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---
title: "Groundwater Pollution in Germany: Nitrate Levels by Region"
description: Groundwater pollution caused by nitrate is becoming an increasingly serious problem in Germany. Given the demands placed on the agricultural industry, it is
canonical: https://www.datapulse.de/en/groundwater-pollution-in-germany/
author: Maria Fernandez
published: 2025-08-28T14:18:48+00:00
modified: 2026-09-05T16:14:44+00:00
section: Climate
language: en-US
publisher: DataPulse Research
image: https://www.datapulse.de/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Water-Quality-1-819x1024.png
---

# Groundwater Pollution in Germany: Nitrate Levels by Region

Groundwater pollution caused by nitrate is becoming an increasingly serious problem in Germany. Given the demands placed on the agricultural industry, it is virtually a vicious circle. Higher productivity requires larger quantities of fertilizers, which in turn further increases groundwater pollution.

## How does nitrate pollution occur in groundwater?

Nitrate is deposited in the soil by nitrogen-containing artificial fertilizers or manure. In winter, there are few or no plants in the fields to absorb fertilizer. During this season, the higher amount of precipitation flushes the excess fertilizer deeper into the soil until it reaches the groundwater table. Not only artificial fertilizers, but also slurry dumping increases the nitrate content.

The disposal of slurry plays a role in factory farming that should not be underestimated. Depending on the region, the costs range between ten and 40 euros per cubic meter. An “alternative” disposal method can be quite lucrative for farmers. In Hesse, a one-time fine of between €150 and €500 is imposed for the environmentally non-compliant dumping of manure; in the event of a repeat offense, the fine can be up to €10,000.

## Where is most nitrogen-containing fertilizer used?

A glance at the map suggests that northern and eastern Germany are at the top of the list. However, as the blog “purgruen” documented for the years 2021 and 2022, Bavaria was the largest consumer of nitrogen fertilizer with 188,000 tons. Lower Saxony ranks second with 160,000 tons, followed by Schleswig-Holstein with around 120,000 tons.

Another interesting factor in analyzing the nitrate content in groundwater is the question of the proportion of agricultural land in the total area of a federal state. The following table provides information on this:

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| Federal State | Total area | Agricultural use |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Baden-Württemberg | 35,748 | 16 011 |
| Bavaria | 70 542 | 32,464 |
| Berlin | 891 | 35 |
| Brandenburg | 29,654 | 14,118 |
| Bremen | 420 | 113 |
| Hamburg | 755 | 172 |
| Hesse | 21,116 | 8,687 |
| Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania | 23,293 | 14,348 |
| Lower Saxony | 47,710 | 27,561 |
| North Rhine-Westphalia | 34 113 | 15,914 |
| Rhineland-Palatinate | 19,858 | 8 019 |
| Saarland | 2,572 | 1 024 |
| Saxony | 18,450 | 9,908 |
| Saxony-Anhalt | 20,555 | 12,331 |
| Schleswig-Holstein | 15,804 | 10,777 |
| Thuringia | 16 202 | 8,409 |

Baden-Württemberg

Total area

35,748

Agricultural use

16 011

Bavaria

Total area

70 542

Agricultural use

32,464

Berlin

Total area

891

Agricultural use

35

Brandenburg

Total area

29,654

Agricultural use

14,118

Bremen

Total area

420

Agricultural use

113

Hamburg

Total area

755

Agricultural use

172

Hesse

Total area

21,116

Agricultural use

8,687

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

Total area

23,293

Agricultural use

14,348

Lower Saxony

Total area

47,710

Agricultural use

27,561

North Rhine-Westphalia

Total area

34 113

Agricultural use

15,914

Rhineland-Palatinate

Total area

19,858

Agricultural use

8 019

Saarland

Total area

2,572

Agricultural use

1 024

Saxony

Total area

18,450

Agricultural use

9,908

Saxony-Anhalt

Total area

20,555

Agricultural use

12,331

Schleswig-Holstein

Total area

15,804

Agricultural use

10,777

Thuringia

Total area

16 202

Agricultural use

8,409

Source: Destatis

The proportion of land used for agriculture is well below 50 percent in Bavaria, but accounts for two-thirds in Schleswig-Holstein.

## Impact of grazing and livestock farming

We mentioned at the beginning that manure also contributes to nitrate pollution of groundwater. Against this background, it is interesting to note that livestock farming declined by five percent between 2010 and 2020 (source: Destatis).

The decline in pig farming is even more significant. The number of animals kept fell by 15 percent between 2020 and 2022 (source: praxis-agrar.de).

This fact leads to the conclusion that groundwater contamination with nitrate is not primarily attributable to factory farming, as has often been claimed. However, there is at least one officially documented exception.

## What is going on in Flothend?

Flothend is not one of the municipalities in Germany that everyone is familiar with. Nevertheless, this district of the North Rhine-Westphalian town of Nettetal has gained notoriety. The village has the highest level of nitrate contamination in groundwater in Germany. According to the Düsseldorf Regional Council, the Brun GmbH dairy farm is responsible for this. Once again, in June 2024, gross negligence in the handling of substances harmful to groundwater was documented, both by the biogas plant and by the livestock farm. The result was significant and serious deficiencies that had already been criticized in previous inspections (source: Düsseldorf Regional Council).

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Source: https://www.datapulse.de/en/groundwater-pollution-in-germany/