Hidrológiai Közlöny, 2016 (96. évfolyam)

2016 / 3. szám - HISTORICAL SNAPSHOT - Kerekes-Steindl Zsuzsanna: Water quality protection in Hungary - policy and status

Zsuzsanna Kerekes-Steindl: Water quality protection in Hungary - policy and status

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changed their hydrological and morphological conditions. Most of the problem are caused by the limitation of migration of aquatic organisms, generally fishes, along longitudinal and cross directions, because of the regulation of rivers and building flood protection facilities. The management of inland waters and the increasing frequency of drought periods can cause significant changes in the water regime of rivers and lakes, and significantly impact the quality status of wetlands and water ecosystems.

The groundwater abstractions represent significant volume in Hungary, and approx. 80% of the abstracted waters serves drinking water purposes (as more than 95% of the drinking water supply is based on groundwater). The excessive water abstraction can cause decreasing groundwater level in some parts of Hungary (mainly on the East part of the country, in the region between the Danube and Tisza Rivers). As a consequence of excessive groundwater abstraction agricultural losses, drying or degradation of wetlands may occur. Additionally, there is high number of illegal ground water wells without any permits, which situation might threat not even the quantity, but also the quality of groundwater resources. The shallow (near-surface) aquifers are mainly exposed to anthropogenic pollution coming from the surface. The natural recovery of contaminated groundwater is very slow. It takes several decades, depending on the substance. As contamination remains often hidden for a long time, it can spread in groundwater unobserved. Remediation of polluted groundwater is very expensive and for some contaminants not effective. The country is rich in thermal waters, but from this point of view it is also true, that overusing or incorrect use of these resources can lead to decreasing pressure and temperature of thermal waters layers.

WATER PROTECTION LEGISLATION IN HUNGARY

In 1952, some years after the World War II, a legislation entered into force containing, the first time, water protection aspects (2/1952 MT decree). It prescript the rule, that wastewaters could be discharged into water recipients only after treatment. Some years later it became a legally binding obligation that installations and plants, discharging wastewaters into surface waters, could be established only with treatment equipment. The existing plants had to be supplied with treatment facilities additionally by 1971. In 1961 the wastewater fine system was introduced into the legislation. The operators of the plants had to pay pollution fines and wastewater discharge fees. The concentration of pollutants discharged into waters was measured by the water authority laboratories. This regulation was modern, at that time, despite the fact that it did not prevent pollution of waters above the limit values.

In 1964 the IV. "Water Act” was adopted, and after it lower level regulations entered into force as well, which reinterpreted and modernized the concept of wastewater fines. More than 30 different pollutants and harmful compounds were put on the fine list, and later the progressive fine system was introduced into the regulation

also. Emission limit values were determined by law, and as a consequence of the new system the possibility of the over pollution of recipient waters decreased. Altogether, as the effect of the measures (including pollution fines) implemented in 1960-70s years the speed of the pollution degradation of surface waters slowed down a bit, but not enough, so introduction of newer rules became necessary for further protection. For this reason, at the end of the 1970s the priority water quality protection areas, which were extremely sensitive for pollution, were designated by law. On these areas stricter emission limit values and higher fine items were determined. The water protection plan system was also introduced as a tool for authorities to encourage operators with lower progressive fines to plan and implement advanced water protection measures and further technological developments.

These regulation principles were further developed when new legislations concerning the wastewater and sewage canal fines were issued in 1984 (3/1984 and 4/1984 OVH Decrees). The list of priority protected areas was extended by new areas, e.g. for the protection of groundwater aquifers; setting of fees became possible in case of accidental pollution of groundwater also; the emission limit values of harmful compounds were restricted. The water authorities got further power to prescribe more stringent, so called individual limit values for operators taking into account the water quality status of the recipients and applying more stringent sanctions against operators causing accidental (havaria) pollution cases.

From groundwater aspects, in the second part of the 19th century the interest of the society for protection against contamination became more intensive from the point of view of water uses. It became important to establish only wells, through which the contamination from the surface could not get down to the aquifers, and ensure that there were no pollution sources and polluting activities in the surroundings of the springs and wells, used for drinking water supply or as mineral and medical waters. In 1952, the general water licensing processes were reregulated. In frame of this legal process the permitting procedure of establishment of public drinking water supply wells and wells for mineral and medicinal water extraction purposes were introduced. Legally binding technical regulations (national standards) were also adopted, containing technical details of wells construction and operation, ensuring additional protection of groundwater quality. In 1960 the obligation of preparation of hydro- geological expert opinion, hydrological log and cadastre of drilled wells became part of the regulation. The other legal tools, serving protection of water resources used for drinking water abstraction, were the designation of protected areas. The different types of land uses were restricted or prohibited on these areas. This regulation was also further developed to ensure higher level protection of groundwater resources beyond public water supply uses. But the legislation contained only a very general prohibition against the harmful pollution of other groundwater, without correct definition of the pollution cases.