Integrated assessment of groundwater systems
Joint project gwTriade

Our objectives
- Identification of priority groundwater pollutants (indicator substances) and appropriate test methods for the assessment of impacts on groundwater biodiversity
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Development and implementation of an integrated assessment concept specifically for groundwater systems - based on a triad approach
- Analysis and integration of societal objectives regarding groundwater assessment and protection to develop recommendations for action on extended groundwater assessment for users and decision makers
Triad approach
- Combination of standardized ecotoxicological bioassays, chemical analysis and faunal diversity assessment to investigate the ecotoxicological, chemical and ecological potential of increasingly polluted groundwater ecosystems. The triad approach is complemented by the integration of societal objectives concerning groundwater protection.
Our Consortium
- We are a consortium of different project partners with expertise in environmental toxicology, molecular ecology, groundwater and drinking water ecology, chemical analysis, water management, conflict analysis and stakeholder processes
Project Funding

The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is funding the gwTriade project (Ecological and Ecotoxicological Groundwater Quality Monitoring based on an Integrative Triad Approach) within the LURCH (Sustainable Groundwater Management) funding measure as part of the federal research program on water “Wasser: N”. Wasser: N contributes to the BMBF “Research for Sustainability’ (FONA) Strategy”.
Grand number: 02WGW1668A
gwTriade sampling campaign in Rastatt
On December 2nd and 3rd 2024, the fifth gwTriade sampling campaign was carried out near Rastatt in Baden-Württemberg. In the district of Rastatt, the groundwater is partially affected by a large-scale PFAS contamination: In Mittelbaden, paper sludge or fire extinguishing agents contaminated with PFAS were applied to arable land over an area of more than 1,200 hectares.
LURCH status seminar
On September 17 and 18, 2024, the LURCH mid-term status seminar took place at DECHEMA-Haus in Frankfurt am Main. The current results of the individual joint projects were presented and discussed in presentations and poster contributions. A total of approx. 150 experts from research and practice took part in the event.
gwTriade Project meeting in Frankfurt am Main
The third gwTriade project meeting took place in Frankfurt am Main on September 16, 2024. The meeting was organized by the Institute for Social-Ecological Research (ISOE).