According to the requirements of the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC), the Member States which have a trans-boundary groundwater bodies should carry out joint activities to monitor, share data and assess the chemical and quantitative status of cross-border groundwater bodies.

During B-solution project “Lithuanian Geological Survey (LGS) and Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre (LEGMC) institutional cooperation on cross-border groundwater management” an intensive cooperation was carried out to tackle identified obstacles which do not allow to implement directive’s requirements.

The most important results are harmonization of cross-border groundwater bodies which further will be used to report to European Commission (Fig.1).

/futurium/en/file/fig1-cross-border-groundwater-bodiesFig.1. Cross-border groundwater bodies

Figure 1. Cross-border groundwater bodies.

During the characterization process (Fig.2) of these cross-border groundwater bodies and their status assessment both partners identified the potential risks and pressures and developed recommendations for better management principles of common groundwater resources.

/futurium/en/file/fig2-characterization-cross-border-groundwater-bodiesFig.2. Characterization of the cross-border groundwater bodies

Figure 2. Characterization of the cross-border groundwater bodies.

The long-term outcome of the project is an improved cooperation between main actors in groundwater management field in Lithuania and Latvia – LGS and LEGMC. This in turn will serve as a platform for future collaboration projects.

The project “Lithuanian Geological Survey and Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre institutional cooperation on cross-border groundwater management” is financed by the European Union.