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Agriculture is an important cause of multiple pollutants in water. With population growth and increasing food demand, more nutrients, plastics, pesticides, pathogens and antibiotics are expected to enter water systems in the 21st century. As a result, water science has been shifting from single-pollutant to multi-pollutant perspectives for large-scale water quality assessments. This perspective paper summarizes and discusses four main highlights related to water pollution and agriculture from the multi-pollutant perspective. These highlights reveal the spatial and temporal distribution and main sources of multiple pollutants in waters. Based on the highlights, a scientific agenda is proposed to prioritize solutions for sustainable agriculture (UN Sustainable Development Goal 2) and clean water (UN Sustainable Development Goals 6 and 14). This agenda points out that when formulating solutions for water pollution, it is essential to take into account multiple pollutants and their interactions beyond biogeochemistry.

The objective of the MSc thesis is to develop a systematic framework for groundwater pollution risk evaluation starting from the groundwater vulnerability maps of Wallonia developed through a GIS-based interface. The aim is rather to conduct a first assessment, that could trace the path for further application and be integrated in the existent Apsû methodology for vulnerability assessment. The first phase of the study consisted in undertaking a literature review on regional risk assessment procedures in the other countries and regions of the world, in order to identify the best approach to apply in Wallonia: the “European Approach” is selected. The probability that, following the occurrence of a hazardous event on the surface of the soil, the contamination could reach the water table and have a serious impact on the groundwater status is evaluated. To do so, data on potential pressures on soil is collected, to create an Hazard map. The risk assessment is carried out on a regional scale for groundwater body RWM040, combining the created Hazard Map, Intrinsic Vulnerability map and Consequences. The selected groundwater body has been subject of several studies, due to the peculiar features of the chalks aquifer (e.g. double porosity and dry valleys), that enhance the risk of groundwater pollution. Furthermore, the area, harshly affected by nitrates and pesticides pollution linked to the extensive agricultural practices, is a perfect site to test the strength of the developed method.

The objective of the MSc thesis is to develop a systematic framework for groundwater pollution risk evaluation starting from the groundwater vulnerability maps of Wallonia developed through a GIS-based interface. The aim is rather to conduct a first assessment, that could trace the path for further application and be integrated in the existent Apsû methodology for vulnerability assessment. The first phase of the study consisted in undertaking a literature review on regional risk assessment procedures in the other countries and regions of the world, in order to identify the best approach to apply in Wallonia: the “European Approach” is selected. The probability that, following the occurrence of a hazardous event on the surface of the soil, the contamination could reach the water table and have a serious impact on the groundwater status is evaluated. To do so, data on potential pressures on soil is collected, to create an Hazard map. The risk assessment is carried out on a regional scale for groundwater body RWM040, combining the created Hazard Map, Intrinsic Vulnerability map and Consequences. The selected groundwater body has been subject of several studies, due to the peculiar features of the chalks aquifer (e.g. double porosity and dry valleys), that enhance the risk of groundwater pollution. Furthermore, the area, harshly affected by nitrates and pesticides pollution linked to the extensive agricultural practices, is a perfect site to test the strength of the developed method.