Regulate represented at the 30th Groundwater Workshop hosted by NLWKN in Cloppenburg
On June 24, 2025, the 30th Groundwater Workshop organized by the Lower Saxony State Agency for Water Management, Coastal and Nature Conservation (NLWKN) took place in Cloppenburg. This well-established event serves as a central platform for professional exchange on the sustainable use and protection of groundwater resources. The Regulate project was represented by Anne Jäger, project member, and Prof. Dr. Hans Jürgen Hahn, who acts as supervisor in the project.
The workshop was very well attended, with more than 300 participants on-site and online. It primarily targeted professionals from the water management sector, including local and regional water suppliers, water and wastewater associations, representatives from city and district administrations, various state ministries, and water-related authorities from across Germany. In addition, consulting and planning firms, energy providers, agricultural and irrigation associations, and other stakeholders were present.
The morning sessions focused on water quantity management. Topics included the “Master Plan Water” of the State of Lower Saxony, the development of a new groundwater flow model for the region, and the testing of concrete measures to retain water in agricultural landscapes.
In the afternoon, the focus shifted to groundwater quality. Dr. Hans Jürgen Hahn presented first results of the Regulate project case study in northern Germany, specifically in Lower Saxony and the Hannover region. His talk highlighted groundwater as a habitat and explored the potential of ecological knowledge to support assessments of ecological status and risk evaluations relevant to water utilities. Discussions also touched on the legal framework and ongoing negotiations between the European Parliament, Council, and Commission concerning the protection of groundwater ecosystems as part of the revision of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD).
Another highlight of the day was the presentation of the Groundwater Triad project by Prof. Dr. Henner Hollert (Goethe University Frankfurt), in which the ISOE – Institute for Social-Ecological Research is also involved.
The event once again underscored the importance of strong dialogue between science, administration, business, and practice in achieving sustainable water management – a core goal of the Regulate project.
Further information on the event can be found here