The new manure action plan (MAP 6) has taken several new measures to improve surface water quality in Flanders. The European objective states that surface water at 95% of all measuring points should contain less than 50 mg Nitrate per L. In MAP 6, Flanders gave a different interpretation of this directive by working with drainage areas. Within a given catchment area, the average nitrate content of the various measuring points must be lower than 18 mg per L. This approach thus deviates somewhat from the European directive. In practice, however, it appears that regardless of the approach, there are quite a few problem points that do not seem to show improvement even if drastic measures are taken. In practice, there are measuring points that do not show any positive evolution despite 10 years of effort.
The objective of the project is specifically to address nitrate-rich monitoring points (sources) with a historical character, i.e. monitoring points that have systematically recorded high nitrate concentrations for many years. The project aims to address these monitoring points through a participatory process in collaboration with farmers around certain monitoring points.
The aim of the project is to achieve a structural improvement of the water quality at a specific measuring point at 2 to 3 locations through partnerships with farmers. In this way, these intensive partnerships can serve as an example for other regions in Flanders.
