Real Life Example: TWS OJ Cooperation & Research Project

Agriculture accounts for approximately 70% of global water withdrawals (FAO, n.d.), making it the largest user of freshwater resources. Reliable access to water is fundamental to the productivity and sustainability of agricultural systems. In drinking water catchment areas and water protection zones, effective cooperation between the agriculture and water management sectors is essential. To strengthen this partnership, the Cooperation Trinkwasserschutz Oberpfälzer Jura (Drinking Water Protection Cooperation of the Upper Palatinate Karst Region - TWS OJ) was established. Since January 2021, this initiative has brought together 11 water suppliers who jointly work towards securing drinking water quality in the region. To visit the TWS OJ website (opens in an external window) click here.

Click on the subsections below to learn more about this real-life example. In the first subsection, you will learn about the TWS–OJ cooperation and how it is improving soil health and protecting drinking water in the Upper Palatinate Jura region of Southeast Germany. In the second subsection, you will explore the research project that supports this work and learn how soil tests are carried out directly in the field.