Monitoring exposes concrete sources of agricultural pollution
The Interreg project CARE+ addresses agricultural point and diffuse discharges in the Mandel Basin to structurally improve water quality. Monitoring and targeted actions show where the major bottlenecks are and how they can be addressed.
Pressure on Water Quality from Agricultural Activities
Waterways in Flanders are under pressure from nutrients, pesticides, and untreated discharges. In agricultural areas, this often results in a combination of point sources and diffuse pollution, which together affect the ecological water quality.
The CARE+ project focuses on the catchment area of the Collievijverbeek and Babillebeek, in the region around Roeselare, as a concrete case to address this issue in a targeted manner.
Local Peaks in Nutrients and Pesticides
From the monitoring campaigns by the Flemish Environmental Agency and HOGENT in 2025, together with citizen scientists, it is evident that water quality is under pressure at multiple locations.
- At 2 of the 15 measurement locations, remarkably high nitrate concentrations are measured, which persist even in the summer
- At 2 other locations, high total nitrogen values indicate the presence of ammonium, linked to untreated domestic wastewater
- Exceedances of pesticides: in April linked to point discharges, in the summer to spillage near waterways
- Detection of an unrecognized substance
- Macroinvertebrates show that water quality is moderate to poor
Monitoring, Tools, and Guidance
CARE+ combines data collection, analysis, and fieldwork to tackle pollution sources in a targeted way.
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Targeted monitoring and analysis
- Almost monthly sampling
- Additional samples upstream -
Data visualization via VITO's WaterProtect tool
- Integration of water quality, land use, and precipitation
- Linking exceedances to specific activities -
Guidance for farmers
- Field worker as a contact point
- Free advice via Inagro
- Focus on sustainable farming practices
The WaterProtect tool combines water quality measurement results, precipitation data and land use information, including crop types and the location of sheds and greenhouses. ©VITO
Concrete Insights from Fieldwork and Kitchen Table Discussions
A survey among farmers (25% of 204 farms) reveals important levers:
- 56% use herbicides without wastewater collection
- 44% do not seek fertilization advice
- 7% experience erosion problems
Practical actions such as cleaning spraying equipment show how residues can be correctly collected and broken down. Even small spillages can impact water quality up to 10 km away.
From Local Action to Broader Application
CARE+ provides insights for the wider agri-food sector and policy context. Results are shared via a sounding board and can be scaled up to other regions.
Do you want to learn from the CARE+ approach or get started yourself? Discover the project or contact water innovator Charlotte.
