Overview

• Hesse increased monitoring sites from 120 in 2022 to over 490 as of August 2025 to ensure tighter controls on fertilizer-derived nitrates.
• The state installed 39 new stations this year, including a 30-meter Hattersheim well as the seventh installation aimed at filling data gaps.
• More granular station placement aims to refine 'red zone' boundaries under the Düngeverordnung so that fertilizer limits apply to precisely defined areas.
• Environment Minister Ingmar Jung says the expansion will provide a reliable data foundation for environmental, water management and agricultural stakeholders.
• HLNUG President Thomas Schmid says the richer dataset will help assess local groundwater stress and guide long-term water quality protection.