How old are our precious groundwater resources?

How old are our groundwater resources and how well are they protected towards pollution from the surface or subsurface activities?

Groundwater researchers from TNO, the Geological Survey of the Netherlands and the Institute of Environmental Physics at University of Heidelberg, Germany currently conduct common groundwater sampling in the Netherlands as part of the HOVER project. The groundwater samples are later analyzed in the laboratory for a wide range of environmental tracers and the results are used to estimate groundwater age and travel time distributions in the subsurface. Groundwater dating is an important tool for assessment of the evolution of groundwater chemical and quantitative status and for improved management of this precious resource according to EU legislation.

Collecting groundwater samples for the analysis of environmental tracers used for estimation of groundwater age and travel time distributions in the subsurface. The field work is conducted in collaboration between TNO, The Geological Survey of the Netherlands and Institute of Environmental Physics at University of Heidelberg, Germany

Field equipment for groundwater sampling
Filed equipment for groundwater sampling in a multi-level monitoring well at a depth up to 400 meter below surface 1)
Filed equipment for groundwater sampling in a multi-level monitoring well at a depth up to 400 meter below surface 2)