Implementing the Water Framework Directive
(protection of vulnerable
groundwater resources in Hungary)
László Kóthay director
Trans-Tisza Region Environmental and Water Directorate
Hungary
www.tikovizig.hu
Statements of the Water Framework Directive
Water is not only a commercial product like any other but, rather, a heritage which must be protected, defended and treated as such.
The purpose of this Directive is to establish a framework for the protection of inland surface waters, transitional waters, coastal waters and groundwater.
Our mission is in the scope of the WFD
To prevent the deterioration of aquatic ecosystems
Long-term protection of available water resources
Enhanced protection of the aquatic environment
To ensure the progressive reduction of pollution of surface- and groundwater
To achieve the „good water status” until 2015
Where
Where is Hungary is Hungary in in Europe Europe ? ?
Black Sea
Countries in the Danube River Basin
Danube-river basin
18 countries, almost one of
the most international rivers
Hungary is situated within the drainage basin of . the River Danube, in the lowest part of the
Carpathian Basin
Except cooling water, 2/3 of the total use is from groundwater,
95 % of the drinking water is from groundwater
GROUNDWATER AQUIFERS
• groundwater resources are available almost everywhere
• thick alluvial deposits in the major part of the country
• karstic aquifiers in the mountinous regions
Why to protect groundwater sources and recources?
During the period of waterworks building we haven’t dealt with the safety of drinking water supply
65% of drinking water demand is exploitated from sensitive or vulnerable groundwater sources and resources
Over 500 public waterworks have obtained drinking water from sensitive or vulnerable groundwater sources and
resources
Without protection these groundwater resources may be contaminated
Present contaminations of groundwater resources are growing
Remediation is not practical and is very expensive
Prevention is better and cheaper (I agree Luiz!)
Range of arsenic contamination
in Hungary
Distribution of Ammonium in the
various types of water (data of the
year 2000)
Distribution of Nitrate in the various types of water (data of the
year 2000)
Operating and prospective vulnerable
drinking water
Vulnerable groundwater sources in drinking
water supply
Vulnerable unused local (“for the future”)
ground water resources
Difficulties
of protecting programmes
Nobody knows the numbers of pollution
No exact information on the behavior of pollutant matter in soil, unsaturated zone and groundwater
No exact information on hydrogeological processes
You’re the last to get information about present day’s polluters and contamination processe
Lack of knowledge! Am I right, Alfonso?
population agriculture
industry transport
Main polluters
Action programme in Hungary
(2249/1995. Gov. Decision)
Enumerate the sensitive groundwater resources
Prepare an action programme for diagnostic of sensitive groundwater recources
Make the methodology for diagnostic
Plan the timetable of diagnostic
Identify the vulnerable groundwater resources by diagnostic
Continue the protection programme of unused,
„for the future”, sensitive groundwater resources
Methodology of groundwater protection programme
Delineation of the protection areas
Inventory of the pollution sources
Design and implement of the monitoring system
Determination of hydrogeological protection area
Assessment and prognosis (distinguishing the potential and the actual pollution sources, pollution processes, transport models)
Proposal of measures for safe water supply
Cost /benefit analyses on alternatives
Decision making
Official resolution on the protected area
Implementation of the selected alternativa
Safeguarding
Detailed process of drinking water base’s protection 1.
1.1. Diagnostical phase section
- Data collecting, completement of existing data - Modeling of underground infiltration sphere - Additional examinations on field
- Shaping the model into more punctual hydrological evaluation, decision about water basis’s capability for being injured
1.2. Diagnostical phase II. section
- Working out of measuring and observing system - Exploration of polluting sources
- Shaping the hydrogeologycal model into more punctual - Determination of protecting form and area
- PR activity, involve the stakeholders, the public
- Completition of putting-in safe project, on which the indication of protecting areas can be based
2. Phase for placing in safety
- Indication of hydrogeologycal protecting area by water law’s decision
- Forming of the protecting area, enforcement of restrictions - PR activity again
3. Phase for keeping in safety
- Operate of measuring and observing system, assesment of conditions, taking the measurements considered necessary
- Annual reports about the operation of protecting area’s measuring and observing system
- Revision in every 5 years
- PR activity again, again and again…
Detailed process of drinking
water base’s protection 2.
Groundwater protecting zones law
(123/1997. Gov. Decision)
5 different protection zones 1. Inner zone with 20 days travel time
2. Outer zone with 6 months travel time
3. „A” hydrogeological zone with 5 years travel time
4. „B” hydrogeological zone with 5o years travel time
5. „C” hydrogeological zone, means the whole
catchment area
Applied software: Processing Modflow for Windows, PMPATH
The Modflow is a three-dimensions, build-up
moduls program package for modelling permanent and non-permanent underground water motions
This applies only to saturated zones
The PMPATH program gives the possibility to
follow streamline tracks, calculation of accessing times with apply of half-analytic particle following schema.
Determination of protecting
area zones by modelling
Working up of
hydrodynamic spatial modell
Model adaptation of geological, hydrogeological relations
(separate of water permeable and semi - permeable layers, anisotropy, lenses, section out of windows, layers with free level and under pressure).
Fixing up of modelled area’s border lines
Shaping up the calculative network
Giving up the boundary conditions (zero edge, given yield, given pressure, changing yield)
Giving up of free gap volumes
Giving up of well-springs and sinkholes (infiltration, evaporation, take-outs from water)
Taking into consideration of surface waters
Surfaces, having significant role in modelling (relief, height and bottom of layers, dispersion of water level in static position)
Calibration of the modell
streamlines with 20 days travel time
Determination of protecting
area zones, prescribed by
government’s the decision No.
123/1997
streamlines
with 5 years
travel time
streamlines
with 50 years
travel time
Inner zone Outer
zone
„A” hidr.
zone
„C” hidr.
zone
„B” hidr.
zone
Vulnerable and sensitive groundwater resources and their protection
Responses and restrictions by Groundwater Protection Law (123/1997.)
Results, recommendation
The drinking water source protection is not finished with the status-evaluation and with the establishment of the
monitoring system and protection zones. To implement as soon as possible the necessary measures which serve the
protection of the water quality is of high importance.
These investments can be financially supported from
different sources. E.g. for municipal investments in sewerage and waste management the targeted and addressed central subsidies by the ISPA (and from 2004 other EU sources), the earmarked financial facilities of the water and environmental sectors are available. The agro-environmental supporting
system also provides financial assistance.
