KAZALCI OKOLJA

Key message
Good

In the observed period of 1996 to 2017, the values ​​of parameters used for monitoring the organic loading of rivers were greatly reduced. The reduction corresponds to an increase in the share of population whose wastewater is treated at wastewater treatment plants. The river nutrient loading varies considerably among rivers of the Adriatic and the Danube river basins. Average values ​​of nitrate and orthophosphate in the Soča river catchment and the Adriatic rivers are within the natural background. The values ​​of nitrate in the Drava and Sava river catchment are also within the natural background, they are higher only in the Mura river catchment. The values ​​of orthophosphate in all rivers of the Danube basin are above the natural background values. Trends indicate a reduction in the load of rivers with nutrients and organic matter.


The indicator shows the level of nutrient and organic matter loading of rivers due to human activities. Nitrate and orthophosphate are representative parameters for nutrient loading, and biochemical oxygen demand and ammonia are representative parameters for organic loading. The parameters were measured in water samples taken in the course of regular monitoring of surface water quality.

Nitrate and ortophosphate are the main nutrients required for the growth of algae, mosses and water plants in rivers. In non-polluted waters they are present at very low concentrations that mostly depend on geological properties and soil types in the catchment area (natural background value). The values of nitrate and ortophosphate in water that exceed the natural background are a result of human activities, mainly agriculture and urban/industrial wastewater discharge. The surplus of nutrients in rivers leads to a deterioration in the normal functioning of the ecosystem, reduced biodiversity and eutrophication, which is problematic mainly in standing or slowly running waters. High nitrate content may also compromise the quality of drinking water, which is no longer suitable for drinking when nitrate concentration exceeds 10 mg NO3-N/l (50 mg NO3/l).

Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and ammonia are the main indicators of organic water pollution. The values of both parameters are usually elevated as a result of urban and industrial wastewater discharge and leaching of nutrients from agricultural land. The BOD is the amount of dissolved oxygen (in mg O2/l) needed (i.e. demanded) by aerobic organisms to break down organic matter present in a given water sample at a certain temperature over a specific time period. It is usually expressed as BOD5, which tells us how much oxygen is consumed per litre of sample over 5 days of incubation at 20°C. In a water environment, ammonia also represents an increased demand for oxygen. In the nitrification process, ammonia is converted (through oxidation) to nitrite and then to nitrate, thus contributing to the eutrophication process. In small quantities, nitrite is toxic to water organisms as is ammonium, which is derived from ammonia under certain conditions (a combination of water temperature, salinity and pH-value). Ammonia represents a risk for drinking water sources as well.


Charts

Figure VD10-1: Average annual concentration of nitrate in rivers (mg N/l) (indicative value for the natural state is 1 mg N/l)
Show data
Mura Drava Sava Danube river basin Soca Adriatic rivers Adriatic river basin Slovenia background concentration (max)
1996 1.65 1.53 1.22 1.31 0.88 0.73 0.84 1.20 0.90
1997 1.61 1.43 1.25 1.31 0.95 0.59 0.83 1.21 0.90
1998 1.58 1.52 1.11 1.21 0.92 0.77 0.88 1.14 0.90
1999 1.83 1.39 1.15 1.24 1.03 0.81 0.95 1.18 0.90
2000 1.42 1.42 1.12 1.19 0.87 0.79 0.84 1.11 0.90
2001 1.34 1.21 1.10 1.14 0.78 0.74 0.77 1.06 0.90
2002 1.65 1.14 1.09 1.13 1.01 0.97 1 1.11 0.90
2003 1.61 1.42 1.28 1.34 0.79 1.07 0.88 1.27 0.90
2004 1.44 1.73 1.18 1.30 0.94 1.16 1 1.24 0.90
2005 2.44 1.54 1.27 1.46 0.99 0.87 0.96 1.36 0.90
2006 3.34 1.85 1.32 1.76 1 0.73 0.91 1.55 0.90
2007 2.40 1.32 1.32 1.55 0.93 0.79 0.87 1.47 0.90
2008 1.89 1.23 1.09 1.25 0.97 0.64 0.88 1.19 0.90
2009 2.44 1.33 1.26 1.50 1.04 0.70 0.96 1.45 0.90
2010 2.17 1.41 1.18 1.44 0.93 0.58 0.73 1.35 0.90
2011 2.04 1.22 1.27 1.43 0.84 0.62 0.76 1.34 0.90
2012 2.02 1.17 1.17 1.33 1.16 0.62 1.04 1.30 0.90
2013 2.08 1.10 1.15 1.37 1.31 0.91 1.04 1.34 0.90
2014 2.30 1.15 1.16 1.38 1.38 0.61 1.07 1.36 0.90
2015 2.10 1.04 1.11 1.28 1.28 0.63 1.08 1.26 0.90
2016 2.09 1.21 1.08 1.26 1.03 0.48 0.85 1.22 0.90
2017 2.17 1.27 1.04 1.35 0.93 0.61 0.84 1.24 0.90
Figure VD10-2: Average annual concentration of orthophosphate in the rivers (mg P/l) (indicative value for the natural state is 0,010 mg P/l)
Show data
Mura Drava Sava Danube river basin Soca Adriatic rivers Adriatic river basin Slovenia background concentration (max)
1996 0.07 0.02 0.04 0.04 0.01 0.02 0.01 0.03 0.01
1997 0.04 0.02 0.03 0.03 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.03 0.01
1998 0.08 0.03 0.07 0.07 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.06 0.01
1999 0.07 0.03 0.05 0.05 0.01 0.02 0.01 0.05 0.01
2000 0.10 0.04 0.07 0.07 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.06 0.01
2001 0.14 0.03 0.07 0.07 0.01 0.02 0.02 0.06 0.01
2002 0.12 0.03 0.06 0.06 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.05 0.01
2003 0.16 0.02 0.09 0.09 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.08 0.01
2004 0.06 0.03 0.07 0.07 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.05 0.01
2005 0.12 0.03 0.05 0.06 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.05 0.01
2006 0.05 0.04 0.08 0.07 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.06 0.01
2007 0.12 0.04 0.10 0.09 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.08 0.01
2008 0.07 0.04 0.03 0.04 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.03 0.01
2009 0.04 0.06 0.04 0.04 0.01 0.02 0.01 0.04 0.01
2010 0.05 0.08 0.03 0.04 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.04 0.01
2011 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.04 0.01
2012 0.06 0.09 0.07 0.07 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.06 0.01
2013 0.04 0.07 0.04 0.05 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.05 0.01
2014 0.04 0.04 0.05 0.04 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.04 0.01
2015 0.06 0.03 0.08 0.07 0.01 0.02 0.01 0.06 0.01
2016 0.06 0.04 0.03 0.04 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.04 0.01
2017 0.07 0.05 0.04 0.05 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.04 0.01
Figure VD10-3: Average annual value of biochemical oxygen demand - BOD5 (mg O2/l)
Show data
Mura Drava Sava Danube river basin Soca Adriatic rivers Adriatic river basin Slovenia background concentration (max)
1996 4.70 3.20 3.30 3.40 2.10 1.90 2 3 1.40
1997 5.60 3.10 3.40 3.50 1.70 3.10 2.20 3.20 1.40
1998 4.80 2.60 2.70 2.80 1.80 2.20 2 2.70 1.40
1999 5 3 2.90 3 1.30 2.50 1.70 2.80 1.40
2000 6.20 2.30 2.90 3.10 2 2.10 2 2.80 1.40
2001 4.50 2.30 2.90 2.90 1.50 2.90 2 2.70 1.40
2002 5.30 3 2.70 3 2.10 3.10 2.50 2.90 1.40
2003 7.90 2.80 3.30 3.70 2.20 2.10 2.20 3.50 1.40
2004 6.10 2.20 3 3.40 1.60 1.50 1.60 3 1.40
2005 5.30 1.90 2.40 2.70 1.50 1.70 1.60 2.50 1.40
2006 1.90 1.90 1.70 1.80 0.90 1.60 1.20 1.60 1.40
2007 1.80 1.30 1.60 1.60 1.20 1.30 1.20 1.50 1.40
2008 1.50 1.50 1 1.10 0.90 1.10 0.90 1.10 1.40
2009 1.70 1.50 0.90 1.20 1 0.90 0.90 1.20 1.40
2010 1.50 1.70 1.10 1.30 0.90 1 0.90 1.30 1.40
2011 1.40 1.60 1.60 1.60 1 1.10 1 1.50 1.40
2012 1.50 2 1.50 1.60 0.70 1.20 0.90 1.50 1.40
2013 1.20 1.30 1.20 1.20 0.70 0.70 0.70 1.20 1.40
2014 1.30 1.10 1.20 1.20 1.10 1 1 1.20 1.40
2015 1.40 1.30 1 1.10 0.80 1.30 0.90 1.10 1.40
2016 1.30 1.40 0.80 1 1 1.20 1.10 1 1.40
2017 1.50 1.40 1 1.20 0.80 1.30 0.90 1.10 1.40
Figure VD10-4: Average annual concentration of ammonia (mg N/l) (indicative value for the natural state is 0,015 mg N/l)
Show data
Mura Drava Sava Danube river basin Soca Adriatic rivers Adriatic river basin Slovenia background concentration (max)
1996 0.62 0.22 0.44 0.42 0.18 0.19 0.18 0.36 0.02
1997 0.54 0.22 0.63 0.56 0.13 0.16 0.14 0.47 0.02
1998 0.50 0.16 0.43 0.40 0.05 0.06 0.05 0.33 0.02
1999 0.30 0.16 0.24 0.23 0.02 0.15 0.07 0.20 0.02
2000 0.42 0.12 0.37 0.34 0.04 0.07 0.05 0.28 0.02
2001 0.30 0.11 0.29 0.26 0.03 0.18 0.08 0.22 0.02
2002 0.48 0.16 0.31 0.30 0.02 0.05 0.03 0.25 0.02
2003 0.57 0.13 0.36 0.35 0.05 0.06 0.05 0.30 0.02
2004 0.31 0.14 0.34 0.31 0.01 0.04 0.02 0.25 0.02
2005 0.21 0.14 0.26 0.24 0.02 0.04 0.03 0.19 0.02
2006 0.16 0.09 0.34 0.28 0.02 0.10 0.04 0.22 0.02
2007 0.14 0.08 0.23 0.18 0.02 0.07 0.04 0.16 0.02
2008 0.07 0.11 0.12 0.11 0.01 0.02 0.01 0.10 0.02
2009 0.13 0.14 0.24 0.20 0.03 0.01 0.02 0.18 0.02
2010 0.12 0.14 0.14 0.14 0.01 0.03 0.02 0.12 0.02
2011 0.10 0.15 0.36 0.28 0.02 0.03 0.03 0.24 0.02
2012 0.10 0.15 0.38 0.29 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.25 0.02
2013 0.07 0.08 0.20 0.15 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.13 0.02
2014 0.09 0.07 0.10 0.09 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.08 0.02
2015 0.07 0.03 0.05 0.05 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.05 0.02
2016 0.08 0.08 0.05 0.06 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.06 0.02
2017 0.12 0.09 0.08 0.09 0.01 0.03 0.02 0.07 0.02
Figure VD10-5: Proportion of sampling sites with upward/downward trends for different parameters
Show data
in the natural background range[number of sampling sites in %] decreasing[number of sampling sites in %] probably decreasing[number of sampling sites in %] no trend[number of sampling sites in %] probably increasing[number of sampling sites in %] increasing[number of sampling sites in %]
NH4 34 10 6 45 1 4
BPK5 35 13 2 50 0 0
oPO4 85 4 1 9 0 1
NO3 20 36 3 41 0 0

Goals

- the goals of the Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60/ES) on preservation and improvement of the water environment;

- the goals of the Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC) on reduction and prevention of water pollution by nitrates from agriculture;

- the goals of the Directive on urban wastewater treatment (91/271/EEC) for protection of the environment against harmful impacts of wastewater discharge;

- the goals of the Directive on the quality of water intended for human consumption (98/83/EC);

- Goal 6 from Agenda 2030, to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all;

- the goals stated in other regulations on water protection and water use.


Nitrate concentrations in the observed period were only slightly above the natural background values, which range between 0.2 and 0.9 mg N/l in Slovenian rivers depending on their ecological type. Values ​​vary over the years due to natural factors as well as due to the varying sampling points in the annual monitoring programme (the latter applies to all the parameters shown). Nitrate values ​​in the Drava river catchment, Sava river catchment and especially in the Mura river catchment are higher than in the Soča river catchment and Adriatic rivers. Orthophosphate values in rivers also differ among river catchments. In Soča river and Adriatic rivers orthophosphate is in the range of the natural background 0.01 mg P/L (EEA), but in the rivers of the Danube basin it is well above the natural background, from which Mura with Kučnica, Ledava and Ščavnica stand out with the highest values​​.

 

Trends analysed for individual sampling sites with longer historical data sets (Figure VD10-5) show that nitrate and orthophosphate concentrations are already in the range of the natural background at one third of the sampling points in the analysis. Trends are downward for about 15 to 20 % of the sampling points, however at the remaining 50 % of sample sites improvement cannot be expected, as the trend analysis does not show any future changes or it even shows that a slight increase in values can be expected.

 

Nitrogen and phosphorus loading of rivers is mostly due to draining from agricultural areas, which is confirmed by the highest measured values ​​of nutrients in ​​the Mura river catchment, where the agricultural activity in Slovenia is the most intensive, however municipal and industrial sewage can also be a significant source. The indicator VD07 Phosphorus in lakes also indicates a similar nutrient loading of waters in NE Slovenia, where the highest values ​​of phosphorus accumulations are observed.

 

In the observed period of 1996-2017, the organic load of rivers decreased considerably. Particularly noticeable is the decrease in BOD5 values from 2006 onwards, when the values occasionally approached the levels of the natural background, which ranges between <1 and 1.4 mg O2/l in most Slovenian rivers. The decrease is larger in east of Slovenia than in the west, where the organic loading of rivers has also been lesser in the past. Ammonia levels show similar improvement.

 

Urban wastewater is the main source of pollution with organic substances. As wastewater discharge and treatment has been improving in Slovenia for several years, observed changes in the parameters of organic load are expected. The indicator VD02: Wastewater treatment shows that the share of the population whose wastewater is treated by wastewater treatment plants is considerably higher today than it was in 2004. The percentage of secondary (biological) wastewater treatment, which removes the majority of organic substances and some nutrients, is also much higher today than it was in 2004.


Methodology

Date of data source summarization