On 27 October 2026, the Water Research Institute in Bratislava hosted a meeting of the regional stakeholder working group of the GEMS project (Groundwater management in nitrate vulnerable zones with agriculture activities). The project focuses on protecting groundwater in areas at risk from agricultural nitrate pollution.
What Meratch presented
Two representatives spoke on behalf of Meratch:
- Andrej Mosať presented results of the APVV project “Internet of Water” (Adapt to a climate of extremes in real time): real-time monitoring of climatic drought and water quality, including nitrates. The prototype in situ devices will enable online, 24/7 monitoring of water composition in real time, with remote tracking of chemical and microbiological contamination of groundwater in wells, surface water in rivers and lakes, and soil parameters, plant nutrition and plant health in soil leachates. Applications include large-scale climate change monitoring, water governance, the UWWTD, monitoring the status of groundwater and surface water in drinking water wells, industry, energy, nuclear power, precision agriculture, the Mission Soil, and direct deployment wherever water and soil leachate screening is possible.
- Roman Cibulka shared his experience from working at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Environment. He presented the conclusions of the first comprehensive evaluation of the Nitrates Directive, published by the Commission in July 2026 after 35 years in force. According to the evaluation, the directive remains necessary and cost-effective: its benefits are 3 to 7 times higher than its costs. However, improvements in farming practices have translated only partially into better water quality. Roman presented the Commission’s recommendations for Slovakia together with the EEA Country Profile, and explained how EU legislation is made and where Slovakia can influence its shape. He closed by introducing his new role at GOSPACE LABS and the mission of our Meratch vertical.
Drought at the centre of the discussion
The discussion covered many topics, the biggest being climate change and increasingly frequent drought, which puts pressure on both water management and farmers.
Mia Ilavska