Rimas Meištininkas: Lithuania's greatest treasure lies beneath our feet. Can we preserve it?

While Lithuania currently enjoys good drinking water quality, historical pollution from past activities poses a significant threat to its groundwater resources. Contamination has been detected in areas near former military airfields, where long-term use and storage of petroleum products have polluted soil and groundwater, necessitating costly and lengthy cleanup efforts.

The article highlights the interconnectedness of environmental issues, stating that climate change, biodiversity loss, and the green economy all share a common denominator: healthy soil. Without it, preserving quality groundwater, resilient ecosystems, and long-term human well-being is impossible. The European Union increasingly recognizes soil protection and restoration as a critical future challenge.

Scientifically, soil is described as one of the planet's most complex living systems, formed over extended periods through the interaction of living and non-living elements. Billions of microorganisms in fertile soil play vital roles in decomposition, nutrient cycling, carbon storage, and natural water purification. This intricate system absorbs rainwater, retains pollutants, regulates their movement, and safeguards deeper groundwater layers.

Protecting soil is directly linked to drinking water quality, public health, biodiversity, and climate change mitigation. Therefore, safeguarding soil also means protecting Lithuania's strategic natural resource: groundwater. However, this natural protection has limits. Oil products, heavy metals, pesticides, and other hazardous chemicals do not remain static where they were initially released; rainwater gradually transports them deeper into the ground.

Data from the Lithuanian Geological Survey indicates over 12,000 potential pollution sites across the country, areas where soil and groundwater may have been contaminated by current or past economic activities. This historical pollution represents a legacy that demands present-day responsibility to ensure the long-term health of these vital resources.