”, from which most drinking water comes. The PFAS group of chemicals in turn includes an estimated 10,000 individual substances that are used in everyday products such as anoraks, pans and cosmetics.