MCYB

MINISTRY FOR ENVIRONMENT AND WATER

Guide

GROUNDWATERS IN HUNGARY II.

REMEDIATION PROGRAMME GUIDE

GROUNDWATERS IN HUNGARY II.

compiled by the Water Management Directorate of VITUKI Environmental Protection and Water Management Research Institute on behalf of the Ministry for Environment and Water

Budapest 2006

1 Compiled by: Pál Liebe

Figures: Kornél Albert, Márta Bagi, András Csepregi, József Deák, Dr Adrienne Hajósy, Zoltán Lengyel, Dr Árpád Lorberer, Károly Marsó, Zsuzsa Petõ, Ágnes Szalkai Rotár, József Szalai, György Varga

Advisor: Vera Horváth

Translated by: Réka Gaul

Supervised by: Dr László Balásházy Eszter Havas Szilágyi Endre Almássy

Editorial board: Dr Ferenc Csáki Anna Chikán Dr Gyula Dura Dr Zsolt Horváth Pál Liebe Dr Tamás Németh Dr Ottó Pálmai

Publisher: Ministry for Environment and Water 2006

Free publications available at the Public Relations Office of MoEW (1011 Budapest, Fõ u. 44–50.)

ISBN 963 03 7675 X ISSN 1471-9385

Made and printed by Spacium Publishing and Printing House Ltd.

2 INTRODUCTION

The various kinds of groundwater are natural into account as one of the firsts in interna- resources of outstanding importance in Hun- tional aspect as well. gary. More than 97 per cent of drinking water is supplied from groundwater. Springs and The manifold utilization of freshwater wells are filling up the swimming pools in the resources and among them that of groundwa- numerous thermal and medicinal baths. ter without deteriorating their good status is Groundwaters are utilized in the industry and one of the worldwide accepted objectives of for irrigation as well however to a smaller sustainable development and is recommend- extent and no extension is justified. Neverthe- ed by international organizations. The Water less the significance of groundwater is high in Framework Directive of the European Union terms of natural vegetation and agriculture as confirms this approach as well. The Hungari- well: for the optimal water supply of vegeta- an water and environmental legislation regu- tion an appropriate depth of groundwater table lates the utilization and protection of ground- is essential. There are several nature conserva- water in the same spirit. tion areas of special importance in our country where the wetness migrating upwards from The appropriate orientation is essential for the the deeper horizons is providing the sine qua national environmental, water, geological, non for special ecosystems. Captured or non- public health and educational organizations captured natural springs may represent special responsible for groundwater, as well as for natural values as well. Their water or the local governments, researchers, consultants, groundwater infiltrating into riverbeds ensure operators, and all citizens in their own that several small watercourses do not dry up domains to share a uniform approach in the in seasons without precipitation. utilization and protection of groundwater resources in conformity with the environmen- Climate changes, human interventions, over- tal objectives and public welfare. The objec- use of the resources and the various pollution tive of the present publication is to present a sources are causing several problems in general picture on the several types of groundwater management and protection. In groundwater in Hungary, on the possibilities Hungary groundwater is owned by the state; of their utilization and protection, on the rel- at the same time municipalities responsible evant legislation, on the organizations dealing for water supply, water users, those who per- with groundwater, on the information avail- form activities generating pressure on or pol- able and their accessibility. luting the environment and after all individual citizens all have their tasks in the preservation The present publication is the amplified and of the good quantitative and qualitative status modified edition of the guide published by of groundwater. the VITUKI Ltd. commissioned by the Min- istry of Environment in 2002. Re-edition was Groundwater should be protected not only in made essential by new information relating to itself but also as a part of the system of envi- groundwater originating from the work car- ronmental elements. From this point of view ried out in the last 3 years, – mainly in com- the protection of the geological medium, pliance with the EU Water Framework Direc- especially that of soil is of outstanding impor- tive – as well as by the significant changes in tance. The Hungarian legislation takes this the relevant organizations and legislation.

3 GROUNDWATER IN HUNGARY

Groundwater types mations may have better productivity. In this publication water located in the deposits near – A considerable part of Hungary, located in the surface is called (acc. to the specific Hun- the centre of the Carpathian Basin, is of flat garian nomenclature) shallow groundwater and hilly character. In this basin-type area (in other languages this terms stands usually marine and fluvial deposit, sometimes sev- for groundwater in general), water in deeper eral kilometres thick, covers the older clastic sediments is called deep groundwa- rocks. The marine deposits situated at larg- ter, while the deep groundwater of a temper- er depth are mainly clays and clayey marls ature higher than 30 °C are thermal deep with a very low potential yield for water groundwaters, being a type of thermal extraction. As the Pannonian Sea turned waters. into an inland lake inflowing rivers deposited coarser sediments of a thickness The other main type of groundwater aquifers sometimes up to 1 to 2 km: in the geologi- is the group of karstic rocks that can be cal profile of that time there are already found in almost the half of the hilly areas cov- several sand and sandstone layers (Figure ering one fifth of Hungary’s territory. These 1.). In the Quaternary exclusively the flu- calciferous marine sediments of the Mesozoic vial sedimentation was already character- (limestones, dolomites) often have a high istic, with silty, sandy and gravel deposits. conductivity along faults, fractures and holes The thickness of these complexes is also widened by water of high carbonic acid con- near 1 km in the Kisalföld and in the south- tent during the process of karstification. Pre- ern region of the Great Hungarian Plain. cipitation infiltrates mainly directly and At the border of the basin river fans contain quickly into the outcropping karstic rocks much gravel with a thickness of only some (“open karst”), therefore the recharge of ten meters, except for the Szigetköz region karstic waters is good. In several areas where gravel layers are as thick as several karstic formations are covered by geological hundred meters. Some parts of our rivers formations of low conductivity also in the are running in these formations and their hilly regions, while at the margins of such ter- water is in direct contact with that of the ritories the karstic reservoir is often covered gravel layers. by clastic sediments of large (sometimes sev- eral km) thickness, generally impermeable, The good aquifers are the coarser sandy and lying directly above the karstic formations gravel layers of the clastic basin-deposits. (covered karst). In the karstic formations at At larger depth one can find sandstone the margins of mountains and in large depth instead of the loose sandy layers. These below the surface in the basin-regions ther- aquifers can be found in more than three mal waters can be found, part of which comes quarter of the country’s area assuring every- to the surface in the form of the well known where the chance for local drinking water thermalkarst springs (Héviz, Budapest, production and from greater depths (usually Eger, etc.). more than 500 m) the abstraction of thermal water. With wells bored into the shallow Beyond the main groundwater types set forth gravel aquifers along the riverbanks the fil- above (bank-filtered, shallow-, deep ground- tered water of the river i.e. bank-filtered waters and the karstic waters) water can be water is produced (Figure 23.). The upper exploited, although to a smaller extent, from layers down to the depth of 10 to 20 m are of other geological formations as well. Parts of fine-grained formations enabling only small the hilly regions are built up of non-karstic discharges for local production. The majority rocks (crystalline, volcanic or sedimentary of dug wells in the villages and countryside formations of lower yield) from which small- homesteads are producing water from such er springs, significant only for local extrac- formations. However at some sites these for- tion, arise.

4 (without geothermal aquifers) Water bearing formations in Hungary

Figure 1.

5 Elemental units of the Water Framework mal water bodies are the intersections of the Directive are water bodies, which were desig- isotherm surface and the lower-upper Pan- nated by the relevant countries on the basis of nonian boundary surface, because older for- the recommendations drawn up at EU level, mations are in most cases practically unsuit- but in different ways. able for thermal water abstraction; but bor- Initial designation and delimitation of ders may be extended down to the basement groundwater bodies was carried out accord- rocks in the course of detailed designation. ingly in 2004-2005. In Hungary all ground- waters are parts of one or other of the water Subsurface flow systems, water level and bodies. There is a wide utilisation of ground- pressure distribution water in Hungary, therefore aquifers with an abstraction higher than an average of – Only a very small part of the formations 10 m3/day can be found in the whole territory introduced above, e.g. the confined geo- of Hungary. Primary aspect to be considered logical structures settled in large depth in the course of the designation was the type contain waters as old as the surrounding of the aquifer: formations. In case of marine sediments – waters in the mainly porous basin sedi- these waters are of high salt content. Also ments (down to the surface of the basement hydrocarbons have accumulated in these rock). Margins of the basin were designat- closed geological structures. However in ed along the outcrops of the lower-upper the case of most subsurface reservoirs Pannonian border, but valleys and small water is in permanent movement, it is basins in the mountains were not consid- being recharged from the ground surface ered to be part of this group, and, moving toward the discharge area, it – karstic waters (mesosoic and older karstic arrives again at the surface. The time of bedrocks and Eocene karstic rocks in direct water exchange (traced with various iso- hydraulic contact with them). Younger tope tests) varies on a very wide scale karstic sediments in no direct contact with from a few hours to several hundred thou- the aforementioned ones are belonging to sands of years. According to radiocarbon the group of mountainous water bodies, tests the age of waters of drinking water – waters in the various rocks of mountainous quality stored in the sediments in the regions (all those not part of the above two basin-type areas is of the order of ten categories). thousand years, while the age of thermal Further classification of water bodies was waters at larger depth may reach one mil- carried out on the basis of the temperature lion year. In shallow groundwaters in the and the hydrodynamic-hydrochemical char- coarser sediments near the surface and in acteristics. Waters are divided into two the bank-filtered waters along the rivers groups: cold (with a temperature below 30oC) the few days old rainwater and the water and thermal (above 30oC) waters; this enables of the rivers appear as well. Water origi- a further classification of the above men- nating from the rainfall of the last 40 to 45 tioned 3 categories: years can be best detected through tritium – porous or basin-type cold water bodies, tests. Thus we can come to conclusions on – porous or basin-type thermal water bodies, the intensity of the recharge. At the aver- as well as, age precipitation between 500 and – karstic cold water bodies, and 700 mm/year prevailing in Hungary, infil- – karstic thermal water bodies. tration is the highest in the karstic In the case of mountainous water bodies no regions: 150 to 200 mm/year, in the basin- thermal subgroup was defined in the course type areas of sandy topsoil it is 50 to of the initial designation as thermal waters are 100 mm/year while it is only 5 to very rare in those formations . For the delim- 10 mm/year or less in the case of finer itation of the thermal water bodies the surface loess-silty-clayey topsoil. Consequently of the 30oC isotherm was used. The horizon- the flow velocity of groundwater is very tal borderlines of the porous basin-type ther- low: it is in the order of magnitude rang-

6 Regional groundwater region flow-system in the Duna-Tisza

Figure 2.

7 Groundwater bodies (porous and mountainous, cold) (porous

Figure 3.

8 ing from 0,1 to 10,0 m/year as an average, ed in the form of bubbles also elevate the however in coarser debris and in karstic level of the water column in wells of higher areas it is higher; in karstic fissures the temperature. flowing water may travel several hundred meters per day. In determining the age of The groundwater balance, the levels and karstic water the use of tracers is a wide- heads are depending on the hydro-meteoro- spread method: this means the addition of logical conditions, on infiltration and various paints and tracers to the water recharge and on the abstraction of water. In disappearing in the sinkholes and observ- the 80s the high rate of water abstraction ing their appearance at the springs. coincided with dry weather, the large with- drawal exceeded the reduced recharge for a Waters infiltrating in high-located areas flow long time, which led to a significant loss in towards the discharge areas in the depres- the groundwater balance: water resources sions. Subsurface groundwater flows form stored below the surface decreased leading to regional and local flow systems (Figure 2.). the fall of water levels. The decrease of Groundwater flowing through fissured and karstic water and deep groundwater levels karstic formations mainly comes to the sur- does not represent an environmental problem face again in springs. In other mountainous in itself, it indicates, however, the overuse areas beside the distinct points of discharge and may only be allowed on the long run if represented by springs the infiltration into the the decrease stops and a new equilibrium riverbeds is more significant, while in hilly takes place. Environmental constraints of the regions groundwater appears mainly in the decrease in the yield of springs and in shallow waterlogged bottoms or in small watercours- groundwater levels on the other hand have es of the valleys. In plain regions discharge more serious environmental constraints: even takes place mainly in the low located areas in the case of a new equilibrium the decrease with a high groundwater level, where the of water levels must not deteriorate the con- water moving upwards evaporates or is evap- ditions of ecosystems. orated by vegetation. The further classification of the above men- The spatial distribution of groundwater lev- tioned types of water bodies was carried out els or heads is in accordance with the flow on the basis of groundwater flow systems, pattern described above: levels in the hydrodynamic units: recharge areas are higher than those in the – 52 water bodies were designated by con- discharge areas. In the case of layered sideration of recharge, discharge areas and deposits in recharge areas with downward subsurface watersheds in case of the cold flow groundwater levels are decreasing in the basin-type water bodies, wells when proceeding towards larger depths, – 6 on the basis of hydrodynamic units in while in discharge areas of upward flow the case of thermal basin-type water bodies, opposite phenomenon can be observed. In – 13 in the case of cold karstic waters based deep boreholes or wells reaching aquifers on subsurface catchments mostly of the covered with layers of low or no permeabili- springs in the Transdanubian Range and ty water rises highly above the tapped layer on the margins of the karstic ranges in the and in the depressions of discharge areas case of other areas, water levels in the wells may rise even above – 15 in the case of thermal karsts according the ground surface. These so-called artesian to the criteria described above, wells enable water production without pump- – 22 in the case of mountainous water bodies ing driven by the pressure of water only. by consideration of surface watersheds, Wells with water levels above the ground sur- alltogether 108 water bodies were initially face (“positive” wells) were widespread in designated (Figure 3., 4., 22.) out of which the lowlands of Hungary. High temperature, more than 50% (60 water bodies) are trans- lower density and gases dissolved or separat- boundary ones.

9 (karstic) Groundwater bodies

Figure 4.

10 Exploration, abstraction of groundwaters as high as the recharge in the 80s (Figure 6.) and their impacts and also the production from deep ground- water nearly reached the rate of allowable In historical times mankind knew ground- long-time production limits. The overuse water in the form of springs coming up to resulted in the drying out of springs and in the surface or as water appearing in the the large-scale fall in karstic water level in shallow dug wells. Furthermore, water the karstic areas, as well as in the decrease entering the adits of mines brought some of deep groundwater heads and shallow problems about. Exploration of the water groundwater levels in the basin-type in deeper horizons with bored wells started regions. The decrease in karstic and deep in the 18th century and this technology has groundwater levels alone is not harmful, as already become the most widespread form for example in the case of karstic areas cov- of water abstraction in Hungary. From the ered by soil only, karstic water under normal riverside gravel layers water is abstracted conditions fluctuates deeply below the sur- by so-called radial wells (consisting of a face and does not influence the water balance large-diameter shaft and a few radial, per- of the fertile soil layer because the water forated, horizontal drain pipes conducting household of the latter does not depend on the water into the shaft), and with drains the fact that the level of karstic water is e.g. driven below the riverbed. ten or twenty m below. Even though, the decrease of karstic water level may – and At present about 2,7 million m3/d water is actually do – involve harmful and sometimes produced from underground in Hungary. The very grave consequences, but these are (as in distribution of this volume among the various case of other water types as well) reversible, types of groundwater is as it follows: e.g: – near half of it comes from deep groundwa- ter, – the largest decrease in karstic water levels – about one third from bank-filtered water, could be experienced in the main aquifer of – about one sixth from karstic water, and the Transdanubian Range (Figure 7-8.) – about one twentieth of it comes from shal- causing the drying out of several large low groundwater (illegal withdrawals from karstic springs. The decrease exceeded 30 shallow groundwater are not considered). meters as an average and even 100 meters at some sites. The withdrawals however About one third out of the ninety thousand have decreased considerably since the drilled wells of the country is in operation as beginning of the 90s mainly because of the production well. closing up of mines. Consequently, and because of the higher precipitation the The production from underground in the 80s regional rise of karstic water levels can be was by 50 per cent higher than the present observed (Figure 7-8.). Even more impor- rate (Figure 5.). The cause for the decrease tant is the rise of water levels in the vicini- in abstraction was generally the increase of ty of the strongly endangered valuable the water price stimulating the users to save thermal springs (Lake Héviz and the water. The decrease of abstraction was the Budapest thermalkarst system). The yield largest in the case of karstic water: it has of the Héviz Lake slowly increases (Figure decreased to one third of the volume 9.). From the 60s several springs yielding a abstracted in the 80s because of the consider- large volume of lukewarm and warm water able decrease in the,once large scale, abstrac- stopped in the Transdanubian Range; their tions of the mining industry in the early 90s operation has started again at the late 90s and because of closing up the relevant mines. or may be expected in the near future (Fig- The reduction of abstraction in the Trans- ure 10.). danubian Range was necessary for reasons of – since the 70s a permanent fall of the heads water resources management as well: the rate of deep groundwater could be observed as of the abstracted karstic water was near twice a result of water abstraction. In the layers

11 Groundwater abstraction in the years 1981 to 2003

Figure 5.

12 Figure 6. Variations in the water-household of the main karstic aquifer of the Transdanubian Range (DKH)

13 Figure 7. Variations in karstic water levels in the Transdanubian Range (series are discontinuous due to the lack of data)

14 Figure 8. Variations in karstic water levels in the Transdanubian Range (series are discontinuous due to the lack of data)

15 Figure 9. Yield regime of Lake Hévíz, of the Budapest thermalkarst-system and the observed water levels in their environs 1951–1999 (series are discontinuous due to the lack of data)

16 Figure 10. Variations in the yields of karst springs in the Transdanubian Range (series are discontinuous due to the lack of data)

17 Figure 11. Levels of shallow- and deep groundwater in the southern part of the Great Hungarian Plain (series are discontinuous due to the lack of data)

18 Figure 12. Comparison of the yearly total precipitation and the integrated values of their deviation from the average to the level-changes of shallow groundwater (series are discontinuous due to the lack of data)

19 yielding water of drinking water quality a flood waves had harmful consequences on the decrease in the levels/heads of 5 to 10 m terrestrial ecosystem, especially in the flood was measured. In the vicinity of major plains, where in addition to the non-occur- water supply works and in the deeper ther- rence of floods there has been a significant mal water reservoirs the decrease reached decrease in the extent of humidification of the several 10 metres (Figure 11.). The results some meters thick, fine grained covering of the decrease of water abstraction in the layer by shallow groundwater. Although the early 90s became visible in the level varia- reservoir at Dunacsúny and to a smaller tions: the decrease has been moderated extent water supplementations in the flood and an increase was detectable at some plains have increased the shallow groundwa- places. ter levels the damage has still not been ceased (Figure 14.). – the variations of shallow groundwater level depend mainly on precipitation: loss Quantitative risks stated in the EU Water or surplus of infiltration accumulates for Framework Directive were analysed by the years (Figure 12.). The change in flow comparison of the monitoring and water conditions caused by the abstraction of abstraction data with the available water deep groundwater already mentioned resources. Quantitative risk (i. e. the risk of above influenced shallow groundwater bal- failing to meet good quantitative status by ance as well due to the (limited) hydraulic 2015 as stated in the Water Framework Direc- connection between shallow and deep tive) indicated by the trend of increasing groundwater. The downward movement of water levels and the changes in groundwater water increased in the recharge areas while flow is detectable in the Szigetköz, the south- in the discharge areas the upward flow was ern part of Nyírség and the Hajdúság, as well decreased or stopped. The drop of ground- as in the marginal regions of the North-Hun- water levels could be detected on a nation- garian Mountain Range. Further 18 water wide scale in the 80s; at some places it was bodies were classified as “possibly at risk” especially large. In some areas of the Duna making further investigations necessary: cold (Danube)-Tisza Plateau the drop of shal- basin-type water bodies in the Great Hungar- low groundwater-level exceeded the value ian Plain (GHP) (except for the N-NE part), of 3 m (Figure 13.). The reason was mainly the thermal basin-type water body in the SW the lack of precipitation in the two decades part of GHP and some cold karstic water bod- before the last few years, however the ies – the Balaton Highlands, watersheds of impact of the abstraction from deep the Tata and Fényes springs in the Transdanu- groundwater could be detected as well. The bian Range and the karstic water body in the rainy weather in the second half of the 90s Bükk Mountains. Quantitative and chemical moderated the drop of groundwater levels risks are shown on Figures 20. to 22. here; moreover at some places a rise of lev- els can be detected. According to the fore- The basis of the quantitative monitoring of casts significant rise of the groundwater groundwater consists of the Shallow Ground- levels can be expected in the next decade if water Level Monitoring Network currently in the rainy weather continues for a long time. operation (1596 wells), the Deep Groundwa- ter Level Monitoring Basic Network in basin- In the Szigetköz area no groundwater abstrac- type areas (378 wells), the Karst-Water Level tion, but the diversion of the Danube was the Monitoring Basic Network (245 wells), the reason of changes in groundwater level: a 1 to Basic Monitoring Network of Springs (51 3 meters drop of shallow groundwater level springs) and the Groundwater Level Monitor- was detected in the 1 to 2 km wide zone along ing Network of MÁFI (150 wells). In order to the shoreline of the parent branch of the meet the requirements of the Water Frame- Danube between Dunakiliti and Ásványráró. work Directive the network system needs fur- This, as well as the absence of an increase of ther development, especially along some shallow groundwater levels concomitant with small watercourses, in areas of particular

20 2003 from the average of years 1956 to 1960 2003 from Deviation of the average level shallow groundwater in the year

Figure 13.

21 Figure 14. Variations in the shallow groundwater level in the Szigetköz

22 interest because of the connection of terrestri- casing therefore temperature rarely al ecosystems and groundwater and in the exceeds the 100°C on the surface. Steam deep aquifers by using abstraction wells out occurrences of large depth are known only of operation. Necessary monitoring points in a few, not sufficiently explored sites. will be selected from the extended networks and the local networks of drinking water sup- In Hungary the wells and springs yielding plies. After 2006 this new network has to be water warmer than 30°C are considered ther- in operation. The aim of the operation of the mal wells/thermal springs. Thermal water can monitoring network is to provide data for the be accessible in about three quarter of the determination and supervision of the abstrac- country’s area (Figure 16.). Some more tion limit value and the available groundwa- detailed information can be found in the ter resources, as well as the observation of the Guide published by the Ministry for Environ- trends of groundwater level and head ment the year 2001: “Thermal Water changes. To the evaluation of the results how- Resources in Hungary, their Utilisation and ever series of hydro-meteorological and Protection”. abstraction data, acquired in the course of construction data of the new wells and the The intensive drop of heads in the deep ther- water levels of the operating wells are neces- mal water reservoirs of the basin-type regions sary. caused by the production of thermal water (Figure 15.) stopped or has been moderated Temperature of groundwaters, in most of the sites since the late 80s. the geothermal situation Although information on the production rates is incomplete, the moderation of the drop The geothermal gradient (indicating the may be attributed to the decrease of produc- increment of temperature (°C) per depth- tion even having only unsatisfactory data. unit) is 5°C /100 m being about one and a half times higher than the worldwide aver- 900 of the 1400 thermal wells in the country age. This is partly because in the Pannon- are in operation as production wells, their ian basin, where Hungary is situated the total abstraction is near 0,2 million m3/d. earth-crust is thinner (only 24 to 26 km) than the worldwide average of 30 to 35 km. About 30 per cent of the wells producing Moreover the basin is filled up with well thermal water are used for balneological pur- insulating clayey and sandy sediments. The pose, more than one quarter is operated for measured values of thermal flux (i.e. the drinking water supply and almost half of heat-output coming from large depths) are them are used for the production of geother- high (90 mW/m2 as an average) in com- mal energy. Abstractions for the purpose of parison with the average of 60 mW/m2 in geothermal energy utilisation alone will not the European continent. The mean tempe- be permissible without re-injection in the rature is about 10°C on the surface of the future: the cooled water will have to be re- country. injected into the geothermal aquifer.

In accordance with the geothermal gradi- The designation of thermal water bodies was ent mentioned above the temperature of the discussed in the chapter Groundwater types. rocks and that of the water contained by them is 60°C at the depth of 1 km and Quality of groundwater 110°C at the depth of 2 km. In the South- Transdanubian Region and in the Great The quality of groundwater is determined Hungarian Plain the geothermal gradient mainly by the rock in which it is stored or is higher than the countrywide average where it is in movement. The original quality while it is lower in the Kisalföld region and of water is highly influenced by the flow, by in the hilly areas. Water moving upward in the travel time of water below the surface and the thermal wells cools down along the temperature has a certain influence as well.

23 (series are discontinuous due to the lack of data) Water levels in the observation wells of Geological Institute Hungary

Figure 15.

24 Thermal water wells in Hungary

Figure 16.

25 Settlements with registered medicinal and mineral water Settlements with registered

Figure 17.

26 Pollutions of human origin change the origi- Karstic waters are basically of calcium- nal water quality as well, especially near the magnesium-hydrocarbonate character be- surface. cause of the dissolution of carbonate rocks. The process of dissolution starts immediate- In the 500 m thick upper zone of the gravel- ly after infiltration: water takes carbon and sandy aquifers used for drinking water dioxide from the soil and dissolves the car- supply in the basin-type areas the dissolved bonate rocks. The dissolved solid content of solid content of waters is less than 1g/l. In cold karstic waters is low, they are highly the recharge areas the calcium-hydrogen car- suitable for drinking water supply, however bonate (hard) type is characteristic turning they can be polluted more easily from the into the alkali-hydrogen carbonate (soft) type surface. in direction of the flow along the flow pass. In the central discharge areas of the basin The dissolved solid content of lukewarm (e.g. in the middle of the Great Hungarian and warm karstic waters is low in the zones Plain) the water flowing upward is so soft of more intensive flow: their total dissolved that it can hardly be used as drinking water. salt content does not reach the value of At some places iron, manganese and ammo- 1 g/l (e.g. Héviz). At larger depth the car- nium can be detected as a product of anaero- bon dioxide originating from the metamor- bic processes. In some parts of deep ground- phosis of sunken rocks, furthermore the water the natural arsenic content causes mixing of cold and warm waters makes problems in the utilisation as drinking water these waters able for dissolution again. and the methane content brings about the This is how the caves of thermal origin danger of explosion. Consequently the natu- have come into being in the vicinity of the ral quality of deep groundwater is not always thermal springs in operation (e.g. in in compliance with the requirements of Budapest). Because of the contact with drinking water supply. Even the deep clayey formations present in carbonate groundwater without contamination of rocks the chemical character of water may human origin need some treatment and their be of alkali hydrogen-carbonate nature, a composition causes problems in the course of considerable amount of sulphate can origi- water treatment and distribution: a secondary nate from the decomposition of pyrite and pollution is caused by the high ammonium sulphur can occur in the form of sulphide and organic content. as well. In confined thermalkarstic reser- voirs located at larger depth the NaCl con- Waters in the geothermal reservoirs usual- centration may increase: in some cases it ly below 500 m are of alkali-hydrogen car- can even reach the concentration of sever- bonate character. The total dissolved salt al 10 g/l corresponding to that of seawater content is generally 1 to 3 g/l, however it (e.g. Rábasömjén). Out of gases carbon can reach the value of 10 g/l. Waters of dioxide is present in the largest quantity in higher salt content occur in the deeper, thermal karstic water, which makes these confined zones of the reservoirs. In such waters aggressive. places waters are characterised by higher chloride content and their composition is The greatest part of groundwater in Hungary similar to that of seawater. The gas content is suitable for drinking water supply; in the of thermal waters is very high at many case of deep groundwater the application of places: 1 m3 water transports several cubic the proper water treatment technology is nec- meters of gas up to the surface from such essary, other types need disinfection only. aquifers. Beside methane carbon dioxide The public health limit values by components may be significant, the separation of which had been provided earlier by a national stan- results in the deposition of dissolved lime in dard (Standard MSz 450-1-1989). the pipes, causing problems in the opera- tion. In the water of certain wells oil and At present the Government Decree No. phenol occurs as well. 201/2001. (X. 25.) Korm. on the quality

27 requirements of drinking water and on the volcanic occurrences of sour waters with order of supervision specifies the new limit high carbonic acid and iron content values complying with the requirements of (Parád, Balatonfüred, etc.); bitter waters the European Union. These regulations are found in clays belong to another group referring to tap waters. (Budapest, Nagyigmánd, etc.).

In Annex 3 the above-mentioned limit values Groundwater pollution, risk of pollution are listed together with the groundwater pol- lution limit values set out in the Joint Decree It comes from the foregoing review of water No. 10/2000. (VI. 2.) KöM-EÜM-FVM- bearing and/or highly permeable geological KHVM on limit values established for the formations that shallow aquifers with good protection of groundwater and the geological recharge and of high permeability are the medium. In determining the latter the relevant most sensitive ones against pollutions from regulations and the preservation of drinking the surface. The pressure conditions of water quality were the definitive aspects. aquifers have a certain role as well: in the areas of infiltration and recharge the contam- The qualification of waters as registered ination can move downwards with water; this medicinal water is possible only on the basis can occur in the discharge areas of upward of medical tests verifying their curative flow only locally. Pressure however can effects, i.e. the chemical composition of change because of withdrawals and so con- waters in itself is not enough, each abstrac- tamination can move downwards in areas tion of water must be qualified separately. where the flow had an upward direction (Ministerial Decree No. 74/1999. (XII. 25.) before. In karstic areas, through the outcrops EüM on natural curative factors). of carbonate rocks contamination can move without any hindrance down to the level of The meaning of the expression “natural min- karstic water and even further because of the eral waters” was changed significantly by the intense mixing of water. In such areas both promulgation of the Joint Decree 65/2004. the lateral movement and the spread of con- (IV. 24.) FVM-EszCsM-GKM on the rules tamination are fast. In basin areas it is basi- of bottling and marketing of natural mineral cally the shallow formations that define the water, spring water, drinking water, drinking spreading of contamination: in gravel layers waters with enriched mineral content and spreading – similarly to the karsts – is very flavoured water in accordance with the Euro- fast, it is slower in sandy layers and very low pean Council Directive 80/777/EEC. The in the silty, clayey layers. In the latter cases joint decree mentioned above does not speci- the adhesion of contamination on the surface fy limit values as minimum requirements for of the fine grains may have an additional role the total mineral content or for the concentra- in the slow spread of contamination as well. tion of biologically active substances. A wide scale of pollution sources is endan- Waters of higher temperature contain more gering groundwater, however it must be dissolved substances in general, therefore a emphasised that a certain part of the quality great portion of the registered medicinal problems is connected to the natural proper- waters in Hungary are thermal waters ties of waters (e.g. the high iron, manganese, (Figure 17.). The curative effect of thermal ammonium concentration, and in some cases waters comes from their high dissolved the arsenic content exceeding limit values in solid content (calcium-magnesium-, sodi- deep groundwater). High nitrate concentra- um-potassium-hydrogen carbonate, sul- tion however hints to pollution from the sur- phate, chloride), however the biologically face. Figures 18. and 19. show the distribu- active substances of lower concentration tion of ammonium and nitrate in the various play a role as well (e.g. sulphur, carbonic water-types correlated to the public health acid, radioactivity). One type of cold limit values in 2004 (based on the data pro- medicinal waters is represented by the post vided by the Basic Groundwater Quality Net-

28 work and the Environmental Groundwater are designated in the various zones of which Quality Network). the activities endangering the quality of groundwater are to be limited to various Nitrification is the most frequent contamina- extent (Government Decree No 123/1997. tion process, caused dominantly by munici- (VII. 18.) Korm. on the protection of the actu- palities without sewerage, and the use of al and perspective sources and the engineer- manure and fertilizers in agriculture. Earlier ing structures of drinking water supply). The the public health limit value was 40 mg/l government launched a large-scale action according to the Hungarian drinking water programme in 1996 relating to the vulnerable standard, at present it is 50 mg/l. Figure 19. active and perspective drinking water shows that the ratio of nitrate concentrations resources (such are the karstic, bank-filtered, above limit value is significant only in the shallow groundwater- and shallow confined case of the samples taken from shallow groundwater resources) in the framework of groundwater, it is 5 to 10 per cent in karstic which the protective blocks and areas are water, confined shallow groundwater and being designated based on detailed investiga- bank-filtered water, while it is negligible in tions. The monitoring systems indicating the waters located deeper than 50 m. changes in water quality or in the hydraulic conditions influencing it are developed in this Some pesticide residuals were detected in the process as well. water of near-surface aquifers, and in the vicinity of industrial pollution sources a. o. The estimated capacity of the 624 vulnerable heavy metal contaminations were observed. drinking water resources kept on file and being in operation is 3 million m3/day and the Hungarian legislation in harmony with the present rate of abstraction is 1.9 million EU directives and with the international prac- m3/year. The diagnostic phase has been fin- tice serves as an appropriate basis for the pro- ished in the case of 225 drinking water tection of groundwater. The Government resources up to now. Potential vulnerable Decree No. 219/2004. (VII. 21.) Korm. on the drinking water resources were mainly desig- protection of groundwater designates areas of nated in areas with coarse-grained formations various sensitivity in terms of groundwater along watercourses, and only two of them in status and the protection of groundwater qual- karstic areas. Estimated capacity of the 80 ity on regional scale (Figure 24.) based main- designated water resources is about 2 million ly on the extension of near-surface formations m3/d. In the case of 46 water resources of the transmitting pollution, and taking into consid- latter the tasks of the diagnostic phase have eration the conditions of infiltration enabling been finished. recharge. Nitrate vulnerable areas published in the Annex of Government Decree No. In the course of the determining the quality 27/2006. (II. 7.) Korm. were designated in risk risk according to the EU Water Frame- harmony with the above mentioned sensitivi- work Directive, diffuse pollution sources of ty ranking (Figure 25.). (It is expected to be large extent (primarily the nitrate, different replaced by a delimitation based on the agri- pesticides and phosphorus content), the large cultural parcel patch identification system amount of point pollution sources (920 land- (MePAR), which enables a more adequate fills and deposits, and 730 animal farms with- adjustment to hydrogeological borders and out proper technical protection), as well as which is expected to be published in a minis- the available monitoring and other hydro- terial Decree in the first half of 2006.) chemical data were taken into consideration. 45 water bodies were classified as being pos- In addition to the general, regional protection sibly at risk based on nitrate pressure calcula- enhanced protective measures are neces- tions; the analysis on pesticides showed no sary in the case of drinking water, mineral water body in danger. In case of the point pol- and medicinal water resources (Figure 23.). lution sources none of the water bodies For this purpose protection blocks and areas exceeds the ratio of areas with potentially

29 Figure 18. Distribution of Ammonium in the various types of water (k=carstic, h=mountainous, p=porous, up=upwards flow, down= downwards flow, depth:1=<50 m; 2=>50 m)

30 Figure 19. Distribution of Nitrate in the various types of water (k=carstic, h=mountainous, p=porous, up=upwards flow, down= downwards flow, depth:1=<50 m; 2=>50 m)

31 (porous and mountainous, cold (porous Risk-status of groundwater bodies

Figure 20.

32 (karstic) Risk-status of groundwater bodies

Figure 21.

33 (porous thermal) (porous Risk-status of groundwater bodies

Figure 22.

34 Operating and perspective vulnerable drinking water resources

Figure 23.

35 Areas sensitive in terms of groundwaterAreas status

Figure 24.

36 Nitrate vulnerable zones (s. a. Annex 1/d) Nitrate vulnerable zones (s. a.

Figure 25.

37 polluted recharge the critical 20 percent, three Information Monitoring), in some areas with water bodies however were classified as possi- sewage irrigation and in settlements in order bly at risk (one karstic and one mountainous to extend the monitoring of the quality of the water body near Dorog, and one mountainous shallow aquifer zone; further, there is a regu- water body in the Northern-Borsod industrial lar sampling of springs. At present 842 wells area). Re-injection of groundwater (artificial and springs of the monitoring system are recharge into shallow groundwater for purpose sampled once or twice a year. of drinking water supply, re-injection of ther- mal water used for energetic purposes or oil Network development tasks carried out by a production) does not pose a risk on groundwa- consortium led by the Geological Survey of ter quality under the present conditions taking Finland (GTK) and supported by PHARE is into consideration the strict legal regulations. in the process of completion. In the course of (A water body is at risk if it is not likely to the aforementioned project 650 new shallow achieve good qualitative status by 2015; it is groundwater observation wells are being con- possibly at risk if the determination of the for- structed, and many springs and existing wells mer criterion needs further investigations.) are being sampled. Based on the results of the developments carried out until now and on The qualitative risk-status of groundwater the aforementioned PHARE project the bodies, together with the quantitative risks is groundwater quality monitoring network will shown on Figure 20. to 21. be constructed meeting the requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive by the The groundwater quality monitoring until the end of 2006. near past consisted mainly of points selected from abstraction wells (593 sites). This net- In the countrywide characterisation of work has been extended in the recent years, as groundwater, quality data acquired in the it had not covered the near-surface zone course of well construction and operation will mainly affected by pollution. In the frame- be of great importance in the future too, as work of the so-called environmental monitor- well as the monitoring systems of active and ing in addition to the already existing net- perspective drinking water resources and the works in the Szigetköz area and the Danube- local networks being established to monitor Tisza Interfluvial new sites were included in pollution sources and contaminated sites; and the Dráva River valley to observe accidental in addition to the basic geological informa- water pollutions along water courses (mainly tion data on the pressures caused by diffuse in transboundary waters), in agricultural areas and point and pollution sources are necessary connected to the so-called TIM points (Soil as well.

38 IMPORTANT INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL LEGISLATION ON GROUNDWATER (summary)

The Water Framework Directive of EU ters as well. The main issue is to maintain the (Directive of the European Parliament and balance of withdrawal and recharge and to of the Council 2000/60/EC of 23 October prevent or reverse the deterioration of the 2000 establishing a framework for commu- qualitative status of groundwater: nity action in the field of water policy) – in terms of quantity groundwater is in good The objective of the Directive is to establish a status if water level changes of anthro- framework for the protection of waters, pogenic origin do not cause alterations in among them for the protection of groundwa- surface waters influencing terrestrial ter, which a. o. ecosystems and when they do not cause changes in the flow direction thus leading – prevents further deterioration and protects to the deterioration of water quality, and enhances the status of aquatic ecosys- – groundwater is in good chemical status if tems and, with regard to their water needs, the concentrations of pollutants do not terrestrial ecosystems and wetlands direct- exceed limit values on quality applicable ly depending on the aquatic ecosystems, under the relevant Community legislation and they do not result in any significant – promotes sustainable water use based on a damage to terrestrial ecosystems directly long-term protection of available water or indirectly (through associated surface resources, waters) dependent on groundwater and if no spreading of any pollution can be – aims at enhanced protection and improve- demonstrated. ment of the aquatic environment inter alia through specific measures for the progres- To the implementation of the environmental sive reduction of discharges, emissions and objectives the Directive prescribes deadlines losses of priority substances and the cessa- to be strictly kept, which may be postponed to tion or phasing-out of discharges, emis- a limited extent only. The “good” chemical sions and losses of the priority hazardous and ecological status of surface waters and substances, the “good” quantitative and chemical status of groundwater have to be reached by the – ensures the progressive reduction of pollu- year 2015 on the whole. tion of groundwater and prevents its fur- ther pollution. The provisions should not be considered vio- lated if they could not be implemented The Directive applies basically the river basin because of unforeseen or exceptional circum- approach. However it should be taken into stances like droughts in connection with account that the borders of river basins (catch- groundwater levels in Hungary. Impacts ment areas) are adjusted to surface waters, so should be investigated also in these cases and they do not coincide completely with those of all possible measures should be taken to groundwaters, and that the national borders restore the original status. (among them the borders of EU) are frequent- ly crossing the natural catchment areas. The The Directive regulates the monitoring of Directive lays emphasis on the control of water status, among those that of groundwater transboundary groundwater resources as well. as well. Observations have to be extended over all groundwaters, however monitoring fre- The Directive prescribes the setting of envi- quency should be increased where the achieve- ronmental objectives relating to groundwa- ment of environmental objectives is doubtful

39 and near the state borders. The primary objec- Directive is the implementation of other tive is to provide information for the evalua- directives referred to in the Directive. tion of the long-term changes brought about by natural processes and/or anthropogenic activi- The Ministry for Environment and Water ties. The Directive calls for the monitoring in published an informative brochure on “The the form of periodic surveys, systematic obser- present state of implementation of the EU vations at specific sites and special tests under Water Framework Directive in Hungary and exceptional circumstances. the Danube-catchment area” in 2005; the brochure provides the summary of the Hun- The Directive prescribes to register the pro- garian report sent to the EU by the deadline tected areas (among them the protection stated in the WFD. zones serving the preservation of groundwa- ter) furthermore the identification of all bod- In addition to the WFD the following two ies of water used or intended to use for the directives are of outstanding importance abstraction of water for human consumption terms of groundwater protection: providing more than 10 m3/d or serving the water supply of more than 50 persons. Water – the so-called Groundwater Protection bodies providing more than 100 m3/d has to Directive (80/68/EEC) be monitored. (Its Hungarian adaptation is the Govern- ment Decree No. 219/2004. (VII. 21.) The Directive prescribes the characterisation Korm. on the protection of groundwater), of river basins (including also groundwater). and More detailed characterisation is required where the achievementof good status may be – the so called Nitrate Directive (96/676/EEC) difficult. River Basin Management Plans (The Hungarian adaptation is the Govern- should be produced and updated regularly ment No. 27/2006. (II. 07.) Korm.). providing the ways of how to achieve the environmental objectives and the necessary The Council Directive 80/68/EEC deals measures. States have to report these and the with the protection of groundwater against results to the European Union at regular inter- pollution caused by certain dangerous sub- vals. stances. It classifies dangerous substances into List I and List II depending on the level The Directive orders the elaboration of action of danger caused by the relevant substances. programmes in order to mitigate pressures on and the pollution of waters. With certain The Directive differentiates between the exceptions the Directive prohibits all activi- direct discharge into groundwater and the ties involving the direct discharge of pollut- case when the polluting substances reach ing substances into groundwater. groundwater after percolating through the unsaturated zone (indirect discharges). The The Directive contains numerous other provi- Directive prohibits the direct discharge of sions as well. The implementation of the pro- List I substances and prescribes that all activ- visions and measures should be summed up ities possibly leading to the indirect dis- in the River Basin Management Plans cover- charge of List I substances and/or the direct ing the area of a river basin and/or the rele- or indirect discharge of List II substances are vant countries. The plans have to be reviewed subject to authorisation. Authorisation may every six years. be granted only if prior investigation proved that the concentration of contaminants in In Hungary the harmonisation of the Direc- groundwater would not exceed an inadmissi- tive and the implementation of the provisions ble level. The authorisation may be granted should be completed by the same deadlines as for limited period only and it has to be in the old member-states of the EU. A basic revised at least every 4 years. The authorisa- requirement of the implementation of the tion should define the conditions of the activ-

40 ity to be performed, and specify the monitor- Government Decree No. 74/2000. (V. 31.) ing of discharge and of the impacts (if the Korm. on the announcement of the Con- implementation of the latter is realistic). The vention on the Protection and Sustainable measurements and observations should be Use of the Danube River done in Sofia on documented. Member states are obliged to the 29th June 1994. report on the activities covered by the Direc- tive. The content of reports is regulated sep- The scope of the Convention announced by arately. the Decree concerns the Danube River basin and the watercourses therein, however it The Nitrate Directive (911676/EEC) covers defines the preservation, improvement and the protection of waters against pollution rational use of groundwater among the objec- caused by nitrates from agricultural sources. tives and principles. Particular reference is All waters and their catchment areas as well made to the long-term protection of ground- should be declared vulnerable against nitrate water resources and the existing and intended pollution where the nitrate content of the protection zones important for the present and water already exceeds 50 mg/l, or where it the future drinking water supply, to the pre- may exceed this value if the rules of “good vention of deterioration of groundwater agricultural practice” are not be followed. resources (caused mainly by nitrates, herbi- The rules of “good agricultural practice” cides, pesticides and other harmful sub- apply to the installations of animal breeding, stances). the storage and agricultural use of solid and liquid manure and the rules on water protec- National legislation tion of other agrotechnical activities. The application of “good agricultural practice” is Annex 1 lists the most important legal regu- obligatory in the nitrate-vulnerable areas. For lations referring to groundwater. A short sum- the purpose of the implementation of tasks mary of the most significant regulations can action programs should be established every be found below. four years. The Directive prescribes the obli- gation of data reporting as well. Act LIII of 1995 on the general rules of environmental protection The directive 85/337/EEC on the assess- ment of the effects of certain public and This Act contains the fundamental rules of the private projects on the environment, the protection of waters, among them those of directive 97/11/EC amending the former, groundwater. It prescribes the general rules of as well as the directive 96/61/EC concern- the protection of environmental elements ing integrated pollution prevention and including those of groundwaters. control prescribe the application of the envi- ronmental impact assessment and the unified The Act prescribes the general rules of the permits on environmental use prior to granti- protection of environmental elements, ng the permits of construction on activities groundwater included. It defines a. o. the fun- having significant effects on the environment. damental elements of protection (precaution, The two gorvernment decrees earlier in force, prevention, remediation, responsibility, coop- which were prepared to harmonise the afore- eration, collecting and providing information, mentioned directives were synthesized by the and publicity). It declares the general require- end of 2005. ment of the consistent protection of the envi- ronmental components on one hand, and con- The Government Decree No. 314/2005. tains the basic rules of water protection on the (XII. 25.) Korm. on environmental impact other. assessment and the uniform environmental use permits harmonises the two authorisation As far as groundwater is concerned, consis- procedures, thus making it faster and more tent protection refers to the consideration of flexible. the interactions with surface waters on one

41 hand and entails the harmonisation of the pro- ents. These may be among others the various tection both of groundwater and the geologi- limit values. cal medium (topsoil included). The Act differentiates several kinds of licens- The Act declares that when using the envi- ing processes as they follow: ronment “waters shall remain as a factor of – environmental permit based on environ- the landscape; the conditions necessary for mental impact assessment, the survival of the aquatic and riparian flora – unified permit to the use of the environ- and fauna as well as the quantity and quality ment, conditions ensuring the potential use of water – environmental operation permit based on shall not deteriorate.” environmental audit.

Compared with the general level of quality The Government Decree No. 219/2004. protection [specified mainly by the Govern- (VII. 21.) Korm. on the protection of ment Decree No. 219/2004. (VII. 21.) Korm.] groundwater aims at the determination of drinking water resources and those serving tasks, rights and obligations associated with the utilisation of mineral and medicinal the ensuring and maintaining of the good waters should be specially protected. (Special status, and the progressive reduction and pre- rules concerning such resources are defined vention of pollution of groundwater; a sus- by the Government Decree No. 123/1997. tainable water use based on the long-term (VII. 18.) Korm. protection of available groundwater resources and the remediation of the geological medi- The Act prescribes that in the framework of um. The Decree applies – with the exception state responsibilities for environmental pro- of substances and activities falling under the tection among others the quantity and quality scope of a separate piece of legislation on nuclear power – to the groundwater, the geo- objectives (target state) for the environmental logical medium and to the activities affecting elements should be defined. their status and pollutants. The quantity objective (target value) for To the deposition of hazardous, non-haz- groundwater comprises the following tasks of ardous, as well as of inert wastes decrees outstanding importance: falling under the authorisation of the Act – hampering the decrease of groundwater XLIII. of 2000 on Waste Management level (pressure head), ensuring and pro- applies. Requirements included in those moting its regeneration, the recovery of the decrees should be applied by consideration of water household in the endangered the Gov. Decree No. 219/2004. (VII. 21.) regions, Korm. The same applies for the construction – developing the equilibrium of abstraction of inflammable fluid deposits or the disposal and recharge so that the level of near-sur- of other dangerous substances if the activity face water (shallow groundwater and open falls under the scope of a piece of legislation karstic waters) does not fall below the long in force. In case of activities without similar term quasi-natural average due to anthro- regulation specifications and directions in pogenic activity, except in the immediate standards, guidance and different kinds of vicinity of the abstractions, reference books should be taken into consid- – no unfavourable change of water quality eration when planning a facility so that no because of the new hydraulic conditions admissible pressure on the geological medi- resulting from the abstraction of water um or groundwater is caused by the activity. should ensue. One fundamental principle stated in the The Act prescribes the establishment of envi- Decree is that the status of groundwater bod- ronmental requirements to the control of dis- ies should meet the objectives of good quali- charges and the quality protection of recipi- tative and quantitative status by the deadline

42 referred to in the Act on the General Rules of Certain changes to the aforementioned objec- Environmental Protection. To meet these tives may be introduced for water bodies at objectives compliance with the following cri- risk exclusively as specified in a separate teria should be ensured, so that no deteriora- piece of legislation (Gov. Decree No. tion of status take place; all significant and 221/2004. (VII. 21.) Korm. on the rules of sustained adverse trends in groundwater sta- river basin management). tus be reversed; criteria for good quantitative and qualitative status of groundwater bodies In order to achieve environmental objectives – except in the case of water bodies at risk – groundwater bodies have to be designated, be fulfilled and the status of water bodies at registered, their status should be monitored risk progressively improve. Groundwater and the impacts affecting them evaluated on a and geological medium permanently dam- regular basis under consideration of the pres- aged should be registered and controlled, and sures from point and diffuse pollution their status be improved by remediation. The sources. status of groundwater is determined by the poorer out of the quantitative and qualitative The abstraction limit value (“Mi”) which status. means the total annual volume of water (in m3/year) that may be withdrawn with the A groundwater body is in good quantitative highest permitted range of water level status, if the long-term (min. 10 years) annu- decrease should be determined for the differ- al abstraction rate does not exceed the avail- ent parts of the water body ensuring that able groundwater resource; and the abstrac- abstractions do not endanger natural quality tion does not cause sustained decrease in of groundwater, do not cause any deteriora- groundwater level or groundwater pressure tion in the qualitative status, including level in any part of the water body; further- changes associated with infiltration from sur- more environmental objectives for the associ- face water and do not result in failure to ated surface waters specified in a separate achieve the objectives established for surface piece of legislation are achieved. Further cri- waters and terrestrial ecosystems directly teria are that alterations to flow direction may dependent on groundwater. not result in a sustained deterioration of status and that no terrestrial ecosystem directly Based on the report prepared for the Euro- dependent on groundwater is damaged. Good pean Commission and the river basin man- quantitative status should ensure that envi- agement plans measures should be taken to ronmental objectives defined for the physical reverse significant and sustained adverse and chemical status of groundwater can be trends in groundwater bodies where indica- achieved without hindrance. tive parameters of the status have reached the pre-established starting point of reversal. A groundwater body is in good chemical sta- Measures should be taken to enhance the sta- tus, if changes in its quality characteristics do tus of water bodies at risk and to prevent not result in a significant and sustained dete- potential deterioration, or to enhance the sta- rioration of qualitative status and/or a signifi- tus of groundwater, if deterioration exists, in cant change of natural physical and chemical areas of high sensitivity. status and/or a deviation from the qualitative limit values established in a piece of legisla- Starting point mentioned above means the tion or in the river basin management plan. average value of concentration for the upper Alterations of the qualitative status of 50 metres of the groundwater body reaching groundwaters may not result in a significant 75% of the pollution limit value (B) in respect deterioration of ecological or chemical status of nitrate and pesticides (s. a. Annex 1/a.). of associated surface waters, and/or in the (Changes in groundwater temperature should damage of terrestrial ecosystems directly be considered as trend reversal points in case dependent on groundwater as a consequence they endanger good status.) If the verified of poor water quality. background concentration (Ab) exceeds 50%

43 of the pollution limit value (B) the Environ- In order to ensure the good status of ground- mental Inspectorate identifies the necessary water the activities defined by the Decree measures in a specific procedure. should be carried out only by implementing preventive environmental measures with For water bodies at risk the inspectorate applying the best available technology and should – based on the river basin manage- the most efficient solution specified in a sep- ment plan and the review of the activities arate piece of legislation, under controlled posing a risk on the achievement and main- conditions, the establishment and operation taining of the good status – modifies or with- of a monitoring network and data supply draws licences, it may ordain an environ- included. The activity must not threaten the mental impact assessment, initiates the com- achievement of the environmental objectives pletion or modification of monitoring and if even in the long term. necessary modifies the environmental objec- tives determined in their earlier decisions or In addition to the aforementioned require- initiates the modification of the relevant pre- ments further rules are in force to ensure the scriptions. good qualitative status: – excavation (dredging) of the river-bed According to the Decree Hungary’s territory material, or alteration of river-bed condi- is classified as areas of high sensitivity, sensi- tions should be carried out only with tive and less sensitive areas (s. a. Annex 1/c) respect to the environmental objectives for on the basis of the sensitivity of the ground- groundwater and the objectives for the pro- water status and the protection of the water tection of drinking water resources speci- quality taking into consideration the recharge fied in a separate piece of legislation, and of groundwater, hydraulic conductivity of the – in areas of extremely high sensitivity in geological medium, further the areas under terms of groundwater status the following special protection as shown on the 1:100 000 activities – except for the activities defined scale map available at VITUKI Kht. in the river basin management plan – are prohibited: the supplementary alimentation (Administrative areas of settlements are cate- of surface water from groundwater; any gorised on the basis of the same map: settle- activities resulting in the removal of the top ments fall into the higher sensitivity categoriy layer causing groundwater to appear on if it covers at least 10% of their territory.) the land surface; as well as any mining activities where the level of mine under- The list of settlements so classified can be side, sunk by dislodging of surface forma- found in the Annex of the Ministerial Decree tions, approaches the highest level of No. 27/2004. (XII. 25.) KvVM on classifica- karstic water to 10 meters. tion of settlements located in sensitive areas in terms of groundwater status. In sensitive areas the aforementioned activi- ties may be performed only if certain require- The environmental inspectorate may apply ments are met, no restrictions are stated for special sensitivity classification for a defined the less sensitive areas. area based on local investigations carried out by the user of the environment. The quantitative groundwater protection may be increased by artificial recharge of ground- In order to promote the use of the sensitivity water, by the use of a closed system in the maps the Ministry for Environment and case of the utilisation of geothermal energy Water published the booklet “Commentary to or by the re-injection of abstracted water into the maps showing sensitive areas in terms of the same aquifer, or in another one used for groundwater status according to Annex 2 of the same purpose. The latter applies also to the Government Decree No. 219/2004. (VII. re-injection of row water extracted in the 21.) Korm. on the protection of groundwater” course of mining, civil engineering and in 2005. maintenance works. It has to be ensured that

44 there are no any substances in the re-injected cleaned municipal waste water into intermit- water different from those in abstracted tent water courses, the inspectorate may give water, and that it causes no negative changes release from restrictions for certain sub- in water quality. stances according to a separate piece of legis- lation. In order to ensure good qualitative status of groundwater activities connected with the use While authorising the activity the inspec- or disposal of pollutants, and substances torate may order the monitoring to control transforming into pollutants as a result of compliance with the requirements. their degradation, may only be carried out with technical protection and with the preser- The disposal of pollutants by deep injection vation of the status of groundwater and the or by any kind of deep squeezing is generally geological medium in a state superior to the prohibited, except the discharge into geologic pollution limit value (B) as far as it is possi- formations that are permanently inadequate ble. for other purposes and are considered to be confined in terms of pollution transport in the The activity should not result in the qualita- following cases: the re-injection of waters not tive status of groundwater and geological containing K1 pollutants, originating from medium being poorer than the pollution limit activities carried out in the scope of mining value (B) or the verified background concen- activities, including investigations, explo- tration (Ab), further the specific pollution ration and exploitation, the injection of limit value (E) established for a particular site waters of natural content to promote hydro- in thecase of activities carried out by the time carbon production or injection of natural gas of coming into force of the Act on environ- or liquefied natural gas for the purpose of mental protection, or the remediation target storage provided that they do not result in the limit value (D) related to remedial actions. deterioration of groundwater quality. Definitions of the limit values are listed in Annex 1/a. The Decree specifies regulations on the authorisation of water abstractions, the dis- Discharge or disposal of certain substances as posal and introduction of pollutants, the noti- a part of the activity is subject to a permit. fication of activities subject to a permit, as well as data reporting and inquiry. Hazardous substances classified as K1 and K2 on the basis of the relevant EU legislation The Decree describes the liability for remedi- are listed in the Annex of the Decree (Annex ation, the phases included in the remediation 1/b). process (site investigation, technical interven- tion, monitoring), necessary measures in con- The direct discharge of such substances into nection with permanent environmental dam- groundwater, their introduction into artificial age and the Environmental Registration Sys- lakes, originating from the excavation of the tem for Groundwater and the Geological geological medium and consequently result- Medium (FAVI). The data sheets, as well as ing in the exploration of groundwater, espe- the guidance for their use and the annexes of cially in the case of introduction into residual FAVI are published by the minister of envi- lakes derived from mining activity and lakes ronment in the Ministerial Instruction used for recreational purposes, and their dis- 8001/2001. (Környezetvédelmi Értesítõ posal in deep working mines (except for some 2002/2) currently in force, which will be certain cases) is prohibited. replaced by a ministerial decree in the near future. In areas of high sensitivity in terms of groundwater status indirect discharge, includ- Among the legal consequences rules on ing discharge into intermittent watercourses imposing the groundwater pollution fine are is also prohibited. In case of discharges of specified in the Decree as well.

45 Implementation of remedial tasks, not tions established for the designation of depending on liability conditions, falls within groundwater bodies, the characterisation and the framework of the National Environmental classification of their status, their monitoring, Remediation Program (OKKP), the aims of the review of the aforementioned tasks, as which are a. o. the countrywide assessment well as the investigation and monitoring of and registration of pollution sources and con- groundwater in general, and the collection, taminated sites in the FAVI-KÁRINFO sys- processing and reporting of data necessary for tem and the reduction of pollution to an the execution of these tasks. admissible level by the use of authority meas- ures. Designation of the water body includes its spatial delimitation, mapping of its location According to the Decree persons liable for and its identification. In case of transbound- remedial actions are those who have carried ary water bodies the designation should be out, or are carrying out the polluting activity, concerted with the relevant country. or have assumed the liability for environmen- tal damage by acquisition of the proprietary The water body should be identified by a rights over the polluted site or in any other name reflecting its geographical location and way. by a code, boundaries of the horizontal extent In case of pollution under state responsibility of the water body and – if known – the bor- the competent state organ is obliged to take ders of its vertical extent should be presented remedial measures. in a geographic information system, in a data- base of digital maps with a resolution and Joint Decree No. 10/2000. (VI.2.) KöM- content corresponding to the scale at least EüM-FVM-KHVM of the Ministers of 1:500 000. Water bodies should be designated Environment, Public Health, Agriculture on the basis of the type and occurrence of the and Regional Development and Transport, aquifer, namely groundwaters in Communication and Water Management – karstic formations, on limit values established for the protec- – non-karstic and porous formations of tion of groundwater and the geological basin-areas, medium. Being in connection with the – formations of non-karstic mountainous Governmental Decree No. 219/2004. (VII. areas, and 21.) Korm. the Decree sets the values of the temperature of groundwater coming to the background concentration (as an informa- surface from the aquifers: tion), and the pollution limit values separate- – cold groundwater which mean ground- ly for the geological medium and for ground- water with temperature not exceeding water (Annex 3), listing the standards to be 30°C, applied as well. – thermal groundwater which mean groundwater with temperature higher The Ministerial Decree No. 14/2005. (III. than 30°C, 28.) KvVM specifies regulations concerning furthermore inside the above classification the screening investigations to be carried out the the subsurface catchment area, flow con- in the course of remedial site investigation, ditions, and the natural hydro-chemical com- and the Ministerial Decree No. 27/2004. position of groundwater as well as the geo- (XII. 25.) KvVM lists settlements located in logical structure should be taken into consid- areas sensitive in terms of groundwater sta- eration. tus, indicating also settlements in groundwa- ter protection areas of extremely high sensi- In the course of the designation it has to be tivity. considered that all aquifers (i. e. single strata or a set of strata of geological formations) of The Ministerial Decree No. 30/2004. (XII. sufficient porosity and permeability to allow 30.) KvVM on rules for the investigation of the abstraction of more than 10 m3/d or the groundwater applies to the rights and obliga- quantity necessary for the drinking water sup-

46 ply of more than 50 persons, as well as those Within the water bodies those areas have to be capable to provide water abstraction of more designated, where the good chemical status than 100 m3/d should be assigned to a desig- cannot be achieved at all or within the plan- nated water body. ning cycle, or its achievement is dispropor- tionately expensive, where the achievement of The designation has to be reviewed and, if good quantitative status would provide necessary, modified periodically due to vari- adverse effects to the status of surface waters ous reasons. and aquatic or terrestrial ecosystems directly dependent on groundwater regarding the effi- Following the designation the status of water ciency of watershed control, flood protection bodies should be characterised with special and drainage, or justifiable abstractions. regard to protected areas designated and reg- istered acc. to a separate piece of legislation, The impact of activities on groundwater water bodies at risk, those parts of a trans- should be analysed and qualified for each boundary water body, which may be affected water body. The first assessment has to be by transboundary impacts arising from the completed as part of the works providing activity, as well as those parts of the water basis for the first river basin management body on which the recharge of surface water plan, using data from the monitoring system bodies or the maintenance of terrestrial of the water body under utilization. ecosystems directly depends. Based on the results of characterisation water Further characterisation should be undertak- bodies should be qualified in terms of quali- en in the course of preparation of the river tative or quantitative status as good or poor; basin management plans to provide means declining or improving tendencies, or no for more exact prediction of whether the changes in status have to be indicated in each water body is to achieve the good status, to case as well. enable the selection of measures necessary to achieve the environmental objectives, and For chemical components the mean values of to enable a more precise identification of monitoring data for each point in the ground- water bodies at risk. In case of the latter water body or group of bodies should be cal- detailed analysis of the extent of deviation culated, and should be further used in calcu- from the natural status of water bodies, its lations specified in a separate piece of legis- causes and impacts by focusing on the area, lation to demonstrate whether the water body where adverse impacts are observed are nec- meets good chemical status criteria or not. essary. A water body is at risk, if it is not likely to achieve the good status by The monitoring program of the groundwater 22 December 2015. despite the program of bodies comprises the collection and evalua- measures. (A water body may be at risk, if tion of the data of monitoring sites selected there is an adverse change in water(pres- from the monitoring systems established for sure)level, if available water resources, the observation of groundwater status and the water abstractions, the verified and presum- associated surface waters, and from the sys- ably existing pressures, in particular diffuse tems providing hydrometeorological data. and point pollution sources, have an adverse impact on the quality and quantity of The operation of the monitoring systems is groundwater, on associated surface waters the task of the organisations under the direc- and terrestrial ecosystems, on covering lay- tion of KvVM, as well as of other state ers, flow conditions and hydrogeological organisations and local governments in case protection, if pollution is likely to have of the regional monitoring; in case of the taken place, if there are contaminated sites environmental monitoring the operators of on the water body, and even if data are insuf- abstractions, potential pollution sources and ficient for the evaluation of the above men- those of the remediation monitoring systems tioned aspects.) in contaminated sites provide for the opera-

47 tion of the systems. These systems have to be Organisations under the direction of the developed in an adequate way to provide KvVM should register the necessary data monitoring sites for the water body monitor- falling under their competence and should ing system, and have to be operated in a way transfer them to VITUKI Kht. by 31 March of to provide observations satisfactory to its the year following the reporting year. Institu- requirements. Parts of the water body moni- tions under the direction of other ministers toring are involved should provide the relevant data acc. – quantitative, and to the specifications of a separate piece of – qualitative (chemical) monitoring. legislation. Monitoring of quantitative status should sup- port the assessment of quantitative status, VITUKI Kht. also charges the function of the including the selection and revision of the system administrator of the national databas- abstraction limit value (Mi) and an estimation es. of the available groundwater resources. For water bodies at risk from the point of view of The Government Decree No. 314/2005. their quantitative status, or in case of trans- (XII. 25.) Korm. on environmental impact boundary water bodies the density of monitor- assessment and the unified environmental ing points and frequency of monitoring should use permits harmonises the two authorisa- be determined so that they are appropriate for tion procedures, thus making them faster and the inventory and control of the impacts of more flexible. abstractions and discharges on groundwater(pressure)levels, as well as for the In the environmental authorisation procedure determination of the direction and rate of a shorter, preliminary investigation process groundwater flows across the state boundaries. takes the place of the preparatory phase in the case of environmental impact assessment; the In the framework of qualitative monitoring output of the preliminary investigation is not the surveillance monitoring of chemical sta- a permit, but detailed instructions are speci- tus has to be appropriate to provide and vali- fied for user of the environment . The appli- date all relevant information required for the cation in this case comprises only a short determination of the impacts or the activity, to document serving as a basis for the environ- provide information for each period identified mental, nature protection and water inspec- in the river basin management plan (in partic- torate to come to a decision, by consulting ular on oxygen content, pH-value, conductiv- expert authorities concerned and taking into ity, nitrate, ammonium and parameters deter- consideration the opinion of the public, con- mining the ion composition of the water), and cerning the following: to support the design of the operational mon- – in case of a definite class of activities itoring of chemical status. the authority may decide whether the significance of the environmental It should consist of monitoring points of suf- effects of activities require the conduc- ficient spatial density in water bodies at risk tion of an environmental impact assess- and transboundary water bodies in order to ment (for activities of the other class provide sufficient data for all pollutants, environmental impact assessment is threatening the good chemical status of obligatory in each case); groundwater. In these areas the operational – in case of activities subject to environ- monitoring of chemical status should be oper- mental impact assessment (by legisla- ated in the periods between the surveillance tion or as a result of authority decision) monitoring programmes. the content of the documentation to be submitted in the course of the environ- VITUKI Kht. should carry out the characteri- mental impact assessment procedure sation of water bodies and the assessment of has to be specified; in case of activities groundwater status based on the data from subject also to the unified environmen- monitoring systems. tal use permit the possibility of the uni-

48 fied process instead of the two separate ing, reducing and eliminating damage to procedures should be investigated first. water quality, which hinders water use. If the unified process is possible, the Groundwater may only be utilised to an content of the documentation should be extent that the balance between water with- specified. drawal and recharge should be maintained without any adverse effect on the quality of If the preliminary investigation reveals no such waters. significant effects to be expected, thus no environmental impact assessment is neces- The Act lists among the tasks under state sary the environmental permit is not required, responsibilities (relating also to groundwater) since environmental interests are promoted the elaboration of the national conception of by means of other procedures. water management, the implementation of water management tasks which arise from In case of activities subject to environmental international co-operation, the designation of permit the unified permit procedure takes possible water withdrawal sites as perspective place if in the preliminary investigation phase drinking water resources and their preserva- the authority decides so, otherwise the envi- tion in a status appropriate for utilisation, as ronmental impact assessment is followed by well as the carrying out of the various regula- the unified environmental use permit proce- tory and authorities’ tasks. dure. The former variant reduces the total length of procedure. The Act lists the municipal tasks as well, especially in the field of drinking water sup- In the case of new activities subject to a uni- ply as far as groundwater is concerned. In fied environmental use permit a consultation connection with tasks of regional significance takes place in the course of the preliminary Regional Water Management Councils investigation to enable that the applicant sup- should be established. plies in an appropriate form the information required by the licensing procedure, and to According to the Act, groundwater and their enable that, if it is possible under the given natural aquifers are owned exclusively by the circumstances, the procedure to be unified state, however those who have acquired with that of environmental impact assessment rights to utilise the water resources, should supplementing the former. keep them safe in proportion to the extent of utilisation. In view of the protection of the If no unified procedure is possible the autho- quantity and quality of available water risation of the unified environmental use per- resources, the water demand may only be met mit should start after the completion of envi- from the water resources not yet committed ronmental impact assessment. for water use. In the order to satisfy water demands the following priorities are set by Act LVII of 1995 on Water Management the Act: on the first place are water uses serv- ing as means of life, like drinking water, and The Act applies to groundwater and their nat- water use for public health and emergency ural aquifers too, to the facilities and activi- responses to disasters; these are followed by ties, which can change or have an impact on the demands of activities serving the popula- the runoff and flow regimes, the quantity and tion, and livestock watering, fish farming, quality of waters or the aquifers of ground- nature conservation, economic and other water. According to the Act efforts should be uses. When using mineral, thermal and taken for the preservation of the diverse alter- medicinal water resources, the uses by thera- natives for water utilisation by regular control peutics and convalescence recreation should of natural waters, by the prevention of water be preferred. According to a new regulation pollution, by the construction and operation of the Act thermal water utilisation for solely of hydraulic facilities serving the conserva- energetic purposes may only be developed tion or regulation of waters and by prevent- with re-injection.

49 If the available quantity of water is reduced Government Decree No. 72/1996. (V. 22.) for natural or other insurmountable reasons, Korm. on the implementation of authority water use may be restricted without compen- powers in water management sation, except that for subsistence, in the order mentioned above. The Decree, authorised by the Water Act reg- ulates the powers of the organs of water A water license should be required for carry- administration (the competent environmental, ing out operations on waters or for the con- nature protection and water inspectorate on struction, reconstruction and removal of 1st instance, the National Environmental, hydraulic facilities (establishing permit) fur- Nature protection and Water Inspectorate as thermore for their use and operation (operat- 2nd instance authority), of the municipal ing permit) (see: Government Decree No. notaries and the implementation of authority 72/1996. (V.22.) Korm. and Decree No. powers in water management. The water per- 18/1996. (VI.13.) KHVM of the Minister of mit required for operations on water and for Transport Communication and Water Man- the construction of hydraulic facilities (in agement). In the field of groundwater this connection with groundwater: wells and the refers mainly to production wells. captures of springs) should be acquired by the owner. According to the most recent regulations in accordance with the EU-regulations water Prior to the implementation process the licenses are granted for a definite period. owner or the consultant commissioned by the former may apply for the planning The user is obliged to pay a water resources water license (preliminary permit) in charge for the amount of water committed in which the variants most suitable for the the permit or used without permit. In 2005 the implementation of the water management Act was amplified by several new sections objective and their preconditions, the pos- specifying the obligation of paying a water sible site and technology of the acquisition resources fee, the amount of the fee, exemp- and utilisation of water and the disposal of tions form paying the fee, the ways of effect- used water, the quantity of water ing the payment, claims for repayment and exploitable together with its mean and the obligation of making a declaratory state- extreme values furthermore the limit values ment [see also Decree No. 11/1999. (III. 11.) of the amount and quality of used water to KHVM of the Minister of Transport, Com- be disposed, and the environmental and munication and Water Management, and nature conservation requirements for the Decree No. 43/1999. (XII. 26.) KHVM of the planning, construction and operation Minister of Transport, Communication and should be fixed. Water Management]. Permit for construction (construction water Waters serving or designated for drinking permit) relating to water uses may be grant- water supply and for utilisation as mineral ed only if simultaneously the collection, treat- and medicinal water should be kept strictly ment and disposal of wastewater produced as protected and safeguarded, by developing and a consequence of the utilisation is solved in maintaining protective blocks and protection compliance with the environmental rules. areas of water withdrawal sites as specified in separate pieces of legislation [see: Govern- An operating water permit is required for ment Decree No. 123/1997. (VII. 18.) Korm]. the execution of water use and the operation In order to protect perspective drinking water of hydraulic facilities. It should prescribe resources and water resources already com- among others the conditions of operation, the mitted with preliminary water licenses the rights and obligations in connection with it, water authority may order the restriction of the self-control and the date of expiry. For ownership and use in accordance with a sep- public hydraulic facilities the permit pre- arate piece of legislation. scribes the elaboration and execution of the

50 Rules of Operation. In the case of hydraulic In case of groundwater resources the protec- facilities on groundwater (mainly wells) a tive block and the protection area should be documentation defined by a separate piece of divided into inner, outer and hydrogeological legislation should be attached (Hydrogeologi- protection zones. The dimensioning is based cal Report). on the travel times calculated from the groundwater flow velocity (travel time: the Decree No. 18/1996. (VI. 13.) KHVM of the time necessary for the pollutant getting into Minister of Transport, Communication groundwater, or the water particle carrying it and Water Management on the application to reach the abstraction site): form and its annexes to be submitted for granting the water permit – 20 days travel time (or a radius of 10 m as a minimum) belongs to the inner protection The regulation defines the requirements on zone (assuring technical protection), the contents of the application for the afore- – half a year (or a radius of 100 m as a min- mentioned preliminary, construction and imum) belongs to the outer protection zone, operating water permit and of the documents – part “A” of the hydrological protection to be submitted for licensing. In the field of zone is defined by 5 years travel time, groundwater management the Decree gives – part “B” is defined by 50 years, regulations on the acquisition of water, on the – the outer bor“der of part “C” is coinciding facilities of water abstraction (wells, springs), with the border of the whole recharge area protective blocks and protection areas, in the (being designated exceptionally only). latter cases to be interpreted together with the Government Decree No. 123/1997. (VII. 18.) The Decree prescribes various restrictions in Korm. the various zones on the potential pollution sources and polluting activities: Government Decree No. 123/1997. (VII. 18.) Korm. on the protection of the – in the inner zone practically any activity actual and perspective sources and the not part of the operation of the facilities is engineering facilities of drinking water prohibited, supply – the outer zone keeps also the degradable contaminants away, The scope of the Decree covers the sources of – the hydrogeological protection zones pro- water used to meet drinking water demands of tect against the substances non-degradable the population, the utilisation of mineral- and within the travel time. medicinal waters, regardless whether actually exploited, committed or designated for future Restrictions are more stringent for newly use, further the facilities serving the treatment, launched activities, running activities may be storage and distribution of water for such uses allowed under some stipulations. The Decree serving at least 50 persons on a daily average. prescribes several conditional terms for both These sources and facilities of water supply cases, depending on the outcomes of the envi- should be provided with special protection ronmental audit. The restrictions are relating and therefore protective blocks, protection to construction, recreation, industry, trans- areas should be designated around them. port, mining and drilling activities. (In part “B” of the hydrogeological protection zone The source of water supply (resources devel- complete prohibition relates only to activities oped for water withdrawal) is defined by the with strongly toxic or radioactive substances, Water Act as it follows: it is “an area or sub- to the infiltration of industrial wastewaters surface part of the space, which is used or and to the release of transported wastewaters. designated for utilisation by intake works, as In zone “A” of more limited extension and well as the water available for withdrawal further on towards the abstraction facilities there from, together with the existing and one can find more and more severe restric- planned water taking facilities” tions.)

51 Table 1 Multipliers to the water resources fee

Type of water Character of water uses Economic purpose medicinal public Groundwater drinking animal purpose purpose irrigation bath other water farms medicinal registered 1,0 5,0 5,0 5,0 10,0 thermal >or= 30oC 1,0 1,0 3,0 3,0 7,5 water karstic Class I 1,2 3,0 4,0 3,0 6,0 water Class II 1,0 2,0 3,0 2,0 5,0 Class III 0,5 1,0 2,0 1,0 4,0 deep Class I 1,0 3,0 4,0 3,5 3,0 5,0 groundwater Class II 0,8 2,0 3,0 2,0 2,0 4,0 Class III 0,5 1,0 2,0 1,0 1,0 2,0 bank- Class I 1,0 3,0 3,5 3,5 3,0 4,0 filtered Class II 0,8 2,0 2,0 2,0 2,0 3,0 water Class III 0,5 1,0 1,0 1,0 1,0 1,0 shallow Class I 1,0 1,5 2,0 1,5 1,5 3,0 groundwater Class II 0,7 1,1 1,5 1,1 1,1 2,0 Class III 0,5 1,0 1,0 1,0 1,0 1,5

Class I Water of quality not exceeding the tolerable levels of the standard Class II Water of quality exceeding the tolerable levels of the standard, which may be purificated to drinking water quality with standard treatment technology economically Class III Water of quality exceeding the tolerable levels of the standard, which cannot be purificated to drinking water quality with standard economical treatment technology economically

The Decree contains also the rules of proce- and Water Management on the calculation dure on the documentation of safeguarding a of water resources charge particular drinking water resource, on the designation of protection zones and on keep- The Decree, referring to the Water Act, oblig- ing drinking water resources safe. es also the users of groundwater to pay the water resources charge. The basic charge, Joint Instruction No. 8001/2000 defined by the Act on the State Budget year- (Kö. Vi. Ért. 5) KöViM-KöM of the Minis- ly, is multiplied by factors depending on the ter of Transport, Communication and particular water use, the character of the Water Management, and of the Minister of water resource and on the water management Environmental Protection on the perspec- situation of the appropriate region. The multi- tive sources of drinking water supply plier factors concerning groundwater-uses can be found in Table 1. Authorized by the Water Act and with respect to the Government Decree No. 123/1997. Government Decree No. 201/2001. (X. 25.) (VII. 18.) Korm. the ministers declared the Korm. on drinking water quality require- potential abstraction areas listed in the Annex ments and control applies to waters originat- of the Instruction as perspective sources of ing form public water supplies providing drinking water supply. more than 10 m3 a day or serving more than 50 persons and the water is utilised in a pub- Decree No. 43/1999. (XII. 26) KHVM of the lic establishment or for the production of food Minister of Transport, Communication for commercial purposes. The limit values of

52 the most important components for drinking ical formations and caves the Act serves also water are listed in Annex 3. the protection of groundwater indirectly.

Ministerial Decree No. 21/2002. (IV. 25.) Instruction of KvVM No. 8002/2005 (MK KöViM on the operation of public water 138.) on the list of open karstic areas in supplies regulates among others the tasks of peripheries contains the lot numbers of the the operators of public water supplies in con- grounds being in connection with open karsts. nection with the use of drinking water The list is an informative one and does not resources. The Decree specifies the compo- influence the protection and restrictions com- nents to be measured in normal state, in the ing from other pieces of legislation. It aims at course of the regular routine investigations publishing those areas where, upon the Art. and the control investigations, the frequency 19. (3) of the Act on nature conservation, the of measurements and the terms of data report- pollution or any change of the state of the ing. The Decree states the terms of extraordi- karstic water on the surface of the open karst. nary investigations to ensure the safety of drinking water quality if contamination is or Decree No. 74/1999. (XII. 25.) EüM of the is likely to be in the recharge area. Minister of Public Health on the natural curative factors Government Decree No. 132/1997. (VII. 24.) Korm. on the tasks in connection The scope of the Decree extends to the cura- with the elimination of accidental water tive activities utilising natural medicinal fac- pollution tors, to medicinal baths, climatic health insti- tutions, and to those producing and trading The Decree regulating the activity serving the natural mineral water, medicinal water and prevention, averting or moderating the dam- curative mud. ages resulting from the excessive contamina- tion of water due to unforeseeable events or From the point of view of groundwater the unknown reasons relates also to groundwater process of qualification of mineral waters and (especially the accidental pollutions of shal- medicinal waters is important. low groundwater are belonging to this item). For the purpose of the Decree medicinal Act LIII of 1996 on nature conservation water is natural mineral water of proved curative effect. The curative effect should The Act relates also to groundwater: among be proved by medical tests. The medicinal others each spring and sinkhole is under pro- water should comply with the requirements tection. of mineral water in each case.

For the purposes of the Act spring means The Decree differentiates between external any natural outflow of water from earth (as bathwater) and internal use (for the pur- provided that its discharge exceeds 5 l/min, pose of drinking, bottling, inhalation). The even if it gets temporarily dry. Sinkhole Decree regulates also the process and require- means any cleft in karsts which conducts a ments of the registration of health resorts, permanent or temporary watercourse medicinal baths or curative mud. underground. Joint Decree No. 65/2004. (IV. 27.) FVM – In the framework of the general protection of EszCsM – GKM relating to the bottling natural geological values the Act prohibits the and marketing of natural mineral water, pollution or unlawful modification of the sta- spring water, drinking water, drinking tus of karstic rocks or the karstic water below waters with enriched mineral content and the uncovered karstic surfaces. Through this flavoured water in harmony with the EU and with the protection of habitats, land- Directive 80/777/EEC and the amending scapes, lakes, watercourses, swamps, geolog- EU Directive 96/70/EC

53 According to the Decree natural mineral the bringing the groundwater to the surface, water – as far as closing up of the mines is con- – originates from a protected aquifer, cerned, the Act specifies that the under- – is naturally unpolluted, has favourable ground spaces should be abandoned in a qualities due to its mineral and trace state which is not endangering the environ- element content and other components, ment or the ground surface (this is impor- – its composition and temperature are tant particularly with a view to the protec- almost constant, tion of groundwater ). – when being bottled the quantity of the components listed in the annex of the Government Decree No. 203/1998. Decree does not exceed the permissible (XII. 19.) Korm. on the execution of the limit value, Act XLVIII of 1993 on mining – complies with microbiological require- ments. The Decree specifies that the technical The Decree does neither specify the minimum description of the mining site should define total dissolved matter content, nor the neces- the impacts on groundwater. sary concentration of any of the components. Based on the Decree almost each groundwater In the case of all mining activities the prelim- abstraction in Hungary may be qualified – if inary investigation set out in the Gov. Decree so required – as natural mineral water. No. 314/2005. (XII. 25.) Korm has to be car- ried out to determine if the mining activity Act XLVIII of 1993 on mining concerned requires environmental impact assessment. The activity may be started only Almost all kinds of mining activity may after the environmental permit, or the unified affect groundwater. The Act declares that in environmental use permit has been granted this respect the environmental and water based on the investigations specified in the management regulations are decisive: relevant piece of legislation.

– if the exploitation of geothermal energy The existence of one of the aforementioned requires the abstraction of groundwater, permits is a precondition to the technical plan the Mining Authority takes part in the of mining operations. The technical plan of process of granting the water permit as mining operations has to deal with the expert authority, impacts of mining activity on the environ- – the technical plan of the mining activity ment, with the measures on the prevention should be elaborated so as to assure the and reduction of harmful environmental possible prevention or reduction of envi- impacts, the monitoring of the impacts and ronmental-natural damages (in certain with the way of establishing and operating the cases damages appear in groundwater or monitoring sites. This relates also to the pro- they are transmitted by them), tection of groundwater. – the mining company may use the water exploited in order to ensure the security of Government Decree No. 239/2000. the mining activity for its operational pur- (XII. 23.) Korm. on the rights and obliga- poses. For the utilisation of the exploited tions with reference to the utilisation of water the rules of environmental protection gravel- and sand-pit pools and water management are definitive, The definition of pit-pool in the Decree is – the re-injection of fluids brought to the sur- as follows: stagnant body of water devel- face by the mining company requires envi- oped from groundwater resources as a ronmental impact assessment and should result of surface- or underground mining have the environmental license prior to the by removal of the covering layer, which application for the water permit, remains after stopping the mining activity – the Mining Authority participates in the and the bed of which is a depression exca- water licensing process in connection with vated in the course of mining activities.

54 As provided by the Decree a water permit is of sufficient capacity, periods when land required to the maintenance, use, and utilisa- application of fertilizers are prohibited, limi- tion of the pool as a water resource. The pol- tation of the land application of fertilizers). lution of the water of the pools is prohibited, Those performing agricultural activities especially their use as recipient of waste should keep a record on the amount of water, as well as any use endangering the manure coming into being and stored in the quality of their water because of the close animal farm and on its land application. contact with groundwater resources. Based upon the record the data should be reported to the soil protection authority. Government Decree No. 27/2006. (II. 7.) Korm. on the protection of waters against The nitrate content of waters should be sur- pollution caused by nitrates of agricultural veyed every four years and based upon the sources results a proposal should be submitted to the government on the possibly necessary The Decree replaced the Gov. Decree amendments both of the designation of 49/2001. (IV. 3.) of the same title, so that reg- nitrate-vulnerable areas and of the rules of ulations on data reporting (Article 9 and good agricultural practice. The action pro- Annex 3), as well as the provisions on the gram, the obligatory rules of correct agricul- good agricultural practice (Annex 1) tural practice and the provisions on data remained provisionally in force. The Decree recording and reporting will be published in a designates the areas vulnerable against nitrate ministerial decree in 2006 as expected. pollution in terms of the protection of both surface and groundwater. There has been no Government Decree No. 50/2001. (IV. 3.) change in the designation of vulnerable zones Korm. on the rules of use and handling of in terms of surface waters: the catchment waste waters and sludge in agriculture areas of the big lakes (Lake Fertõ, Lake Bala- ton and Lake Velence), further the catchment The objective of the Decree is to regulate the areas of every drinking water storage reser- transport of treated municipal wastewater and voir and a 300 m wide zone around the shore- sludge to the agricultural areas, the agricultural line of pit pools are considered vulnerable usability of liquid municipal wastes included. against nitrate pollution. The provisions of the Decree are based The aspects of designation in terms of among others – on the presumption that com- groundwater did not change, either. However plying with the pressure limit values specified 10% of the designated areas were modified for soil would not result in the contamination based on new data (67 settlement were of groundwater. The requirements on soils are removed and 320 settlements were added to in compliance with the pollution limit value the list). The Decree includes the list of set- (B) set for the geological formations in the tlements in nitrate vulnerable areas. Vulnera- Joint Decree No. 10/2000. (VI. 2.) KöM- ble areas, as well as the settlements located in EüM-FVM-KHVM. such areas are also available on the home page of the Ministry of Environment. In addi- The Decree defines, according to the Act LV tion to the above areas all residential areas of of 1994 on the protection of arable land, the settlements, where agricultural activity (e. g. performance of the activity subject to a per- animal breeding) is permitted and the nitrate mit. It prescribes among others those soil and content of groundwater exceeds 50 mg/l shallow groundwater investigations, which should be considered vulnerable. are necessary for the preparation of pedolog- ical expert statements and for the preparation In the nitrate-vulnerable areas the require- of the documentations to be handed in to ments of good agricultural practice should be expert authorities. The Decree complies with fulfilled as regulated in the Annex of the the Gov. Decree No. 27/2006. (II. 7.) Korm. Decree (e. g. insulated manure storage vessels too.

55 The total annual amount of nitrogen trans- tion, in which a solution less favourable for ported with the wastewater and sludge to the the environment, i.e. not making use of the farmland may not exceed the 170 kg/ha available sewage system, should not be more value, organic manure included. profitable for people.

If for any reason the level of hazardous sub- Local governments may spend revenues from stances in the soil or groundwater exceeds the TTD only on soil protection, and the quanti- tolerable level (the pollution limit value (B)) tative and qualitative protection of groundwa- then the situation should be investigated ter, in particular on the construction of according to the Government Decree No. sewage systems, on waste water treatment, 219/2004. (VII. 21.) Korm., and remediation the protection of groundwater resources, the should be commenced. remediation of permanent environmental damages, the prevention of pollution by The Act LXXXIX of 2003 on the fee on (potential) pollution sources, the subsequent environmental pressure applies to air, water establishment of technical protection, and the and soil pressure fees. The aim of the intro- development and operation of the settlement duction of the soil pressure fee (TTD) is to monitoring. reduce the discharge of pollutants into groundwater in settlements by using econom- Exemption from the TTD is given to those, ic regulation tools. One characteristic of TTD who apply an own waste water disposal or is that it only affects a small number of peo- waste water treatment small facility in a way ple putting pressure on soil, as it only applies so as the chemical analyses of shallow to those who have the possibility to be con- groundwater taken from the monitoring well nected to the public sewage system, but do constructed by the user of environment and not make use of it. The experience that a part appropriate for the monitoring of shallow of the population does not want to use public groundwater show no deterioration in quality. utilities (sewage systems, waste water treat- ment plants) built with significant subsidies The amount of TTD depends among others from the state budget, because they don’t on the sensitivity factor of areas listed in the want to pay canal tolls was one of the moti- Annex of the Ministerial Decree No. vations of the legislators. 27/2004. (XII. 25.) KvVM on the classifica- tion of settlements located in sensitive areas Therefore the aim of TTD is to create a situa- in terms of groundwater status.

56 REVIEW OF INFORMATION, GROUNDWATER DATABASES AND THEIR ACCESSIBILITY

The major part of information on groundwa- – attachments (general 1:25 000 and ter is the result of the hydrometric activity. detailed map of the site, flow-curve, flow- Decree No. 22/1998. (XI. 16) KHVM of the test, recovery test, gas/water proportion, Minister of Transport, Communication water chemistry, geological and technical and Water on the hydrographical activities log of the well, diagrams of geophysical of the water organisation regulates the cen- tests). tral and regional tasks relating to the explo- ration, assessment, evaluation and forecast of The published cadastre prepared yearly quantity- and quality characteristics of sur- from the data of the hydrogeological reports face- and groundwater. Among others it deals contains the following: with the operation of the hydrographical – locality, no. in the Cadastre, name of the observation network, with the data reporting well, the year of completion, registration of water users and other organisations, the number, periodic state-assessments, further with the – altitude of the site above sea level, nation- transfer, storage and communication of data. al coordinates (EOV), – depth, casing (diameter, depth), screen Most of the information on groundwater is (depth, type), contained by the hydrogeological reports – age and type of the aquifer, compiled on each well and by the National – depth to static level and to drawdown, Cadastre of Wells, where data extracted from yield, specific yield, these reports are recorded. – temperature of water at the head and at the bottom, depth of measuring, One can find the following data in the hydro- – methane content, geological reports: – water chemistry (Na+K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, – serial number in the Cadastre (numbered As, NH4, NO2, NO3, Cl, SO4, total salt con- continuously within each settlement, mak- tent, pH, total hardness, alkalinity, specific ing difference between the inner and outer conductivity, O2 consumption. areas), – locality, county, the exact address, The digital data volume of the Groundwater – purpose of water abstraction, no. of con- Resources Atlas linked to GIS is refreshed struction permit, registration number, yearly. It contains the data of the withdrawals name of the competent District Water of the operating, monitoring and reserve Authority, wells as they follow: – no. of the relevant cartographic sheet, – data of production facilities at the date of national cartographic coordinates (EOV), completion and the volume produced in the – depth of the cased section of the well, max- particular year, imum depth of the borehole, – important basic data of the above facilities – drilling technology, type and no. of drilling as grouped in the water licenses and the rig, exploitable volume stated in the license. – detailed description of the penetrated lay- ers (from m to m) on the basis of sampling Data of operation (static and operational and geophysical log, levels of wells and springs, yield, data of pro- – casing and screening of the completed well duction, results of water abstraction and qual- (from m to m, diameter, the material of cas- ity analyses) are forwarded by the operators ing and screens), of public water facilities and other operators – temperature of abstracted water, bottom- designated by the competent environmental hole temperature, and water directorates to the regional and – data of other operations, central data archives.

57 The following basic networks are operated One objective of the PHARE project being for the countrywide monitoring of the quanti- finished by March 2006 was to further devel- ty and quality changes of groundwater: op the monitoring networks by including new sites in agricultural areas, settlements and The basic network for shallow and deep springs so as to meet the requirements of the groundwater level monitoring is operated by Ministerial Decree 30/2004. (XII. 30.) the state water- and geological organizations KvVM. since a long time. The network for shallow groundwater level observation has been The information listed above are available in developed since the 30s and extends to the the Central Hydrographical Archives plain areas and comprises 1596 observation (Budapest, IX. Kvassay Jenõ út 1. Building K wells. The basic network for the monitoring of 2nd floor) operated by VITUKI Kht. Water karstic water levels comprises 245 stations at Management Directorate, (open: 09 h –14 h on the time being, and it has been developed workdays; free access to the data allowed, copy since the 50s mainly in the Transdanubian of paper sheets may be claimed on cost price). Range mostly linked to the mining activities. The basic network for deep groundwater level The 1:25 000 scale maps of the National monitoring has been developed since the mid- Cadastre of Wells displaying the well sites dle of the 70s utilising abandoned production can be found also here. The Hydrographical wells for the most part; 378 such wells are Yearbook published by VITUKI Kht. every being observed at present. Also the springs year contains the data of the basic hydro- that are not connected to water supply systems graphical network. Data of groundwater uses are observed by the state water organization. of the year and groundwater levels measured The basic monitoring network of springs is in a network operated by the Geological Insti- recording the yield of 51 springs at the time tute of Hungary can be found in a CD being. The proportion of automatic recorders attached to the Yearbook. is continuously increasing in the networks. In the Central Hydrographical Archives the The Basic Groundwater Quality Network data of the Basic Hydrographical Network are has been developed since the mid-80s. Due to available in digital form as well. The digital the lack of financial resources it includes data volume of the Well Cadastre should yet mainly water supply well in operation and be put into the proper order. The GIS materi- some springs. 1 to 12 samples are taken per als of the Groundwater Resources Atlas year, and the results are transmitted to the readable in ArcView format, usable for those central archives. This network is based pri- possessing the proper hardware, software and marily on a part of water quality data origi- entitlement to use the OTAB master-map, and nating from the collection of operational data the data-volume of the year relating to the (see above), therefore it does not comply yet objects or groups of objects may be claimed with the requirements of a national basic as well. water quality monitoring network. To these are connected the sensitivity maps of Recognizing this the establishment of envi- the relevant areas and settlements elaborated ronmental monitoring networks aiming at the according to Annex 2/1 of the Government development of a monitoring system has Decree No. 219/2004. (VII. 21.). The set of started in 1996 definitely for the purpose of sensitivity maps and the list of settlements the observation of the most sensitive shallow can be observed on the homepage of the Min- and confined groundwater resources. (Da- istry of Environment (www.kvvm.hu). The nube-Tisza Interfluvial, national network in maps of scale 1:100 000 in Arc-View format agricultural areas, especially in the vicinity of displaying the sensitivity of the areas and set- TIM (Soil Information Monitoring) points, tlements can be found on CD at the environ- settlement monitoring, accidental monitoring mental inspectorates or may be claimed at along rivers, springs). VITUKI Kht.

58 The development of the Environmental Chemistry of the Hungarian Academy of Registration System for Groundwater and Sciences (MTA TAKI) and at the Plant Pro- the Geological Medium (FAVI) specified by tection and Soil Conservation Services are Gov. Decree No. 219/2004. (VII. 21.) Korm. covering not only the composition of soils but is in progress. FAVI contains among others also the pressure of diffuse pollution from information on the status of groundwater, agricultural sources, and land use. From this data on their state-requirements, on the haz- point of view the TIM (Soil Information ardous or polluting activities and on the con- Monitoring) is very important. MTA TAKI nected environmental measures as well. was who developed the Agro-topographic Database (AGROTOPO) containing homo- To enable the proper operation of FAVI infor- geneous agro-ecological units, covering the mation on activities posing a risk or pressure whole area of the country at a scale on groundwater should be submitted to the 1:100 000, further the Hungarian Digital competent environmental inspectorate using Database on Soil Sciences and Ground- various data-sheets. relief (HunSOTER), the latter as part of a global database supervised by UNEP. Beyond As far as groundwaters are concerned, the these the Institute possesses further extended information on the geological formations databases containing map-series and GIS- available at the Hungarian Geological Sur- based sets of information. vey (Magyar Geológiai Szolgálat), the Geo- logical Institute of Hungary (Magyar Állami The Johann Bela National Centre of Epi- Földtani Intézet – MÁFI) and at the Eötvös demiology (Johann Bela Országos Epidemi- Lórand Geophysical Institute of Hungary ológiai Központ) is dealing with the investi- (Eötvös Lorand Geofizikai Intezet) are of gation of waters from the aspect of public definitive importance. Especially the surface health. A number of quality and bacteriologi- geological maps, the map-series showing the cal data originating from the National Public geological formations of the upper 10 m, those Health and Medical Officer Service (Álla- dealing with the plain and hilly regions, the mi Népegészségügyi és Tisztiorvosi Szol- various thematic series (regional sensitivity, gálat – ÁNTSZ) are stored here. agrogeological, hydrogeological ones, etc.) and the data of the observation network men- Local information on groundwater are avail- tioned earlier should be stressed. able also at the water supply companies, at public baths and at mining companies (to a Information on groundwater are simultane- decreasing extent). ously geological data as well. The Joint Decree No. 4/1997. (III. 17.) IKIM-KTM- The processing of archive groundwater-infor- KHVM of the Ministers of Commerce and mation and its supplementation through expe- Industry, Environmental Protection and dition-like surveys have become a large-scale Regional Development, and the Transport, task of the state to be implemented in the Communication and Water Management frame of the monitoring objectives in the sur- on the groups and communication of geo- veillance phase of the EU Water Framework logical data to be submitted to the Hungar- Directive. Supplementary exploration with ian Geological Survey applies to organisa- boreholes is required to obtain data on the tions and mining companies carrying out geo- quality of the near-surface water resources, in logical explorations and to the geological data other cases the numerous observation- and obtained in the course of their activities, production wells give the possibility of state hydrogeological explorations included. assessment of the various water bodies.

The topsoil influences the recharge and infil- The Ministry for Environment and Water tration as well. Data stored at the Research issued several publications on groundwater in Institute for Soil Sciences and Agricultural the recent years (Annex 4).

59 60 ANNEXES

1. Major Hungarian legislation concerning groundwater protection 1/a Definitions of limit values in the Gov. Decree No. 219/2004. (VII. 21.) Korm. 1/b List of pollutants (Annex 1 to the Gov. Decree No. 219/2004. (VII. 21.) Korm.) 1/c Classification of areas sensitive in terms of groundwater status (Annex 2 to the Gov. Decree No. 219/2004. (VII. 21.) Korm.) 1/d Paragraph (1) of Article 5 of Gov. Decree 27/2006. (II.7.) Korm. on the protection of waters again pollution caused by nitrates form agricultural sources

2. Activities having significant effect on groundwaters or on the protection zones of water resources listed in the Annexes of the Government Decree No. 314/2005. (XII. 25.) Korm. on environmental impact assessment and the unified environmental use permits

3. The comparison of limit values in the various regulations

4. KvVM Publications in connection with groundwater

61 Annex 1 Major Hungarian legislation concerning groundwater

Acts • Act XLVIII of 1993 on Mining Activities • Act I of 1994 on the publication of the Treaty between the Member States of the European Union and the Republic of Hungary, concerning the accession of the Republic of Hungary to the European Union signed on December 16, 1991 in Brussels • Act LV of 1994 on Arable Land • Act LIII of 1995 on the General Rules of Environmental Protection • Act LVII of 1995 on Water Management • Act LIII of 1996 on Nature Conservation in Hungary • Act LIV of 1996 on the Forests and the Protection thereof • Act XLIII of 2000 on Waste Management • Act LXXXIX of 2003 on the Environmental Pressure Charge

Government Decrees • Government Decree No. 38/1995 (IV. 5.) Korm. on the Public Drinking Water Supply and Public Sewerage • Government Decree No. 72/1996 (V. 22.) Korm. on implementation of authority powers in water management • Government Decree No. 123/1997 (VII. 18.) Korm. on the protection of the actual and per- spective sources and the engineering facilities of drinking water supply • Government Decree No. 132/1997. (VII. 24.) Korm. on the tasks in connection with the elimination of accidental water pollution • Government Decree No.203/1998. (XII. 19.) Korm. on the execution of the Act XLVIII of 1993 on mining activities • Government Decree No. 74/2000. (V. 31.) Korm. on the announcement of the Convention on the Protection and Sustainable Use of the Danube River done in Sofia on the 29th June 1994 • Government Decree No. 239/2000 (XII. 23.) Korm. on the rights and obligations linked to the utilisation of pit pools. • Government Decree No. 50/2001 (IV. 3.) Korm. on the rules of use and handling of waste waters and sludge in agriculture • Government Decree No. 201/2001 (X. 25.) Korm. on the quality requirements of drinking water and the order of supervision thereof • Government Decree No. 219/2004. (VII. 21.) Korm. on the protection of groundwater • Government Decree No. 220/2004. (VII. 21.) Korm. on the protection of surface water quality • Government Decree No. 221/2004. (VII. 21.) Korm. on certain rules of river basin man- agement • The Government Decree No. 314/2005. (XII. 25.) Korm. on environmental impact assess- ment and the unified environmental use permits • Government Decree No. 27/2006. (II. 7.) Korm. on the protection of waters against pollu- tion caused by nitrates of agricultural sources

62 Decrees of ministers • Decree No. 18/1992 (VII. 4.) KHVM of the Minister of Transport, Communication and Water Management on the requirements of the operation of public water facilities • Decree No. 18/1996 (VI. 13.) KHVM of the Minister of Transport, Communication and Water Management on the application for a water permit and the annexes thereof • Joint Decree No. 4/1997. (III. 5) IKIM-KTM-KHVM of the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Minister of Environmental Protection and Regional Development and the Minister of Transport, Communication and Water Management on the set of data origi- nating from geological explorations to be transmitted to the Hungarian Geological Service, and on the order of communication thereof • Decree No. 29/1997 /IV. 30) FM of the Minister of Agriculture on the execution of the Act on the Protection of Forests • Decree No. 22/1998. (XI. 6.) KHVM of the Minister of Transport, Communication and Water Management on the hydrographical activities of the water organisation • Decree No. 11/1999 (III. 11.) KHVM of the Minister of Transport, Communication and Water Management on the appropriation of the Water Earmarked Financial Facility • Decree No. 43/1999 (XII. 26.) KHVM of the Minister of Transport, Communication and Water Management on the calculation of water resources charge • Decree No. 74/1999 (XII. 25.) EüM of the Minister of Public Health on the natural cura- tive factors • Joint Decree No. 10/2000 (VI. 2.) KöM-EüM-FVM-KHVM of the Minister of Environ- ment, Minister of Public Health, Minister of Agriculture and Regional Development and the Minister of Transport, Communication and Water Management on the limit values required to the quality protection of groundwater and the geological media • Decree 21/2002. (IV. 25.) KöViM of the Minister of Transport and Water Management on the operation of public water supplies • Decree 27/2004. (XII. 25.) KvVM of the Minister of Environment and Water on classifi- cation of settlements located in sensitive areas in terms of groundwater status • Decree 28/2004. (XII. 25.) KvVM of the Minister of Environment and Water on the limit values of water pollutants and certain rules of the application thereof • Decree 30/2004. (XII. 30.) KvVM of the Minister of Environment and Water on rules for the investigation of groundwaters • Joint Decree 65/2004. (IV. 24.) FVM-EszCsM-GKM on the rules of bottling and market- ing of natural mineral water, spring water, drinking water, drinking waters with enriched mineral content and flavoured water • Decree 14/2005. (III. 28.) KvVM of the Minister of Environment and Water on the rules of screening investigations to be carried out in the course of remedial site investigation • Decree 27/2005. (XII. 6.) KvVM of the Minister of Environment and Water on the detailed rules of the control of used and waste water emissions

Instructions, Directives • Joint Instruction No. 8001/2000 (Kö. Vi. Ért. 5.) KöViM-KöM of the Minister of Trans- port and Water Management and the Minister of Environment on the perspective sources of drinking water supply • Instruction No. 8001/2002 (K. Ért. 2.) KöM of the Minister of Environment on the modi- fication of the Instruction No. 8001/2002 (K. Ért. 6.) publishing the data-sheet specified by the Government Decree No. 33/2000 (III. 17.) Korm. • Instruction No. 8002/2005 (MK 138.) KvVM of the Minister of Environment and Water on the register of open karsts in external areas • Instruction No. 8/1970 (V. É. 6.) OVH of the National Water Authority on the publication of the operational regulations of geothermal wells (geothermal installations) • Directive No. 2/1971 (V. 18.) OVH of the National Water Authority on the obligatory peri- odical instrument testing and maintenance of geothermal wells

63 Annex 1/a

Definitions of limit values in the Gov. Decree No. 219/2004. (VII. 21.) Korm

Background concentration (A) is a representative value which expresses the general concentra- tion of particular substances in groundwater or soil under natural or close to natural conditions;

Verified background concentration (Ab) means an actual concentration of a given substance indicated in groundwater or geological medium determined by measurements and to be applied instead of background concentration (A), that is specific for the given area and resulted from nat- ural conditions or as a consequence of diffuse pressure, pollution or pressure affecting ground- water or geological medium throughout surface water, not associated with the pressure under examination.

Pollution limit value (B) means the concentration of pollutants or such a level of other indica- tive parameters of qualitative status established in legislation, or in the absence thereof, in an official ruling, due to which the groundwater and the geological medium is to be qualified as polluted, considering drinking water quality standards and the needs of aquatic ecosystems in the case of groundwater, and the multifunctionality of soils and the sensitivity of groundwater to pollution in the case of geological medium;

Remediation target limit value (D) means concentration prescribed in an official ruling to be achieved by remedial actions with the aim of preventing any damage to human health, ecosys- tems and environmental elements. This value is to be determined on the basis of a complex assessment carried out as part of the remediation procedure, including measurements of pollu- tant distribution in environmental elements, its behaviour, transport and extent as a well as mod- elling and site specific quantitative risk assessment carried out with regard to the land uses;

Site specific pollution limit value (E) means pollution limit value defined in an official ruling, to be implemented instead of the pollution limit value (B) in such a specific scenario when the activity had been going on just before Kvt. entered into force, or on any sites, where the verified background concentration (Ab) exceeds the pollution limit value (B). Value “E” – when select- ing – should be underpinned by a realistic knowledge of the situation gained by means of quan- titative (site specific) risk assessment with regard to the land use and should be neither more stringent than the pollution limit value (B) nor more lenient than the measured actual pollutant concentration value, or the remediation target limit value (D);

3 Abstraction limit value (Mi) means the total annual volume of water (in m /year) that may be withdrawn from a distinct part of body of groundwater with the highest permitted range of dec- lination (by water level draw-down or decreasing of the water pressure level);

64 Annex 1/b

Annex 1 to the Governmental Decree 219/2004. (VII. 21.)Korm. LISTS OF POLLUTANTS according to the Annex to the Council Directive 80/68/EEC and Annex VIII of the Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and the Council

List I contains the individual substances belonging to the families and groups of substances listed below, with the exception of those which are representing low risk with regard to their toxicity, decay and their ability for accumulation in human organism and are not needed to be listed in List I.

Substances which are appropriate to be included in List II with regard to their toxicity, persist- ence and bio-accumulation characteristics are to be classed in List II.

List I of substances ranked in class K1 with regard to their hazard

1. Organohalogenic compounds and substances which may form such compounds in the aquatic environment 2. Organophosphorus compounds 3. Organotin compounds 4. Substances and preparations, or the breakdown products of such, which have been proved to possess carcinogenic or mutagenic properties or properties which may affect steroidogenic, thyroid, reproduction or other endocrine-related func- tions in or via the aquatic environment. 5. Mercury and its compounds 6. Cadmium and its compounds 7. Mineral oils and other hydrocarbons, especially persistent hydrocarbons 8. Cyanides.

List II of substances ranked in class K2 with regard to their hazard

List II contains the individual substances and categories of substances belonging to the families and groups of substances listed below which could have a harmful effect on groundwater.

1. Metalloids and metals and their compounds not listed in List I, especially the following metalloids and metals: 1. Zinc 11. Tin 2. Copper 12. Barium 3. Nickel 13. Beryllium 4. Chrome 14. Boron 5. Lead 15. Uranium 6. Selenium 16. Vanadium 7. Arsenic 17. Cobalt 8. Antimony 18. Thallium 9. Molybdenum 19. Tellurium 10. Titanium 20. Silver.

65 Annex 1/b

2. Biocides and their derivatives not appearing in List I.

3. Substances which have a deleterious effect on the taste and/or odour of groundwater, and compounds liable to cause the formation of such substances in such water and to render it unfit for human consumption. 4. Toxic or persistent organic compounds of silicon, and substances which may cause the for- mation of such compounds in water, excluding those which are biologically harmless or are rapidly converted in water into harmless substances 5. Inorganic compounds of phosphorus and elemental phosphorus. 6. Fluorides. 7. Ammonia and nitrites. 8. Substances which contribute to eutrophication (in particular, nitrates and phosphates) 9. Materials in suspension. 10. Substances which have an unfavourable influence on the oxygen balance (and can be meas- ured using parameters such as BOD, COD, etc.).

66 Annex 1/c

Annex 2 to the Governmental Decree 219/2004. (VII. 21.) Korm. Classification of areas sensitive in terms of groundwater status

Aspects of sensitivity classification in the course of investigations: 1. Areas of high sensitivity in terms of groundwater status a) internal and external protective zones designated, or previously delineated under a sepa- rate piece of legislation, and hydrogeological protective zones designated in a valid water permit decision, for the protection of operating abstractions for the needs of drinking water supply, mineral- and medicinal water uses , as well as for protection of perspective drinking water supply sites, where water resources are maintained for future needs (here- inafter perspective water supply site); b) karstic areas where limestone, dolomite, lime- and dolomite marl formations can be found on the land surface or within 10 m below land surface; c) the 0.25 km wide zone – from edge of the lake basin – along its shoreline being in pos- session of the state under the Act LVII of 1995 on water management, and 0.25 -1.00 km wide zone – from edge of the lake basin – along its shoreline for natural beaches regis- tered acc. to a separate piece of legislation ; d) areas included in the list of Natural Wild Waters of International Significance, further aquatic habitats under NATURA 2000 as referred to in a separate piece of legislation.

2. Sensitive areas in terms of groundwater status a) areas, where the value of long-term average recharge from precipitation exceeds 20 mm/year; b) areas not belonging to the class of areas of extremely high sensitivity in terms of ground- water status, where limestone, dolomite, lime- and dolomite marl formations are deposit- ed within 100 m below land surface; areas, where the top of the porous main aquifer can be found in the depth of not more than 100 m ; c) the 0.25-1.00 km wide zone – from the edge of lake basin – along its shoreline owned by the state under Act LVII of 1995 on water management; d) nature conservation areas not mentioned in sub-category 1.d), designated by a separate piece of legislation.

3. Less sensitive areas in terms of groundwater status Other areas not included in categories 1 and 2.

67 Annex 1/d

Paragraph (1) of Section 5 of Gov. Decree 27/2006. (II. 7.) Korm. on the protection of waters again pollution caused by nitrates form agricultural sources

(1) Nitrate vulnerable area should be: a) with regard to surface waters, the catchment areas of aa) Lakes Balaton, Velencei and Fertõ, ab) the catchment areas of all the reservoirs serving for drinking water supply ;

b) with regard to groundwater, all ba) karstic areas where limestone, dolomite, limestone and dolomite marl formations are located on the surface or within 10 m below the surface, bb) protection zones designated or delimited by specific other legislation for operating and long-term drinking water bases or water extractions for the purpose of mineral and medicinal water use, bc) karstic areas not included in Items ba) and bb) where limestone, dolomite, lime and dolomite marl formations are located within 100 m below the surface, except if it is proven by a local test that no nitrogen-containing compound can reach the said for- mations from the surface within a period of 100 years, bd) areas where the top of the main porous-aquifer complex is at a depth less than 50 m from the surface; be) residential areas, except if it is proven that the nitrate content of the groundwater does not exceed the value of 50 mg/l and where animal husbandry activities can be performed accord- ing to the community development plan.

c) 300 meter shore zone around pit pools

68 Annex 2

ACTIVITIES HAVING SIGNIFICANT EFFECT ON GROUNDWATERS OR ON THE PROTECTION ZONES OF WATER RESOURCES

LISTED IN ANNEXES 1 AND 3 OF THE GOVERNMENT DECREE NO. 314/2005. (XII. 25.) KORM. ON ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND THE UNIFIED ENVIRONMENTAL USE PERMITS

Annex 1 of the Gov. Decree 314/2005. (XII. 25.) Korm.

ACTIVITIES SUBJECT TO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

34. Groundwater use from one abstraction object or object group from 5 million m3/year (13.7 thousand m3 /d) 56. Injection into groundwater where the annual volume of water injected is equiva- lent to or exceeds 3 million m3/year (10.0 thousand m3/d)

Annex 3 of the Gov. Decree 314/2005. (XII. 25.) Korm.

ACTIVITIES IN THE CASE OF WHICH THE NECESSITY OF PERFORMING AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT DEPENDS ON THE DECISION OF THE INSPECTORATE

2. Shift to intensive agricultural land use/farming on areas classified as “cultivation ceased” from 50 ha, or in the protective zone of a groundwater abstraction site, in a pro- tected naturereserve or in its protective zone from 1 ha 3. Agricultural melioration – on flat land from 500 ha or – on hilly land from 300 ha, or – in the case when the area to be improved covers a protected nature reserve or its protective zone, or the protective zone of a groundwater abstraction site on at least 5 ha without area limitation

6. Livestock installations (projects not included in Annex 1) – from 100 standard animals for broilers, – from 200 standard animals for layers, – from 500 standard animals for porkers, – from 150 standard animals for 150 sows, – from 200 standard animals for any other species with liquid manure technology; – in the protective zone of a groundwater abstraction site, in a protected nature reserve or in its protective zone, on a nature preservation area, the case of poul- try from 10 standard animals other species from 50 standard animals 13. Petroleum and natural gas extraction (projects not included in Annex 1); test drillings only in a protected nature reserve or in the hydrogeological protective zone of a groundwater abstraction sites

69 72. Hydroelectric power stations with an output of 5 MW or more; in the protective zone of a groundwater abstraction site and in a protected nature reserve with no size limitation (if not included in Annex 1) 73. Geothermal power stations with an output of 20 MW or more; in the protective zone of a mineral water, medicinal water and drinking water abstraction site and in a protected nature reserve with no size limitation 80. Groundwater use (if not included in Annex 1) if the daily abstraction from one object or object group exceeds 1 000 m3 from shallow groundwater 500 m3 from karstic thermal water 5 000 m3 from deep groundwater 2 500 m3 from cold karstic water 5 000 m3 from bank-filtered water 2 000 m3 from confined thermal water 50 m3 and 33% of the current yield of the spring 108. Establishing of a new permanent flood-control work in the protective zone of a groundwater abstraction site or in a protected nature reserve (if not included in Annex 1) 109. Waste water treatment plants with a capacity from 10 000 population equivalent (if not included in Annex 1); in the protective zone of a groundwater abstraction site, in a protected nature reserve or in its protective zone with no size limitation 111. Independent sewage sludge disposal sites from 100 t/year dry matter; in a pro- tected nature reserve or in its protective zone, or in the hydrogeological protec- tive zone of a groundwater abstraction site with no size limitation 112. Sites depositing sewage by irrigation from 50 ha; in a protected nature reserve or in its protective zone, on a nature area, or in the “B” hydrogeological protec- tive zone of a groundwater abstraction site with no size limitation 113. Filtration-field drying systems from 15 ha; in a protected nature reserve or in its protective zone, on a nature area, or in the hydrogeological protective zone of a groundwater abstraction site with no size limitation 114. Waste water injection by underground pipes in a protected nature reserve or in its protective zone, on a nature area, or in the protective zone of a groundwater abstraction site 115. Waste water disposal and treatment sites with a capacity of 100 m3/day or more; in a protected nature reserve or in its protective zone, on a nature area, or in the hydrogeological protective zone of a groundwater abstraction site with no size limitation 125. Golf-course with 18 holes or more (facilities included) in a nature protection area in the external zone of settlements, or in the protective zone of a groundwa- ter abstraction site (minigolf excluded) (if not included in Annex 1) 128. Deep drillings with an established drilling facility from 650 m drilling depth (unless being part of another activity listed in Annex 1 or 3) in the protective zone of a groundwater abstraction site or in a protected nature reserve 133. Dams and other installations designed for the holding back or permanent stor- age of water, where the amount of water held back or stored is at least 1 million m3 (if not included in Annex 1); in the protective zone of a groundwater abstraction, in a protected nature reserve or on a nature area with no size limitation

70 134. Artificial groundwater recharge/injection schemes (if not included in Annex 1) 135. Local melioraton on a land not planned to be developed, – from 500 ha plain land, – from 300 ha hilly land, – in the protective zone of a groundwater abstraction, in a nature protection area in the external zone of settlements, with no size limitation 136. Fish pond or a system of fish ponds from 30 ha; in the protective zone of a groundwa- ter abstraction, in a protected nature reserve or in its protective zone, with no size lim- itation 137. Standing water and backwater (oxbow) regulation from 5 ha surface size to be reg- ulated or from 1 km shore length; in the protective zone of a groundwater abstraction, in a protected nature reserve, with no size limitation 138. River regulation or canalisation from3 km river length; in case of curve cutting or in the protective zone of a groundwater abstraction, in a protected nature reserve, with no length limitation 139. Regulation of water courses (except for removal of silt and management of the bank for maintenance and for restoring the original draining capacity) from 1 km current length; in the protective zone of a groundwater abstraction from 50 m current length, in a protected nature reserve with no size limitation

71 Annex 3 Comparison of limit values according to various regulations

Gov. Decree. Registered mineral Groundwater pollution 201/2001. Limit values for natural water acc. to Annex limit value (B) acc. to the (X. 25.) Korm. mineral waters acc. to Annex 1 Component Unit 2 of the Decree Joint Decree 10/2000. on drinking of the Joint Decree 65/2004. 74/1999. (XII. 25.). (VI. 2.) KöM-EüM-FVM- water quality (IV. 27.) FVM-ESzCsM-GKM EüM KHVM requirements Antimony µg/l 5 5 Arsenic µg/l 10 10 10 Barium µg/l 1 000 700 Boron mg/l 1,0 * 500 Bromate* µg/l 10 — Lithium mg/l >5** Bromide mg/l >5** Iodide mg/l >1** S2- mg/l >1** Radon Bq/l >37** Metasilicic mg/l >50** acid Silver µg/l — — 10 Fluoride mg/l 1,5 5,0 0,8-1,2*** 1,5 Cadmium µg/l 5,0 3 5 Chrome µg/l 50 50 50 Lead µg/l 10 10 10 Tin µg/l — — 10 Mercury µg/l 1,0 1 1 Nickel µg/l 20 20 20 Nitrate mg/l 50 50 25 Nitrite mg/l 0,5 0,1 Selenium µg/l 10 10 5 Zinc µg/l — 5000 200 Cyanogen µg/l 70,0 Indicator parameters Aluminium µg/l 200 — Ammonium mg/l 0,50 0,5 Chloride mg/l 250 Conductivity µS/cm 2500 — pH 6,5-9,5 — 6,5-9,0 Iron mg/l 0,2 2,0 Manganese 0,05 0,5 CODps/pl mg/l O2 5 Sulphate mg/l 250 250 Phosphate mg/l — — 0,5 Sodium mg/l 200 <200*** Hardness mg/l CaO 50-350 Minerals mg/l — >1000 Copper µg/l 2000 1000 200 Calcium mg/l >60*** Magnesium mg/l >20*** Free CO2 mg/l >1000***

* in oxidative water treatment only; ** in external use; *** in internal use; *The determination of the limit value for Boron on Community level is in progress

72 Gov. Decree. Groundwater pollution limit . 201/2001. (X. 25.) value (B) acc. to the Korm. on drinking Joint Decree 10/2000. (VI. 2.) Organic component Unit water quality requirements KöM-EüM-FVM-KHVM Benzene µg/l 1,0 1 Benz(a)pyren µg/l 0,01 0,01 K1 µg/l 3,0 Epichlorohydrine µg/l 0,10 Pesticides without the below: µg/l 0,10 aldrin µg/l 0,03 x 0,03 distinguis dieldrin µg/l 0,03 x 0,03 hed: heptachlor µg/l 0,03 heptachlor-epoxide µg/l 0,03 Total pesticides µg/l 0,50 0,5 Polyaromathic hydrocarbons µg/l 0,10 xx 2 benzo(b)fluoroanthen 0,02 benz(k)fluoroanthen 0,02 actually: benz(ghi)perylene 0,01 indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyren 0,01 Tetrachloro-ethylene µg/l 10 10 Trichloro-ethylene Total trichloro-methane: µg/l 50 10 Chloroform 5 Vynil-chloride µg/l 0,50 0,1 Cis-1,2-dichloro-ethylene µg/l 50 10 Phenol index µg/l 20 xxx 20 Oil derivatives µg/l 50 100

(After I. Horváth and V. Horváth) x Limit value of total drill xx Limit value of total PAH without naphthalene xxx Limit value of total TPH

Statements concerning natural mineral waters and related requirements acc. to Annex 5 of the Joint Decree 65/2004. (IV. 27.) FVM–ESzCsM–GKM Low mineral content On the basis of minerals and solid content less than 500 mg/l Statement: Requirement: Very low mineral content On the basis of minerals and solid content less than 50 mg/l Rich mineral content On the basis of minerals and solid content more than 1500 mg/l Contains bicarbonate Hydrogen-carbonate content more than 600 mg/l Contains sulphate Sulphate content more than 200 mg/l Contains chloride Chloride content more tha 200 mg/l Contains calcium Calcium content more than 150 mg/l Contains magnesium Magnesium content more than 50 mg/l Contains fluoride Fluoride content more than 1 mg/l Contains iron Iron content more than 1 mg/l Acidic Free carbon-dioxide content more than 250 mg/l Contains sodium Sodium content more than 200 mg/l Adequate for a sodium-poor diet Sodium content less than 20 mg/l

73 74 Annex 4

KvVM Publications in on groundwater*

• DATA ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL STATUS OF HUNGARY (PUBLISHED EVERY YEAR FROM 1996, LAST PUBLISHED IN 2005) • DATA ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL STATUS OF HUNGARY, MINISTRY FOR ENVIRONMENT (English version) • Thermal Water Resources in hungary, their utilisation and protection, guide (2001) (avail- able in Hungarian and English) • EUROPEAN COLLABORATION FOR THE GOOD STATUS OF WATERS – THE CURRENT STATE OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WATER FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE IN HUNGARY AND THE DANUBE RIVER BASIN, 2005

PUBLICATIONS OF THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION PROGRAM

INFORMATIVE PUBLICATIONS

1. Information on the National Environmental Remediation Programme (1997) (available in Hun- garian, English and German) 2. Hidden value to be guarded. A piece of legislation [Government Decree No. 33/2000 (III. 17.) Korm.] and what is behind) 3. Groundwaters in Hungary (2002) (available in Hungarian and English) 4. Information on the National Environmental Remediation Program (2002) (English version 2003) 5. Soil Protection. Scientific background of the National Soil Protection Strategy (2005) 6. Prohibited, allowed, obligatory “… about the protection of groundwaters” (Gov. Decree No. 219/2004. (VII. 21.) Korm, 2005 ) 7. Groundwaters in Hungary II. (2006) (Hungarian, English)

BOOKLETS

1. Liability for the environment, removal of environmental damages by the state (1997) 2. International experience of the remediation of contaminated sites (1997) 3. Brief account of the projects launched in the short term period (1996–97) of the Remedia- tion Programme (1997) 4. Limit values, the system of limit values in the National Environmental Remediation Pro- gramme (1998) 5. Groundwater an land use (1998) 6. Methodological principles and peculiarities of preliminary risk assessment procedures in the international practice (2001) 7. Commentary to the sensitivity maps (2001); and Sensitivity maps of Hungary acc. to areas and settlements (available in Hungarian and English, 2001) 8. Methodology of procedure on the legal processes, economical conditions and possible solutions of the municipality remediation sub-program (2002) 9. Sub-program of solid mineral mining – Uranium mining (2003) 10. Commentary on the sensitivity maps [acc. to Annex 2 of the Gov. Decree 219/2004. (VII. 21.) Korm] (2005)

75 GUIDES

1. Entry of permanent environmental damages into the property register (1997) 2. Monitoring of groundwaters in permanently damaged areas (1998) 3. Guidance on the assessment of land uses and pollutions sources deteriorating groundwa- ters and the geological medium by remote sensing methods (2001) 4. Application of cost-benefit, cost-effectiveness and value analyses in the course of remedi- ation (2003) 5. Technical inspection of remediation investments (2003) 6. Site inspection and monitoring. Site inspection of contaminated areas and remediation monitoring systems (2003) 7. Methodology of quantitative risk assessment (2004)

HANDBOOKS

1. Use of models on contaminant transport (1998) 2. On the investigation of contaminated soils (1998) 3. Detailed quantitative risk assessment of contaminated areas. Theoretical and practical grounds (2001) 4. Remediation technologies (2001)

* Available at the PR Office of the Ministry of Environment and Water in limited number (1011, Budapest Fõ u. 44-50.)

OKKP publications available to download on the homepage: www.kvvm/szakmai/karmentes

REPORTS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WATER FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE (available on www.euvki.hu)

• REPORT to the European Commission on the implementation of the tasks specified in Art. 3 (8) of the Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and the Council establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy (Water Framework Directive) June 22, 2004

• REPORT on the characterisation of the Hungarian territory in Danube River Basin District, on the environmental impacts of human activity and the economic analysis of water use required by the Directive 2000/60/EC of the European arliament and the Council establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy by the deadline of March 22, 2005

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