New scientific initiative aims to deepen understanding of aquifers and the threats they face. This karst project is coordinated by the Institute for Environmental Diagnostics and Water Research (IDAEA), part of the Superior Council for Scientific Research (CSIC). It receives 10 million euros in funding from the European Research Council (ERC). Its purpose is to study the physical rules governing water flow and the transport of pollutants through underground networks. Karst features were selected as one of 29 projects from nearly 360 proposals in this inaugural call.
Groundwater pollution occurs when pollutants enter soil or subsoil and move into the aquifer. Natural processes can also introduce minerals that degrade water quality when they are present in high concentrations in the aquifer.
“Up to 25% of the world’s population depends on underground caves for their water supply. In addition, water can move rapidly through these labyrinths, potentially causing overflow and spreading contamination to other freshwater systems”, notes Marco Dentz, CSIC researcher and Karst coordinator at IDAEA.
The project will enable assessments of how extreme events such as droughts and floods—expected to occur more often due to climate change—affect underground systems. It will also shed light on the origins of these subterranean formations.
ERC Synergy funding, totaling 295 million euros, supports small teams of two to four researchers who tackle ambitious projects that would be difficult to pursue by individuals and their groups alone.
“Some problems are too complex to tackle solo. These grants enable scientists to collaborate across disciplines and push boundaries. Mariya Gabriel, Europe’s Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, emphasized the value of these efforts in helping us understand the world and prepare for future challenges.”
In the Karst project, the multidisciplinary team includes Marco Dentz of IDAEA-CSIC, who specializes in pollutant transport in heterogeneous environments; Philippe Renard of the University of Neuchâtel (Switzerland), an expert on caves and basement rock; Benoit Noetinger of IFP Energies Nouvelles (France), a specialist in heterogeneous media and flows in oil reservoirs; and Bojan Mohar, a mathematician from the University of Ljubljana (Slovenia) focusing on network theory.
groundwater pollution
Poor groundwater quality can stem from natural causes or human activities. When pollution is discussed, it often involves industrial discharges, for example.
Distinguishing natural from anthropogenic sources is not always straightforward. Human activities that do not seem polluting at first glance—such as pumping—can disrupt the natural balance and degrade groundwater quality. The consequences of groundwater pollution are typically more severe than those observed in surface water because groundwater tends to move slowly, is stored in large volumes, and carries pollutants for extended periods.
Surface water contamination is usually detected quickly, allowing timely corrective actions. In contrast, groundwater problems often unfold over months or years. River waters replenish and dilute pollutants more rapidly, helping to restore surface water quality after remediation. Groundwater, however, regenerates slowly due to its low flow and vast storage, making recovery a lengthy process once contaminants are present and adsorbed within the aquifer.
Artificial decontamination of aquifers tends to be costly and is typically feasible only for shallow, narrow aquifers. Droughts and excessive use of groundwater remain central challenges for Spain’s strategic groundwater bodies.
Agricultural irrigation consumes the largest share of Spain’s water resources, with a substantial portion intended for potable use. The expansion of basins and undiminished surface area has persisted in recent years. Estimates indicate irrigated crops in Spain use water far more aggressively than urban demand; in areas lacking river or reservoir flow, groundwater withdrawals threaten future reserves. Hydrological plans warn that a quarter of the aquifers have been severely overexploited, and there are reports of widespread unauthorized wells, complicating conservation efforts.
…
Environment department contact address: [redacted]