Surface water quality
Last update of indicator22.01.2024
Indicator definition
The indicator describes the surface water quality in monitored sites.
Related policy documents and targets
- preventing or limiting the entry of pollutants into the groundwater and preventing the deterioration of the condition of all groundwater bodies,
- reversing any significant and permanently upward trend in the concentration of the pollutant, which is caused by human activity, in order to gradually reduction of groundwater pollution. The key areas for which measures are proposed in the Action Plan were identified in the Problem Analysis. These are the following areas/problems:
- excessive use and development of the territory threatening the quality and quantity of water in CHVO Žitný ostrov,
- unsupportive legal regulations and weak enforcement of the law,
- insufficient information system and connection of monitoring systems,
- insufficient environmental awareness and education of professional and lay people public.
- sustainable use of the territory and its development,
- safe drinking water taken from CHVO Žitný ostrov,
- reduction of threats to groundwater quality from local sources of pollution,
- reliable monitoring and information system,
- environmentally responsible approach to the protection and use of water.
The concept of the water policy of the Slovak Republic until 2030 with a view to 2050 (2022)
The concept of water policy focuses on ten priority areas, which are interconnected, and focuses on the area of water use.
3. Sustainable use of water
Goal 3.1. Sustainable and efficient use of surface and underground waters without endangering their quantity and quality
Goal 3.2. Functional crisis management in times of drought and water shortages
4. Water for all residents
Goal 4.1. Ensuring the supply of health-safe drinking water for all residents
Goal 4.2. Increasing the connection of residents to municipal wastewater treatment systems and increasing the share of treated municipal wastewater
Water plan of the Slovak Republic for period 2022 - 2027 - Update 2021 (2021)
Environmental objectives aim to ensure and improve the quality of aquatic ecosystems and sustainable, balanced and equitable water use. Environmental targets are defined for surface water bodies, the groundwater bodies and the protected areas.
Environmental target for surface water bodies is to perform measures aimed at:
- Preventing deterioration of the condition of surface water bodies;
- Protection, improvement and restoration of surface water bodies in order to achieve good surface water status by December 22, 2015 or 2021 within the second planning cycle, or until 2027 within the third planning cycle;
- Protection and improvement of artificial and considerably changed surface water bodies so that the good ecological potential and good chemical condition are achieved until 22 December 2015 and 2021 within the second planning cycle, or until 2027 within the third planning cycle;
- Gradual decreasing in pollution by priority substances and stopping or gradual termination of emissions, discharge and leakages of priority dangerous substances.
Plan for the development of public water supply systems and public sewers for the territory of the Slovak Republic for the years 2022 - 2027 (2021)
A. Plan for the development of public water supply systems
- construction of public water supply systems in villages without water supply systems
- increasing the number of inhabitants supplied from public water supply systems
- and ensuring problem-free supplying residents with safe drinking water without negative impacts on residents' health and the environment.
1. Enough clean water for everyone
1.1 The prevention of water pollution
- Illegally discharged waste water from households, commerce and services, but also from the industry or leakage from environmental burdens and agricultural activity, significantlypollute surface and ground water. Strengthening and streamlining of controls, documentation of legal waste water disposal and a threat of real effective sanctions will help limit these actions.
1.3. Elimination of adverse impacts on water courses
- In terms of the impact on water status, there are three main groups of significant hydromorphological changes: a disruption of longitudinal connection of the rivers and the habitats, a disruption of transverse connection of wetlands and inundation with sewer and other morphological changes and hydrological changes. It is therefore essential to focus on the revitalization and re-naturalization of water courses and the adjacent riverine landscapes and to ensure the coherence of water courses, which is one of the basic conditions for the functioning of river ecosystems.
- The prioritization of renewal of land improvement channels will be set, depending on their function and use. Land improvement channels can also drain water from areas, where it is necessary. For this reason, it will be important to assess where the operation and maintenance of channels is needed and where it is environmentally harmful.
Strategy of SR adaptation to adverse impacts of climate change (2018)
5. Strategy objectives
To propose appropriate set of proactive adaptation measures and mechanisms to their implementation within the framework of sectoral policies, development strategies and action plans at all levels of the process;
8. Proposed adaptation measures in individual areas
8.5.3. Water management
Adaptation measures in our country should be directed to the compensation of drought manifestations, i.e. the decrease of flows and water resource yields, as well as to minimization of adverse consequences of flooding, particularly of flash floods in mountain and foothill areas. Adapting to the climate change in water management area should be focused on the implementation of measures leading to the creation of conditions for the better management of runoff in the river basin.
Water is becoming a critical strategic resource of the state which must be protected, and its efficient and effective use must be managed, in accordance with an objective of sustainable development ensuring. Rightly, the biggest attention is paid to water resources, their conservation and the need for more efficient use.
Measures to prevent degradation of water by contamination
- reducing contaminants in water bodies in accordance with the Slovak Water Plan
Key question
Have the requirements for surface water quality been met?Key messages
- The surface water quality met the limits for selected general indicators and indicators of radioactivity in all monitored areas in 2022. Limits were exceeded mainly in synthetic and non-synthetic substances, hydro-biological and microbiological indicators and in general indicators - mainly nitrite-nitrogen.
- In accordance with the requirements of Directive 2000/60/EC (Framework Directive on Water) the water quality is expressed by the ecological and chemical status of surface water bodies. Very good and good ecological status/potential of surface water bodies was recorded in 41.3% of the total number of water bodies, which represents a length of 6,351.01 km. A good chemical status reached 71.2% of the total number of water bodies, which represents a length of 10,596.3 km.
| Change since 2007 | Change since 2015 | Last year-on-year change |
|---|---|---|
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| The share of the number of water bodies in very good and good ecological status/potential in the third evaluation period (2013-2018) compared to the second (2009-2013) and the first evaluation period (2007-2008) decreased to 41.30% (I. evaluation period - 63.7%, II evaluated period – 56.2%). The share of the number of water bodies in good chemical condition in the third evaluation period decreased to 71.21% compared to 95% in the first and 97.5% in the second evaluation period. |
Surface water quality indicators have been monitored according to the approved Program of surface waters status monitoring and have been evaluated in accordance with Annex no.1 of GR no. 269/2010 Coll. in indicators A, B, C, D and E. The values of GR No. 269/2010 Coll. and priority substancese were evaluated by GR of environmental quality standards (GR No.167/2015 Coll.) and requirements were exceeded in a group of synthetic substances, non-synthetic substances and hydro-biological and microbiological indicators.
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Year-on-year (2021 - 2022), there was an increase in the number of monitoring sites (382 versus 367) and an increase in the number of monitoring sites where surface water quality requirements were not met was recorded. |
Summary assessment
| International river basin | Sub-basin | Number of monitored sites in sub-basin | Indicators not meeting the requirements for the surface water quality under the Annex no.1 |
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| Monitored | not meeting the require ments |
General indicators (A) | hydrobiological and microbiological indicators (E) |
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| Danube | Morava | 51 | 40 |
BOD5, CODCr,N-NH4,N-NO2,N-NO3, O2,Ptot., pH, Ca, EK (conductivity),Al, Mn, AOX
|
abundance of phytoplankton, chorophyll-a, saprobic index of bioseston, coliform bacteria, thermotolerant col. bacteria, culturable microorganisms at 22 oC |
| Danube | Dunaj | 20 | 14 |
O2, EK (conductivity), pH, N-NO2, N-NO3, Ntot., Ptot., Ca, Al |
culturable microorganisms at 22 oC |
| Danube | Váh | 154 | 130 | pH, TOC, EK (conductivity), N-NO2, N-NO3, N-NH4, Ca, Ptot., Norg., BOD5, O2, Cl-, Al,F-, AOX, SO42-Ntot., RL105, RL550, CODCr | abundance of phytoplankton, chorophyll-a, saprobic index of bioseston, culturable microorganisms at 22 oC |
| Danube | Hron | 27 | 25 | BOD5, CODCr, pH, N-NO2, N-NO3, Ptot.., Ca, AOX, N-NH4,EK (conductivity),TOC | abundance of phytoplankton, chorophyll-a, saprobic index of bioseston, culturable microorganisms at 22 oC |
| Danube | Ipeľ | 31 | 27 | O2, BOD5,CODCr, pH, EK (conductivity), N-NH4, N-NO2, N-NO3, Ptot., Ntot., TOC, Ca, AOX | abundance of phytoplankton, chorophyll-a, culturable microorganisms at 22 oC |
| Danube | Slaná | 11 | 10 | pH,Ca, N-NO2, AOX | intestinal enterococci, coliform bacteria, thermotolerant col. bacteria, intestinal enterococci, culturable microorganisms at 22 oC |
| Danube | Bodrog | 39 | 39 |
O2, CODCr, EK (conductivity), N-NH4, N-NO2, N-NO3, Norg., Ntot., Ptot., TOC, Ca, NELUV, Cl-, RL105, RL550, Al, AOX |
abundance of phytoplankton, saprobic index of bioseston, intestinal enterococci,
chorophyll-a, thermotolerant col. bacteria, culturable microorganisms at 22 oC |
| Danube | Hornád | 25 | 24 | CODCr,N-NO2, Ptot., EK (conductivity), N-NO3, Ca, AOX, F-, N-NH4, NELuv | saprobic index of bioseston, intestinal enterococci, coliform bacteria, thermotolerant col. bacteria, culturable microorganisms at 22 oC |
| Danube | Bodva | 9 | 8 |
BOD5, CODCr, N-NO2, TOC, Ca, NELUV, AOX |
abundance of phytoplankton, saprobic index of bioseston, intestinal enterococci, coliform bacteria, chorophyll-a,thermotolerant col. bacteria, culturable microorganisms at 22 oC |
| Vistula | Dunajec and Poprad | 15 | 15 |
CODCr, pH, EK (vodivosť), N-NO2, RL550, Cl- , Ca, Al, NELUV, AOX
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* - potentially does not meet water quality requirements according to the Government Regulation 269/2010 Coll. (<12 measurements per year)
Source: SHMI
| International river basin | Sub-basin | Indicators not meeting the requirements for the surface water quality under the Annex no.1 | |
| non-synthetic substances (B) | synthetic substances (C) | ||
| Danube | Morava | Zn (AA),Ni (AA/AA*) |
4-(terc)-oktylfenol (AA/AA*),FLU (AA/AA*),B(a)P (AA)*,B(ghi)perylén (NPK/NPK*),Chlórpyrifos (AA*,HPC*)
|
| Danube | Dunaj | B(a)P (AA)*, FLU (AA)* | |
| Danube | Váh | As (AA),Cr (AA) |
FLU (HPC,AA/AA*), octyplfenol (AA), B(b)fluoranthene (HPC), Benzo(k)fluoranthene (HPC), B(ghi)perylene (HPC/HPC*), B(a)P (AA*), heptachlorine (HPC*,AA*)
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| Danube | Hron | As (AA),Zn (AA) |
4-(terc)-oktylfenol (AA), 4-nonylfenol (AA), Antracén (HPC), FLU (HPC/HPC*,AA/AA*), B(a)P (AA)*, B(b)fluórantén (HPC*), PCP (AA)
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| Danube | Ipeľ | Zn (AA), Ni (AA*) |
FLU (AA),B(a)P (AA*),TBT (HPC, AA)
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| Danube | Slaná | 4-(terc)-oktylfenol (AA*), FLU (AA),B(a)P (AA)*, B(ghi)perylén (HPC) | |
| Danube | Bodrog |
B(b)fluórantén (HPC/HPC*), Antracén (HPC), B(ghi)perylén (HPC*), FLU (HPC,AA/AA*), PCB a jeho kongenéry (28, 52, 101,138,153) (AA), CN celkové (AA), 4-m-2,6-tBTP (AA), B(a)P (AA)*, 4-(terc)-oktylfenol (AA*)
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| Danube | Hornád | Zn (AA) | CN (AA), B(a)P (AA)*, FLU (AA), |
| Danube | Bodva | B(a)P (AA)* | |
| Vistula | Dunajec and Poprad | B(a)P (AA)* | |
HPC- exceedance of highest permissible concentration
* - potentially does not meet water quality requirements according to the Government Regulation 269/2010 Coll. (<12 measurements per year)
Source: SHMI
Detailed assessment
In 2022, qualitative indicators of surface water were monitored under an approved Water status monitoring program for 2022. 465 sites were monitored in a basic and operational mode. As a rule, the frequency of monitoring is evenly distributed during the calendar year, i.e. 12 times a year in accordance with the monitoring program. The less frequent monitoring is carried out in case of some biological indicators that are observed seasonally (2-7 times per year), radioactivity indicators (4 times per year) and relevant substances 4 times a year.
| Sub-basin | Number of assessed sites according to monitoring type | ||||
| Basic | Operational | Basic and operational | Protected areas - drinking water | In total | |
| Sub-basin Morava | 10 | 27 | 14 | 0 | 51 |
| Sub-basin Dunaj | 7 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 20 |
| Sub-basin Váh | 86 | 21 | 48 | 21 | 176 |
| Sub-basin Hron | 3 | 11 | 13 | 7 | 34 |
| Sub-basin Ipeľ | 9 | 7 | 15 | 0 | 31 |
| Sub-basin Slaná | 1 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 14 |
| Sub-basin Bodrog | 12 | 11 | 15 | 21 | 59 |
| Sub-basin Hornád | 6 | 9 | 10 | 18 | 43 |
| Sub-basin Bodva | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 13 |
| Sub-basin Dunajec and Poprad | 3 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 24 |
| Total | 139 | 102 | 141 | 83 | 465 |
Monitorované miesta kvality povrchovej vody na Slovensku v roku 2022
- general indicators (part A): sulfán a sulfidy (S2-), temperature (t), železo celkové (Fe), horčík (Mg), sodium (Na), phenole index, povrchovo aktívne látky aniónové (PAL-A), cobalt (Co), selenium (Se), striebro (Ag), vanad (V), chlorbenzene (CB), dichlorbenzene (DCB),nitrobenzene (NB), 1,2 cis- dichloretene (1,2-DCE ), 2-monochlorphenol (CP), 2,4,6-trichlorphenol (2,4,6-TCP)
- radioactivity indicators (Part D): total volume activity alpha and beta, tritium, strontium, caesium.
Requirements for the surface water quality listed in the Regulation of the Government for the groups of non-synthetic and synthetic substances (Parts B and C) have not been met in the following indicators:
- As, Cd, Hg, Zn, Cu, Pb,Cd,Ni, total cyanides and PCB a jeho kongenéry (8,28,53 a 101).
From the group of hydrobiological and microbiological indicators (Part E), the requirements specified in the Regulation of the Government have not been met in the following indicators:
- saprobe index bioseston, abundance phytoplankton, chlorophyll "a" and coliform bacteria, thermotolerant coliform bacteria, intestinal enteroocci and cultivable microorganisms at a temperature of 22 oC.
Most exceeding of the limit values pursuant to Annex No. 1 of the Regulation of the Government in general indicators were in the indicator of nitrite nitrogen in all partial catchment areas.
In 2022, priority substances and some other substances were evaluated pursuant to the Regulation of the Government of the Slovak Republic No. 167/2015 Coll. on environmental quality standards in the sphere of water policy.
The highest admissible concentration of the environmental quality standard (EQS) was exceeded for As, Cr and Pb. The annual mean of EQS was exceeded for fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene, benzo(b)fluorantene, benzo(k)fluorantene, benzo(g,h,i,)perylene, antracene, octylpfenol ((4-(1,1',3,3'-tetrametylbutyl)fenol)), nonylpfenol, pentachlorpfenol, cyklodiénové pesticidy a chlorpyrifos, zlúčeniny tributycínu a heptachlor.
Evaluation of the condition of surface water bodies