KAZALCI OKOLJA

Key message
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In most aquifers in Slovenia, levels of plant protection products and their degradation products (metabolites) indicate a decreasing trend, which is mainly due to the decreased concentrations of atrazine and its metabolite desethylatrazine. The number of individual active substances and their degradation products exceeding the 0.1 µg/l threshold value for individual active substances is also decreasing. Despite the removal of atrazine from the market in 2002, the highest share of threshold value exceedances at sampling points are established for atrazine and especially its metabolite desethylatrazine. Along with these, the only substance that appears in groundwater more frequently than others is metolachlor, which is one of the most frequently used active substances in Slovenia in the production of maize.


 

Pollution of groundwater with plant protection products is presented by the share of sampling points at aquifers with intergranular and karst-fractured porosity where threshold concentration values of individual products and their degradation products or their totals in the samples taken were exceeded at all times, periodically or never. In Slovenia, threshold values concerning concentrations of the residues of plant protection products in groundwater are defined by the Degree on Groundwater Quality Standards (Official Gazette RS No. 100/2005) as 0.1 µg/l for individual active substances, and 0.5 µg/l for the total residues of plant protection products. Along with the entire legislation governing this field, these measures are in accordance with the Drinking Water Directive (98/83/EC), which applies to the entire European Union.

 


Charts

Figure KM19-1: Trends and structure of phosphorus output on agricultural land in Slovenia in the period 1992–2019
Show data
Total P output [t P] Temporary and permanent pasture nett production [t P] Cereals [t P] Plants harvested green/Fodder from arable land [t P] Root crops [t P] Fruits [t P] Industrial crops [t P] Vegetables [t P] Dried Pulses [t P] Temporary and permanent pasture nett production [%] Cereals [%] Plants harvested green/Fodder from arable land [%] Root crops [%] Fruits [%] Industrial crops [%] Vegetables [%] Dried Pulses [%]
1992 4680.49 2748.49 1131.92 444.54 233.73 40.19 56.74 22.35 2.52 58.72 24.18 9.50 4.99 0.86 1.21 0.48 0.05
1993 4845.59 2575.64 1299.28 577.63 271.90 43.03 50.89 24.33 2.86 53.15 26.81 11.92 5.61 0.89 1.05 0.50 0.06
1994 8170.58 5018.04 1631.95 956.35 416.64 48.04 69.62 22.71 7.22 61.42 19.97 11.70 5.10 0.59 0.85 0.28 0.09
1995 7701.48 4594.70 1578.83 990.43 429.11 43.19 31.88 25.26 8.08 59.66 20.50 12.86 5.57 0.56 0.41 0.33 0.10
1996 7449.33 4372.03 1510.81 1018.40 431.47 50.11 34.16 26.34 6.01 58.69 20.28 13.67 5.79 0.67 0.46 0.35 0.08
1997 8111.81 4847.77 1685.29 1093.31 383.34 42.67 28.13 25.95 5.35 59.76 20.78 13.48 4.73 0.53 0.35 0.32 0.07
1998 8128.08 4752.71 1727.25 1099.68 441.27 49.19 29.12 24.04 4.83 58.47 21.25 13.53 5.43 0.61 0.36 0.30 0.06
1999 7802.14 4776.79 1483.98 983.92 458.95 41.89 26.09 27.16 3.36 61.22 19.02 12.61 5.88 0.54 0.33 0.35 0.04
2000 6698.44 3929.17 1531.20 768.29 366.06 57.66 19.17 23.91 2.97 58.66 22.86 11.47 5.46 0.86 0.29 0.36 0.04
2001 6545.10 4024.06 1538.03 650.67 239.51 42.74 28.06 18.90 3.14 61.48 23.50 9.94 3.66 0.65 0.43 0.29 0.05
2002 8241.33 5087.98 1894.00 830.78 282.00 54.61 65.72 20.59 5.64 61.74 22.98 10.08 3.42 0.66 0.80 0.25 0.07
2003 5475.63 3190.76 1236.66 697.97 218.68 49.02 59.36 19.60 3.57 58.27 22.58 12.75 3.99 0.90 1.08 0.36 0.07
2004 8312.73 5129.58 1808.36 949.06 263.35 64.27 64.78 24.61 8.72 61.71 21.75 11.42 3.17 0.77 0.78 0.30 0.10
2005 8944.42 5542.97 1787.70 1164.11 279.60 52.06 68.35 25.82 23.81 61.97 19.99 13.01 3.13 0.58 0.76 0.29 0.27
2006 7235.09 4451.81 1530.85 828.35 238.53 51.00 68.17 23.26 43.12 61.53 21.16 11.45 3.30 0.70 0.94 0.32 0.60
2007 7938.95 5071.75 1649.78 895.17 87.37 54.14 136.38 19.40 24.97 63.88 20.78 11.28 1.10 0.68 1.72 0.24 0.31
2008 8256.25 5270.70 1797.80 928.48 68.09 47.92 102.59 23.00 17.67 63.84 21.77 11.25 0.82 0.58 1.24 0.28 0.21
2009 8093.00 5210.32 1652.79 973.26 72.59 50.20 99.90 24.91 9.04 64.38 20.42 12.03 0.90 0.62 1.23 0.31 0.11
2010 8503.20 5495.26 1764.31 954.48 63.61 51.44 147.93 17.82 8.35 64.63 20.75 11.22 0.75 0.60 1.74 0.21 0.10
2011 8050.13 4887.94 1885.13 987.11 59.54 52.63 140.29 23.20 14.28 60.72 23.42 12.26 0.74 0.65 1.74 0.29 0.18
2012 7183.67 4259.94 1787.89 872.36 50.66 36.34 148.58 21.23 6.67 59.30 24.89 12.14 0.71 0.51 2.07 0.30 0.09
2013 6327.95 3912.08 1418.71 746.67 41.82 52.24 130.67 21.66 4.10 61.82 22.42 11.80 0.66 0.83 2.06 0.34 0.06
2014 8760.70 5288.02 2013.19 1142.18 57.59 49.17 177.31 26.34 6.90 60.36 22.98 13.04 0.66 0.56 2.02 0.30 0.08
2015 8714.36 5331.43 1936.34 1207.42 54.18 61.84 85.41 29.43 8.32 61.18 22.22 13.86 0.62 0.71 0.98 0.34 0.10
2016 8915.47 5395.54 1979.61 1261.15 51.09 40.52 141.91 32.92 12.73 60.52 22.20 14.15 0.57 0.45 1.59 0.37 0.14
2017 7079.32 4090.15 1697.26 1036.13 47.89 29.77 136.29 30.12 11.70 57.78 23.97 14.64 0.68 0.42 1.93 0.43 0.17
2018 8685.06 5297.83 1851.54 1256.82 49.10 67.02 120.06 31.32 11.36 61.00 21.32 14.47 0.57 0.77 1.38 0.36 0.13
2019 8785.42 5327.37 1990.87 1207.71 47.98 39.07 121.62 39.33 11.47 60.64 22.66 13.75 0.55 0.44 1.38 0.45 0.13
Figure KM19-2: Frequency of exceeded threshold values for the total of pesticides (0.5 µg/l) at sampling points of selected aquifers
Sources:

Standardised Database for Water Quality Monitoring, Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia, 2007.

Show data
Prekmursko-Mursko polje 2002 Prekmursko-Mursko polje 2003 Prekmursko-Mursko polje 2004 - Karst part of the Ljubljanica River 2002 Karst part of the Ljubljanica River 2003 Karst part of the Ljubljanica River 2004 - Bolska River valley and Lower Savinjska dolina valley 2002 Bolska River valley and Lower Savinjska dolina valley 2003
no exceedances number 6 6 9 1 1 2 8 8
periodical exceedances number 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 2
constant exceedances number 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
total number 8 8 10 1 1 2 10 10
no exceedances % 75 75 90 100 100 100 80 80
periodical exceedances % 12.5 25 10 0 0 0 0 20
constant exceedances % 12.5 0 0 0 0 0 20 0
Bolska River valley and Lower Savinjska dolina valley 2004 - Krško-Brežiško polje 2002 Krško-Brežiško polje 2003 Krško-Brežiško polje 2004 - Ljubljansko polje 2002 Ljubljansko polje 2003 Ljubljansko polje 2004 -
no exceedances number 11 12 12 12 9 9 10
periodical exceedances number 2 0 0 0 0 1 0
constant exceedances number 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
total number 13 12 12 12 9 10 10
no exceedances % 84.6 100 100 100 100 90 100
periodical exceedances % 15.4 0 0 0 0 10 0
constant exceedances % 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Bay of Trieste-Kvarner 2002 Bay of Trieste-Kvarner 2003 Bay of Trieste-Kvarner 2004 - Trnovsko-Banjška planota - Hrušica 2002 Trnovsko-Banjška planota - Hrušica 2003 Trnovsko-Banjška planota - Hrušica 2004
no exceedances number 1 1 1 4 4 4
periodical exceedances number 0 0 0 0 0 0
constant exceedances number 0 0 0 0 0 0
total number 1 1 1 4 4 4
no exceedances % 100 100 100 100 100 100
periodical exceedances % 0 0 0 0 0 0
constant exceedances % 0 0 0 0 0 0
Figure KM19-3: Contents of atrazine and desethylatrazine residues at selected sampling points
Sources:

Standardised Database for Water Quality Monitoring, Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia, 2005

Show data
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
atrazine - Rakičan micro g/l 1.41 0.8 0.78 0.56 0.52 0.38 0.37 0.33 0.29
desetilatrazine - Rakičan micro g/l 1.75 1.27 1.03 0.8 0.7 0.58 0.45 0.52 0.22
atrazine - Lipovci micro g/l 0.9 0.63 0.61 0.52 0.5 0.49 0.39 0.42 0.18
desetilatrazine - Lipovci micro g/l 0.72 0.74 0.55 0.59 0.54 0.63 0.48 0.53 0.38
atrazine - Gotovlje micro g/l 0.43 0.23 0.16 0.15 0.16 0.13 0.14 0.62 0.07 0.13
desetilatrazine - Gotovlje micro g/l 0.67 0.53 0.43 0.36 0.34 0.27 0.28 0.22 0.2 0.17
2003 2004
atrazine - Rakičan micro g/l 0.26 0.2
desetilatrazine - Rakičan micro g/l 0.18 0.13
atrazine - Lipovci micro g/l 0.14 0.11
desetilatrazine - Lipovci micro g/l 0.4 0.32
atrazine - Gotovlje micro g/l 0.08 0.06
desetilatrazine - Gotovlje micro g/l 0.17 0.12
Figure KM19-4: Threshold value exceedances for the total of pesticides (0.5 µg/l) at the Brunšvik, Dravsko polje and Sobetinci, Ptujsko polje sampling points
Sources:

Standardised Database for Water Quality Monitoring, Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia, 2005.

Show data
6/20/1995 9/6/1995 5/16/1996 9/16/1996 6/24/1997 11/3/1997 6/18/1998 10/6/1998 5/25/1999 10/11/1999
Brunšvik micro g/l 2.35 4.41 2.91 2.47 2.64 3.02 2.92 2.44 2.07 1.76
Sobetinci micro g/l 2.34 2.17 0.7 2.17 0.84 4.2 1.44 0.27 0.57 0.46
threshold value micro g/l 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5
6/2/2000 10/13/2000 11/22/2001 6/19/2002 11/19/2002 7/17/2003 9/18/2003 10/23/2003 11/18/2003 4/5/2004
Brunšvik micro g/l 2.27 2.15 1.56 1.53 1.47 1.49 1.3 1.4 1.33 1.14
Sobetinci micro g/l 0.54 2.33 0.59 0.62 0.09 1.93 0.35 0.23 0.11 0.16
threshold value micro g/l 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5
6/10/2004 10/8/2004
Brunšvik micro g/l 1.15 1.06
Sobetinci micro g/l 0.09 0.21
threshold value micro g/l 0.5 0.5
Figure KM19-5: Number of monitored active substances and active substances that exceeded the threshold value for individual active substances (0.1 µg/l) at the Brunšvik, Dravsko polje sampling point
Sources:

Standardised Database for Water Quality Monitoring, Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia, 2005

Show data
6/20/1995 9/6/1995 5/16/1996 9/16/1996 6/24/1997 11/3/1997 6/18/1998 10/6/1998 5/25/1999 10/11/1999
under detection level number 20 19 20 21 20 21 23 23 22 22
above detection level and below limit value number 4 4 3 2 3 2 2 2 4 4
above limit value (0,1 micro g/l) number 3 4 4 4 5 5 3 3 3 3
all active substances number 27 27 27 27 28 28 28 28 29 29
6/2/2000 10/13/2000 11/22/2001 6/19/2002 11/19/2002 7/17/2003 9/18/2003 10/23/2003 11/18/2003 4/5/2004
under detection level number 21 22 24 25 26 62 37 61 36 59
above detection level and below limit value number 5 4 5 4 3 1 1 2 1 2
above limit value (0,1 micro g/l) number 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
all active substances number 29 29 32 32 32 66 41 66 40 64
6/10/2004 10/8/2004
under detection level number 59 62
above detection level and below limit value number 2 1
above limit value (0,1 micro g/l) number 3 3
all active substances number 64 66
Figure KM19-6: Number of monitored active substances and active substances that exceeded the threshold value for individual active substances (0.1 µg/l) at the Sobetinci, Ptujsko polje sampling point
Sources:

Standardised Database for Water Quality Monitoring, Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia, 2005.

Show data
6/20/1995 9/6/1995 5/16/1996 9/16/1996 6/24/1997 11/3/1997 6/18/1998 10/6/1998 5/25/1999 10/11/1999
under detection level number 22 22 23 21 24 22 24 26 24 24
above detection level and below limit value number 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 0 1 3
above limit value (0,1 micro g/l) number 3 4 3 4 3 5 3 2 4 2
all active substances number 27 27 27 27 28 28 28 28 29 29
6/2/2000 10/13/2000 11/22/2001 6/19/2002 11/19/2002 7/17/2003 9/18/2003 10/23/2003 11/18/2003 4/5/2004
under detection level number 26 26 29 29 29 62 38 62 37 62
above detection level and below limit value number 2 2 2 2 3 2 2 4 3 2
above limit value (0,1 micro g/l) number 1 1 1 1 0 2 1 0 0 0
all active substances number 29 29 32 32 32 66 41 66 40 64
6/10/2004 10/8/2004
under detection level number 62 62
above detection level and below limit value number 2 4
above limit value (0,1 micro g/l) number 0 0
all active substances number 64 66

Goals

The National Environment Action Plan anticipates the prevention of groundwater pollution with the residues of plant protection products. The legal framework to achieve this goal is provided by the Decree on the Quality of Underground Water (Official Gazette RS, No. 11/02), Decree on the Designation of the Status of Endangerment due to Phytophramaceuticals to Areas of Aquifers and their Drainage Basins and on the Integrated Rehabilitation Measures (Official Gazette RS, No. 97/02), Ordinance on the Areas of Aquifers and their Drainage Basins Endangered due to Phytopharmaceuticals (Official Gazette RS, No. 97/02), Rules on Drinking Water Quality (Official Gazette RS, No. 46/97, 54/98 in 7/00) and Drinking Water Directive (98/83/EC).
The implementation of the measures outlined in the Rural Development Plan for the Republic of Slovenia 2004-2006 plays an important role in decreasing the pollution of groundwater with the residues of plant protection products. The plan is implemented under the patronage of the Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry and Food in cooperation with the Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Agricultural Markets and Rural Development. Its most important aspect are agri-environmental measures, implemented on more than 270,000 ha of agricultural land are of utmost importance.


 

In 2004, arithmetic mean values for the total residues of the plant protection products did not exceed the 0.5 µg/l threshold value in groundwater in any of the observed aquifers. Between 1993 and 2004, a decrease in the total residues of the above-mentioned products and their degradation products was noted in the aquifers along the Mura River (Prekmursko-Mursko polje) and along the Savinja River (Lower Savinjska dolina valley – the Bolska River valley). In the 1993-2004 period, total residue contents of plant protection products at Ljubljansko polje and Krško-Brežiško polje were within the permissible values. In karst-fractured aquifers, these contents were below the identifiable levels for analytical methods.

 

At sampling points, threshold values were most frequently exceeded for atrazine and its metabolite desethylatrazine. In Slovenia, the share of sampling points where the concentrations of threshold values exceeded the threshold values determined in the legislation is above the European average. In spite of that, the monitoring results indicate a clear decrease in the concentration of atrazine and desethylatrazine residues at the sampling points most polluted in the past, such as Rakičan, Lipovci and Gotovlje. It should be noted that in most parts of Slovenia, atrazine values are already below the threshold value of 0.1 µg/l, while desethylatrazine values still exceed it in some places. Atrazine has been out of use for the last four years, but it will take a few more years for its concentration in the lower levels of groundwater to fall below the 0.1 µg/l threshold value. The reason for the slow decrease of desethylatrazine is its slow degradation.

 

In spite of the increasing number of active substances included in regular monitoring (27 in 1995 and 66 in 2004), it is encouraging to know that the number of active substances exceeding the 0.1 µg/l threshold value is actually decreasing. Between 1995 and 2004, we observed a decrease in the total residues of the plant protection products and their degradation products at the considerably polluted Brunšvik sampling point, but in spite of that, in 2004 the total value was still above the 0.5 µg/l threshold value. Between 1995 and 2004, the total value of residues of these products and their degradation products was also on the decrease at the Sobetinci sampling point. In the last two years, it was considerably below the 0.5 µg/l threshold value, in spite of its high values in the past.

 


Methodology

 

Data for Slovenia

 

The quality of groundwater in Slovenia is monitored within the framework of the national monitoring of groundwater, springs and surface waters (Ministry of the Environment, Spatial Planning and Energy, Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia). Pollution of shallow-water alluvial aquifers (populated and agricultural areas) and karst-fracture aquifers, where pollution is lower due to land-use, is monitored.

 

Groundwater bodies are selected according to the intermediate phase, i.e. phase II intended for the determination of such bodies. Representation of individual types of aquifers in the area of water supply was also taken into consideration, and constitutes 60% of population as regards alluvial aquifers and 40% of population as regards karst-fracture aquifers. For the purpose of representation of the indicator, the proposed groundwater bodies indicated here below were taken into consideration: Prekmursko-Mursko polje (10 sampling points, alluvial) and Bolska Valley and Lower Savinjska Valley (13 sampling points, alluvial), Ljubljansko polje (10 sampling points, alluvial), Krško-Brežiško polje (12 sampling points, alluvial), Trieste-Kvarner Gulf watershed (1 sampling point, karst), Karst Ljubljanica River (2 sampling points, karst) and Trnovsko-Banjška Plateau-Hrušica (4 sampling points, karst).

 

The following are sampling points for nitrates: drinking water pumping stations (33.3%), industrial wells (8.9%), common facilities for water quantity and quality monitoring (42.2%) and facilities for water quality monitoring (15.6%). 52 sampling points (wells, drilling wells, springs) were taken into consideration for the purposes of representation of this indicator. Samplings were conducted 2-6 times a year.

 

Data: Standardised Database for Water Quality Monitoring, Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia, 2005

 

Data for other countries
Standardised Database for Water Quality Monitoring, Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia, 2003
Pesticides in Groundwater, Indicator Fact Sheet, European Environment Agency, 2005

 

Date of data source summarization