"IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE IS THE PRIMARY USER OF WATER IN EUROPE AND IS A VERY COMPETITIVE ECONOMIC SECTOR OF THE EUROPEAN UNION. ALMOST THE 46% OF THE REGION�S POPULATION LIVES IN PLACES (ALMOST NINE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES), WHICH ARE WATER-STRESSED (EEA, 2009 ). MOREOVER, IN EUROPE ALSO THE PROBLEM OF WATER QUALITY DEGRADATION OF SURFACE AND GROUNDWATER BODIES HAS RECEIVED GREAT INTEREST BECAUSE OF THE EXCESSIVE USE OF MINERAL FERTILIZERS IN AGRICULTURE (OECD, 2013 ).