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Surface water abstraction

Last update of indicator23.01.2024

Indicator definition

The indicator provides information on the extent of water use abstraction of surface water.

Units

%

Metadata

Related policy documents and targets

Action Plan for Water Protection in the Protected Water Management Area of Žitný ostrov (2023)
 
The main goal of the Action Plan is to effectively protect the quality and quantity of groundwater on Žitný ostrov as the most important source of drinking water in Slovakia.
 
Therefore, the proposed preventive measures are mainly aimed at:
  •  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.
 
Based on the analysis and the established vision, specific goals were proposed:
  • 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 implementation of the Action Plan will be evaluated in 2027. The measures will be evaluated and then, as necessary, incorporated into the update of the Water Plan of Slovakia, or to planning documents in other areas (e.g. waste management, environmental burdens, spatial planning).

 

The concept of the water policy of the Slovak Republic until 2030 with a view to 2050 (2022)

The concept formulates measures in ten areas of intervention and indicators and a time frame for the implementation of individual measures are assigned to them. The achievement of the target value is generally considered for the year 2030, unless another time frame is indicated. In the case of indicators where the initial value is not known, the expected development trend (increasing/decreasing) is indicated.

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 (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.

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 underground water bodies is to perform measures aimed at:

  • Preventing or limiting entry of pollutants into underground water and at preventing deterioration of the condition of underground water bodies;
  • Protection, improvement and renewal of underground water bodies and at ensuring the balance between underground water takings and completing their quantity in order to achieve the good condition of underground water until 22 December 2015 and 2021 within the second planning cycle, or until 2027 within the third planning cycle;
  • Reversing the important increasing trend of the pollutant concentration that is caused by human activities in order to decrease the underground water pollution gradually.

 

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

The Water Supply Development Plan is a starting document drawn up in accordance with the requirements established by the European Union for the fulfillment of the basic condition for the financing of measures in the field of water management in the program period 2022 – 2027.
 
The goal of the Public Water Supply Development Plan is to analyze the conditions for ensuring the necessary level of drinking water supply, to establish priorities and conditions for its implementation.
The strategic goal of the development of public water supply systems is to increase the number of inhabitants supplied from public water supply systems and to ensure the supply of health-safe drinking water.
 
The plan for the development of public water supply systems proposes to implement:
  • 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.
The strategic goal is to ensure that the supplied drinking water meets health safety requirements and the limits of drinking water quality indicators for all residents of the Slovak Republic. Municipalities within the reach of the constructed water systems will gradually be supplied with water and the inhabitants will be supplied with drinking water supplied from high-quality water sources. Water supplies should gradually be built in municipalities that are beyond the reach of current water supplies and large-capacity sources. In the case of municipalities that are currently without a public water supply system, a proposal is presented to solve the supply until 2027, or the following years, depending on available public financial resources. If no solution method is proposed for the village, this village will be solved after 2027.
 

 

B. Public Sewerage Development Plan

The main goal of the Public Sewerage Development Plan is to establish the basic optimal concept for the development of sewerage and wastewater treatment in municipalities in the Slovak Republic until 2027. Council Directive 91/271 establishes the corresponding conditions for the removal and treatment of municipal wastewater for EU member states. /EHS on municipal wastewater treatment.
 
Goals for the development of public sewers by 2027:
 
7.1. Development of public sewers until 2027
 
I. Priority implementation of sewerage constructions
  • construction, expansion and increase of the hydraulic capacity of sewage networks in municipalities from agglomerations larger than 2,000 EO, construction, expansion and increase of the capacity of waste water treatment plants in municipalities from agglomerations larger than 2,000 EO (agglomerations with the highest priority are contained in Annex No. 6),
  • construction of sewer networks and wastewater treatment plants in agglomerations up to 2,000 EO, located in protected water management areas, in which there are large-capacity sources of groundwater and which aim to prevent threats to quality and quantity of groundwater so that their use is not endangered (CHVO Žitný ostrov),
  • construction of wastewater treatment plants, or feeder to another sewage system in municipalities included in agglomerations of less than 2,000 EO, in cases where a sewage network is already built or partially built and wastewater is discharged without treatment.
II. ongoing implementation of sewage construction
  • ongoing construction, expansion and increase of the hydraulic capacity of sewer networks and capacity increase and construction of new waste water treatment plants in all municipalities of the Slovak Republic (except municipalities falling under the National Program for the Implementation of Council Directive 91/271/EEC).
7.2. Classification of municipalities into sewage systems
  • Classification of municipalities into sewage systems by district in size categories of up to 2,000 inhabitants, from 2,001 to 10,000 inhabitants and over 10,000 inhabitants by district. The list of municipalities is given in the appendices of the Public Sewerage Development Plan.
7.3. Renewal of water supply and sewerage infrastructure
  • The concept of renewal of public waterworks and public sewerage systems is elaborated in a separate annex of the public sewerage development plan.
 
  Strategy of the environmental policy of the Slovak Republic - Greener Slovakia (2019)
 

Sustainable Use and Effective Protection of Natural Resources
 

Goals: A good condition and water potential of all water bodies through the restoration of river ecosystems will be accomplished.

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.  

 
Orientation, Principles and Priorities of the Slovak Republic Water Management  Policy by 2027 (2016)


3. PRINCIPLES AND PRIORITIES OF THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC WATER MANAGEMENT POLICY BY 2027 AND FRAMEWORK PROCEDURES IN ACHIEVING THE OBJECTIVES:
Priorities of water management
In order to ensure the efficient use of water resources:

  • Ensure fair and sustainable use of water resources;
  • Ensure that water resource management was in line with environmental ethic based on balancing the resources and needs of water, or water accounting in a river basin, which at the same time has a direct link also to addressing the water scarcity problem.
  • Based on the indicators of water scarcity, to determine the manner of efficient use of water for water-exploiting industries, especially for industry and energy, agriculture and households;
  • Identify alternative sources of groundwater. These resources should be of good quality properties, long residence time and low vulnerability. Where there are not enough good-quality groundwater resources, it is necessary to look for alternative solutions within the surface waters, for example through water supply of available water systems;

 

The Slovak Republic Strategy for Adaptation to Adverse Effects of Climate Change- Update (2018)

1. Strategy Goals

The main goal of the updated the Slovak Republic Strategy for Adaptation to Adverse Effects of Climate Change is to prepare Slovakia for tackling the adverse effects of climate change, deliver comprehensive information about the current state of adaptation processes in Slovakia, and based on their analysis establish an institutional framework for a coordinating mechanism which will ensure effective implementation of adaptation measures across all levels and in all areas, as well as improve general awareness of the domain.
 
5. Impact of climate change on select areas and recommended adaptation measures
 
5.4. Water regime and water management
 
Adaptation measures in local conditions should aim at compensating for the instances of drought, that is, the decrease of flows of water and water yields, as well as minimising the negative consequences of floods, especially flash floods in montane and submontane regions. Climate change adaptation within the domain of water management should be oriented towards implementing measures which will create the conditions for better water outflow management in catchment areas. In the domain of water management elements of green and blue infrastructure, green structural approaches and non-structural adaptation concepts should be prioritised over elements of grey infrastructure whenever it is technically possible and efficient to do so. Adaptation measures should focus on preserving or improving the current state of water, with the aim of achieving its good state, efficient and sustainable utilisation of water resources, protection against floods and contribution towards protection of nature and land and support with ecosystem services provision. It is important to create space for a wider application of so-called "green" measures in catchment areas where the main goal is to increase the land's adaptability through regeneration and improvement of efficiency of ecosystem functions of the land. "Green" measures are recognised as the better environmental choice, that is, as supplementary-mitigating measures with the aim of minimising the consequences of grey infrastructure, assuming that they are equally effective or more effective in regards to set goals.
Water is becoming a critical strategic stock of the state and it is necessary to protect it and manage its rational and efficient use in line with the goal of ensuring sustainable development. Justifiably, the highest priority is given to water sources, their protection and the need of their more efficient use.

Proposed adaptation measures
-slowing down of water outflow from catchment areas
-decreasing of the maximum flow of floods
-risk assessment
-water management
-general


The Protocol on Water and Health - to the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes, 1992 - National objectives of SR III (2014)

The reason for the Protocol´s objectives update in 2014 is their fulfilment, or the need of extending the deadlines for the fulfilment of objectives which are still actual, as well as determining new national objectives conditioned by the situation change and the occurrence of new problems to which the attention must be paid, and which seem to be important in terms of Protocol´s objectives implementation in SR. SR has defined the national objectives already for the third time since the Protocol entered into force.

National objectives of SR III

National objective no.11: Increasing public awareness of water and aquatic ecosystems protection and educational activities
Date of fulfilment: y. 2020

National objective no. 12: Strengthening the protection of water resources
Date of fulfilment: y. 2015 – 2020

Key question

What is the level of water use and the status and development in the surface water abstractions?

Key messages

  • Surface water takings after 2005 recorded a considerable decrease, in spite of the minimal year-on-year increases and decreases. In 2022, takings decreased by 55.14%  compared to 2005. In a year-on-year comparison of 2021 – 2022, takings decreased by 1.86%.
  • Surface water withdrawals for industry decreased by 6.3% year-on-year (2021-2022), withdrawals for water supply systems increased by 4.9% and irrigation by 30%.
Change since 2005 Change since 2015 Last year-on-year change
emo_smile emo_neutral emo_smile
The abstractions of surface waters fell.
The surface water abstractions were of fluctuating nature.
The use of surface water for industry, public water-supplies and irrigation has also decreased.

Surface water withdrawals recorded year-on-year (2021-2022) a minimal decrease.

Withdrawals for irrigation and water supply increased slightly.

 

Summary assessment

Detailed assessment

Water resources, particularly their renewable components (i.e. available for abstractions) are essential for human development and its economic activities. Water abstraction for public water supplies, industry and cooling in power plants represents a significant pressure on the water resources themselves, as well as on their quality and quantity issues. Though overall, in most European countries the volume of available water greatly exceeds the requirements on water resources imposed by the human society, the division of water resources and the intensity of their use is not, in terms of spatial and temporal characteristics, uniform.

Surface waters abstractions are closely related to the possibilities of sustainable use of water resources. It is important that the permitted quantities of surface water abstractions respect not only economic requirements, but also the requirements on the ecological limits of the water body, so that the over-exploitation of these resources would not damage the adjacent aquatic ecosystems. In 2020, abstractions amounted to 240.860 million m3, that was a decrease by 291.931 million m3 compared to 2005.

In 2022, surface waters abstractions fell to 239.030 million m3, which is a decrease by 1.9% in comparison to the previous year. The abstractions for the industry in 2022 amounted to 169.17 million m3, which was a decrease by 6.3%, compared to 2021. A slight incrrease was observed in the abstractions of surface water for water supply network, which-compared with the previous year 2021-rising by 2.81 million m3, which represents 4.9%. Surface water abstractions for irrigation rose and amounted to 19.49 million m3.

Utilization of Surface Water according to User Groups (mill.m3)
Year Water supply
networks		 Industry Irrigations Other agric. In total Discharge
1995 72,975 702,925 53,854 0,0970 829,851 1159,410
2000 70,571 575,872 90,540 0,0440 737,027 989,825
2001 64,197 596,138 55,579 0,0045 715,919 976,382
2002 63,580 577,958 42,480 0,0043 684,022 984,070
2003 66,449 489,467 65,042 0,0094 620,968 910,426
2004 55,984 604,728 18,935 0,0076 679,723 919,222
2005* 53,828 467,957 11,006 0,0110 532,791 871,865
2006* 55,567 323,709 15,840 0,0120 395,142 748,537
2007* 53,315 266,776 6,036 0,0120 326,139 628,370
2008* 52,057 251,797 9,133 0,0040 312,991 608,997
2009* 51,045 216,397 12,319 0,0020 279,762 605,271
2010* 48,098 205,497 5,864 0,0010 259,460 742,818
2011* 48,545 176,610 10,137 0,9210 236,201 610,093
2012* 49,090 259,200 18,138 0,0013 326,430 646,600
2013* 47,307 246,860 13,952 0,0010 308,120 708,630
2014* 44,600 182,840 10,570 0,0700 238,080 602,040
2015* 47,020 183,290 17,270 0,0010 247,580 594,100
2016* 46,140 176,470 8,990 0,0900 231,700 620,160
2018 46,940 174,470 12,950 0,0200 234,380 599,600
2019 47,550 180,420 14,300 0,1200 242,470 608,610
2020 48,880 176,730 14,960 0,0900 240,860 636,260
2021 47,950 180,590 14,990 0,0430 243,570 634,790
2022 50,310 169,170 19,490 0,0570 239,030 564,260
* Data are from the Database of summary records on water
Source: SHMI

Contact

Ing. Ľubica Koreňová, SAŽP, lubica.korenova@sazp.sk

Related definitions:

Abstraction of water is the amount of collected surface water and groundwater by user groups.

The total available quantity of groundwater of Slovakia is a summary of resources and inventory approved by the Hydrogeological commission, and of non-approved quantities, defined on the basis of documented quantities from hydro-geological surveys and researches.

Water use rate represents the proportion of total abstractions (surface and groundwater) to the annual amount drained from the SR territory.

 Methodology:

Data on surface water abstractions, groundwater abstractions and wastewater discharges into surface waters or groundwater are sent by the entity abstracting surface water or groundwater from a single source in a quantity greater than 15,000 m3 per year, or over 1,250 m3 per month, or using special water for business; it is required to report data on these abstractions, and data specified in the permit to January 31 of the following calendar year in the SHMI forms.

The data are then processed and evaluated on the basis of a valid "Methodology for processing the water management balance of surface water amount for the past year", and a methodology "SWMB - ground water. Methodology of processing state water management balance of the past year".


Data sources:

SHMI


Related international indicators:


Linked references: