When discussing water quality in Slovakia, it seems to be a hot and cold issue — while some bodies of water seem to be in good condition, others are struggling to meet governmental standards. Water quality in Slovakia in the Danube River and groundwater aquifers are on the rise, while the Small Danube and Nitra are in bad condition, according to a report by the Water Research Institute (WRI).

In order to understand water quality in Slovakia more in depth, it is necessary to first look at the main sources of fresh water in the country:

The country’s reservoirs include Orva (the largest lake in Slovakia), Domasa (located along the Orva River), Zemplínska Šírava, Liptovská Mara and Sĺňava. Notable lakes include the Sunny Lakes (25 kilometers from Bratislava), Golden Sands and Duchonka. The Danube is the most famous of the rivers and runs through southern Slovakia, emptying into the Black Sea in Romania.

Groundwater is the source most readily used for drinking water, accounting for 82 percent of the drinking water in Slovakia. Out of the groundwater sources in Slovakia, Žitný Ostrov is the largest. The water in Slovakia is allocated by the government, making it public. Public systems account for how 86 percent of the population receives water.

The water quality in Slovakia is checked by the government in accordance with 82 specific parameters and it was found that the water quality in Slovakia is overall average, meaning that there are no considerable pollutants affecting the health of consumers.

Furthermore, the Danube River, which has seen an increase in pollution in recent years, is surprisingly clean as it runs through Slovakia. The WRI credits this with an exceptionally good condition, along with its natural purification abilities. Regardless, there is still room for improvement in the Danube, with the potential to build water treatment plants and remove barriers that disrupt the flow of the Danube. By improving the quality of water surrounding its tributaries as well, water quality could, in turn, improve.

In the future, it will be important to monitor agriculture as a major potential source of pollution in the Danube River, along with surrounding smaller rivers. This is because farm land takes up the majority of the banks of the Danube, therefore making it easier for chemicals to get into the surface water. It will be critical to watch these areas deemed “possibly at risk” so that they avoid being seen as “at risk” by the Slovakian government.

– Sydney Roeder

Photo: Pixabay