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Connection of the population to public water supplies

Last update of indicator24.01.2024

Indicator definition

The indicator describes the number of population supplied from public water supply systems and the specific water consumption in households.

Units

%, l/pers./day

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 - Update 2021 (2021)
 
Areas determined for the abstraction of water for human consumption
In terms of Art. 7, par. 1 and Art. 6 par. 2 WFD, it is necessary that every object from which the drinking water is abstracted in an amount of more than 10 m3 per day or it is used by more than 50 persons, is defined as a protected area. Furthermore, Art. 7 par. 3 WFD requires to ensure the necessary protection of these water bodies in order not to worsen their quality, and reduce the extent of treatment needed for the production of drinking water. Member States may establish safeguard zones for those water bodies. In Slovakia, protective zones of water sources for human consumption are defined under the section 32 of Act no. 364/2004 Coll. on waters as amended by Act no. 384/2009 Coll.
Protection zones of water sources within the meaning of this Act are defined by the State Water Management Authority based on the public health authority’s binding opinion. Protection zones are divided into:
-  protection zone of Ist level - used for the protection in the immediate proximity of water abstraction or arresting devices
-  protection zone of IInd level - used for the protection of water resource against threats from more distant places.
To enhance the protection of the water resources the state water management authority may determine also the IIIrd level protection zone.
Each protection zone has a defined management regime to protect drinking waters. Objectives under the Art. 7 par. 3 WFD are currently reached, no measures are required.

 

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.
 
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.

1.4 Adjustment of Sustainable Water Prices
The water pricing model will include environmental protection costs as well as costs for resources, in accordance with the "polluter pays" principle.Until now, environmental protection costs have been taken into account only partially, a rise in prices was mainly due to costs ofproducing and supplying drinking water through the public water supply network, drainage and waste water treatment. A price of water that is used in agriculture will guarantee an environmentally sustainable production of agriculture, even during the drought periods
 
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

Key question

Is increasing the population's connection to public water supplies?

Key messages

  • Population supplied with water from public water supply amounted to 90.27% in 2022, while 2005 it was 85.04%.
  • Specific water consumption in households had a decreasing tendency in the period 2005 - 2022, since 2008 the specific water consumption has been around 80 l. inhab-1 day-1.
Change since 2005 Change since 2015 Last year-on-year change
emo_smile Pozitivny trend emo_smile
There was an increase in the drinking water supply of population from public water supply, the specific water consumption declined. The growth in the population connected to public water continued. The specific water consumption in households declined further.

In 2022, there was recorded minimum annual increase in connection to the public water supply systems. The specific water consumption in households grow slightly.

 

Summary assessment

 
Share of residents supplied from public water supply systems in individual districts of the Slovak Republic (2022)
Source: WRI
 
 

Detailed assessment

Number of population supplied with water from public water supply systems amounted to 4 902.72 thousand in 2022, which represented 90.27% of the total population of Slovakia. In 2022, there were 2 449 individual municipalities in SR that were supplied with water from public water supplies, and their share comprised 84.74% of the total SR municipalities.

The length of water supply networks (excluding communication pipes) reached 31 462.78 km. In 2022, the number of water communication pipes amounted to 1 038 743 pcs and the length of communication pipes reached 8 478.78 km. The number of installed water meters compared to the previous year increased by 15 613 pcs and reached the number 1 054 465 pcs. The capacity of operated water resources in 2022 reached 33 273 l.s-1 (slightly year-on-year decrease), whereby groundwater resources amounted to 27 455 l.s-1 and surface water resources 5 819 l.s -1.

The amount of drinking water produced in 2022 amounted to 299.1 million m3, which was at the same level as in 2021. Overall, 252.2 million m3 of water was produced from groundwater resources and 46.9 million m3 of drinking water was produced from surface water sources. Water losses in pipe network were 25.8% out of the total water produced at water management facilities in 2022. The specific water consumption in households decreased to 81.97 l.inhab-1 day -1. These abstractions are close to the hygienic limits.

 

Out of the total number of 2,235,586 apartments, 1,908,422 apartments (85.4%) had water supply in the apartment from a common source, and 235,640 (10.5%) apartments were supplied from their own source. There were 45,468 apartments (2.0%) without a water supply, and 46,056 (2.1%) apartments had a water supply outside the apartment and undetected.

Out of 1,234,592 houses, 827,205 (67%) houses had a water supply connection inside the house, 126 outside the house. 293 (10.2%) houses, 195,550 (15.8%) houses had their own water supply connection, and 18,518 (1.5%) outside the house. There were 45,052 (3.7%) houses without connection to public water pipes and 21,974 (1.8%) houses were undetected.

Contact

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

Related definitions:

Drinking water is water in its original state or after treatment, intended for drinking, cooking, food preparation or other domestic purposes, regardless of its origin and whether it is supplied from a distribution network, tank or as water packed into consumer packaging, and water used in a food production undertakings for the manufacture, processing, preservation or selling of products or substances intended for human consumption.

Drinking water is safe for health if:
a) does not contain any microorganisms, parasites or substances which, in certain amounts or concentrations, constitute a risk to human health from acute, chronic or delayed action, and its properties perceivable by senses do not prevent its consumption or use, and
b) complies with the limits of drinking water quality in accordance with the SR Government Regulation no. 354/2006 Coll. as amended by the SR Government Regulation no. 496/2010.

The public water supply system is a set of structures and facilities serving to public needs, enabling the mass supply of water for the population and other consumers.

Supplying the population with water from public supply system is expressed by the number of the population or the percentage of population connected to public water supply distribution network.

Specific water consumption in households- quantity of water supplied to households (i.e. water invoiced to households) corresponding to one per time unit.

An indicator value is the value of drinking water quality indicator of nonspecific or group character used to assess the need for more detailed testing of drinking water quality.

A maximum limit value is the value of medically significant indicator of drinking water quality the exceedance of which excludes the use as drinking water.

A limit value is the value of drinking water quality indicator, beyond which drinking water loses satisfactory quality in the indicator whose value has been exceeded.

Drinking water - other essential terms
 

Methodology:

The analysis of drinking water indicators was based on the requirements of STN 75 7111 "Water quality. Drinking water." which was, with effect from 01.02.2002, replaced the Ministry of Health Decree no. 29/2002 Coll. on Requirements for drinking water and drinking water quality control. With effect from 01.04.2004 a new Decree of the Ministry of Health no. 151/2004 Coll, on Requirements for drinking water and drinking water quality control came into force. On 01.06.2006 the SR Government Regulation no. 354/2006 Coll. entered into force, laying down requirements on water intended for human consumption and quality control of water intended for human consumption; this Regulation was amended by the SR Government Regulation no. 496/2010 Coll.

Radiological parameters were determined according to the Ministry of Health Decree no. 12/2001 on the Requirements for radiation protection. In 2007, the Ministry of Health Decree no. 528/2007 Coll. came into force, laying down details on the requirements for limiting radiation exposure from natural radiation.

The quality control of raw water in resources and water quality control in distribution networks is provided by public water supply system owners or operators. The operators of public water system may be water companies, municipalities and other legal and natural persons. Within the monitoring the Public Health Office of the Slovak Republic (PHO SR) and regional public health authorities (RPHA) observe the drinking water quality at the consumer´s site. Monitoring takes place continuously and also permanently, and sampling points are selected at places or buildings where the water emerges from the taps normally used for human consumption.
In addition, the authorities monitor the quality of raw water through the check of the results from an operational control performed by operators of public water supply.

Quality control of drinking water and its health security is determined by a set of water quality parameters representing physical, chemical, biological and microbiological properties of water. In addition to a complete analysis of water (82 indicators) (Annex no. 1 SR GR no. 354/2006 Coll.) also a minimal analysis is performed – i.e. the examination of 28 indicators of water quality (Annex no. 2 SR GR no. 354/2006 Coll.)- to control and obtain regular information on the stability of the water source and the effectiveness of water treatment, especially disinfection, on biological quality and sensory properties of drinking water.

The quality of analytical water tests is ensured by the National Reference Laboratory for the water sector.

Data relating to the number of inhabitants supplied with water from public water supply system and to water consumption are collected in ZBERVAK database. Based on the Decree of MoE no. 605/2005 on the Details of the supply of data from property records and operating records of facilities and equipment of public water supply and sewage systems, the owners of public water supply system are obliged to send the prescribed information annually, including the number of inhabitants supplied from the public water supply and water abstractions. The data for water quality are to be sent on a quarterly basis.
 

Data sources:

WRI

Related indicators:

  • Surface water quality
  • Groundwater quality

Related international indicators:

Linked references: