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[VD05] Nitrates in groundwater
State

Key message
Neutral

Slovenian groundwater bodies most polluted with nitrates are those with intergranular (alluvium) aquifers, particularly in northeastern Slovenia. Groundwater in karst and fractured aquifers is due to geographical conditions, low population density and scarce agricultural land less burdened with nitrates. On water bodies Mura basin and Savinja basin average annual levels of nitrate in the period from 1998 to 2014 show a statistically significant downward trend in nitrate levels. On the other water bodies declining nitrate levels are not statistically significant.

Charts

Figure VD05-1: Average annual values ​​of nitrate in groundwater samples at the sampling points of the Slovenian national monitoring in 2014
Sources:

Standardised Database for Water Quality Monitoring, Slovenian Environmental Agency, 2015

Figure VD05-2: The average value of nitrate levels in Europe and in Slovenia and Slovenian groundwater bodies with predominantly intergranular (alluvial) and karst/fractured aquifers.
Sources:

Standardised Database for Water Quality Monitoring, Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia, 2015; EEA Waterbase_groundwater_v14, 2015

Show data
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Slovenija - alluvial aquifers mg/l 40.6 40.3 38.6 31.8 32.8 32.9 31.9 31.2 30.2 32.3
Slovenia - karst-fractured aquifers mg/l 7.5 7.4 7.4 7.3 6.8 6.6 5.5 6.6 5.4 5.3
Slovenia - average mg/l 15.4 15.2 14.8 13.1 13 12.8 11.8 12.5 11.3 11.7
Europa - average mg/l 19.3 19.9 20.4 20.4 19.7 19.2 19.3 19 19.1
2014
Slovenija - alluvial aquifers mg/l 32.2
Slovenia - karst-fractured aquifers mg/l 5.3
Slovenia - average mg/l 11.7
Europa - average mg/l
Figure VD05-3: Average annual nitrate levels in groundwater of the more polluted water bodies
Sources:

Standardised Database for Water Quality Monitoring, Slovenian Environmental Agency, 2015

Show data
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
1001 Savska kotlina in Ljubljansko barje mg/l 23.4 22.8 21.6 21.9 20.7 20.7 20.9 22.9 22.7 18.4
1002 Savinjska kotlina mg/l 50 43.8 47.2 55.5 43.9 50.5 65 57.8 45.4 47.3
1003 Krška kotlina mg/l 21.8 23.8 20.4 25.7 33 22.3 29.4 24.8 26.9 21.1
3012 Dravska kotlina mg/l 45.1 48.4 45.4 46.5 39.7 40.3 49.5 54 53.3 39.1
4016 Murska kotlina mg/l 47.6 39.8 47.3 34.4 39.9 38 42 44.7 32.9
quality standard mg/l 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
1001 Savska kotlina in Ljubljansko barje mg/l 19.6 20.6 19.2 19.2 18.2 18.9 18.8
1002 Savinjska kotlina mg/l 48.7 44.8 42.5 43.2 46.9 40.2 44
1003 Krška kotlina mg/l 23.2 24.2 24.1 21.6 23.7 28.7 24.5
3012 Dravska kotlina mg/l 40.3 42.1 42.2 39 35.6 42.3 40
4016 Murska kotlina mg/l 32.2 32.6 31.8 32.9 26.7 31.4 33.7
quality standard mg/l 50 50 50 50 50 50 50
Figure VD05-4: Average annual nitrate levels in groundwater of a more polluted sampling points
Sources:

Standardised Database for Water Quality Monitoring, Slovenian Environmental Agency, 2015

Show data
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Lipovci mg/l 127.3 120.3 128.6 105.9 95.2 94.5 100 110.3 92.8
Lancova vas mg/l 76.2 73 81.1 85.3 82 79.7 87.1 93 94.5 86.5
Šempeter mg/l 97 84.2 77.6 106.1 99.7 95.2 125.5 95.5 74 75.3
Godešič mg/l 58.5 64.4 67.2 76.9 62 59.8 59.1 67.8 66.3 60.7
quality standard mg/l 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Lipovci mg/l 86.5 82 73 91 80 45.5 59
Lancova vas mg/l 91 88.5 77.5 82 77.5 75.5 75.5
Šempeter mg/l 88.5 75 62 64.5 73 73.5 69
Godešič mg/l 68.3 63.7 64.2 67.3 73.3 58 55.5
quality standard mg/l 50 50 50 50 50 50 50
Figure VD05-5: The declining trend of the nitrate concentration in water bodies Mura, Drava and Savinja basin in the period 1998-2014.
Sources:

Standardised Database for Water Quality Monitoring, Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia, 2015

Related indicators

Last modified
29.09.2015
Author(s)

Polona Mihorko, Marina Gacin, Slovenian Environment Agency