Resilient Innovation for Sustainable Karst Water Management under Environmental Stress (RISE)

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Nadine Göppert
• Subject Area: Hydrogeology, Hydrology, Limnology, Urban Water Management, Water Chemistry, Integrated Water Resources Management
• Term: since 2026
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 566401546

The sustainable management of water resources is one of the most pressing global challenges due to climate change, population growth and increasing land use demands. These factors threaten water availability and quality while increasing contamination risks. Among the most vulnerable systems are karst aquifers, which serve as important resources of drinking water for millions of people around the world. These aquifers are characterized by their rapid and unpredictable flow dynamics, high vulnerability to contamination and limited knowledge of their hydrological complexity. There are still considerable gaps in our understanding of microbiological transport dynamics under different hydrological conditions. In particular, the effects of hydrological events such as snowmelt and heavy rainfall on microbiological mobilization are not sufficiently understood. The interplay between allochthonous and autochthonous contributions to the deterioration of groundwater quantity and quality in karst springs has also not been sufficiently investigated to date. In addition, the effects of extreme weather events, changing precipitation patterns, rising temperatures and changes in land use on groundwater recharge rates and water quality remain unclear. This lack of knowledge makes it difficult to predict water quality problems, assess the long-term availability of these resources and highlights the need for science-based strategies for sustainable management. This project aims to improve the management of karst water resources exposed to environmental pressures through the development of a unique database on the origin, distribution and protection status of water resources in Slovenia, with a focus on karst aquifers. This database will support the prioritisation of karst water resources that need immediate protection. Advanced continuous monitoring of microbial indicators and suspended particles, coupled with innovative sediment profiling along cave systems for laser-based microscopic analysis, will provide crucial insights into the transport and fate of microbiological contamination and turbidity. The knowledge gained by analysing the mechanisms of groundwater degradation will also form the basis for the development of an early warning system to effectively mitigate contamination risks. Scenario-based analyses will be used to simulate the flow rates and probability of contamination events at karst springs under different climate and land use conditions. The results of this research will significantly advance scientific knowledge of karst hydrology by unravelling the complex dynamics of water flow and contaminant transport in these systems. The models and management strategies developed will not only support the sustainability of karst water resources in Slovenia, but will also provide a transferable framework for other karst regions if adapted accordingly.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Slovenia
• Cooperation Partner: Professorin Dr. Natasa Virsek Ravbar