WATER OVER GOLD - PROTECTION OF ŽITNÝ OSTROV
Rovinka Municipality
(
Government
)
#SDGAction51300
Description
The main goal of the Water Protection Action Plan in the Protected Water Management Area of Rye Island, approved by the Government of the Slovak Republic on June 6, 2023, is to effectively protect the quality and quantity of groundwater on Rye Island as the most important source of drinking water in Slovakia. "For the effective protection of Rye Island, we need effective legislation, a reliable monitoring system, a built sewage and water supply network, and last but not least, we need to bring all sources of pollution under control and speed up their removal," said Milan Chrenko, Minister of the Environment of the Slovak Republic (from May through September, 2023).
The municipality of Rovinka is one of the first municipalities in the direction of groundwater flow from the capital Bratislava and its numerous registered environmental burdens. This is also the reason why municipality of Rovinka decided to conduct its own environmental screening of groundwater, which can help to detect the pollution of the underground water and to protect public health. The Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic, on demand of Rovinka mayor Mr. Tomáš Káčer, formally recognized Rovinka Municipality project „Environmental Screening of Underground Water in Rovinka“.
https://www.minzp.sk/files/sekcia-vod/akcny-plan-chvo-zo_pre-tlac.pdf
Slovakia has the largest natural groundwater reservoir in Central Europe - Žitný ostrov or 'Rye Island'. Its water originally comes from The Danube river. At current average consumption, it can supply more than 16 million inhabitants, Slovakia itself has 5,4 million. The current hydrological conditions are strongly influenced by the construction of the Gabčíkovo Water Structure (electricity plant). The land use of the area is devoted mainly to agricultural purposes. Podunajska Lowland area is supposed to suffer from droughts according to long-term predictions. During the summer of 2022, parts of Europe experienced drought conditions exacerbated by heat waves. The quality of underground sources of drinking water is insufficiently controlled.
State authorities under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Environment of the Slovak Republic, responsible for monitoring the quality of water resources, do not have sufficient and accurate information. The early warning system does not work, there is no information about possible sources of pollution, or the databases are not linked, so they do not reach those who are supposed to have them in real time. Slovakia lacks a central register of point and surface sources of groundwater pollution (e.g. factories, wastewater treatment plants, agricultural, large residential agglomerations), which is a key tool in an effective water protection system. Sources of drinking water are threatened by increasing pollution by various substances penetrating into underground reservoirs. Therefore, the question of healthy and sustainable development of society is how to protect this precious and irreplaceable wealth, because we can lose it through our own carelessness.
In 2022, it was planned to implement groundwater quality monitoring by the Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic departmental organizations in 164 monitoring sites, from which individual organizations perform monitoring as follows: SHMÚ – 59 monitoring sites, of which 39 are in one-level, 9 in two-level and 11 three-level wells ( a total of 90 sampling points); VÚVH – 38 monitoring sites in single-level wells; and ŠGÚDŠ – 67 monitoring points in single-level wells. However, according to the findings of the control from the Supreme Audit Office of the Slovak Republic the databases of the three organizations have not been linked and the information about detected pollution does not reach the residents of affected area(s). The early warning system does not exist, there is no information about possible sources of pollution, therefore the information about raw water pollution does not reach those who are supposed to have them in real time.
Those are some of the reasons why Rovinka municipality initiated its own local municipality project named „Environmental Screeing of Underground Waters in Rovinka“. The Commission for Environmental Protection (municipality of Rovinka) invited inhabitants and various interlocutors to 2nd public debate dedicated to and named WATER OVER GOLD on May 18, 2023. The partners for co-operation came up from this public event organized on the occasion of World Water Day 2023.
https://obecrovinka.sk/verejna-diskusia-o-vode/
https://www.nku.gov.sk/aktuality/-/asset_publisher/OkVQsC5cs53F/content//nedostatocna-kontrola-kvality-podzemnych-zdrojov-pitnej-vody-ohrozuje-zdravie-obyvatelov
The quality of the water we drink is an existential issue. Up to 80% of the supply of drinking water in the Slovak Republic is provided by underground water sources. Therefore, the protection of groundwater resources should be our primary concern. How is it in reality? The water should be monitored better and more often, the public should have better access to the results of analysis and potential risks. The discussion should be focused on the current state of surface and underground water quality in the Žitný ostrov, the measures that can mitigate the consequences of environmental burdens should be taken as soon as possible. Žitný ostrov is directly and unstoppably endangered by chemical pollution leaking from Vrakuňa landfill with the waste from production of former Chemical Plants of Georgi Dimitrov, but also by other industrial activities in Bratislava. Rovinka is the first village in the direction of groundwater flow from Bratislava to Žitný ostrov. That is why we started to have done our own water analysis since 2019. It should be our priority to clean these land mines affecting the ground water negatively. Also spreading awareness why the clean water matters is task that should not be underestimated.
Environmental Screening of Underground Water in Rovinka, launched in October 2023, is a unique project in the conditions of Slovak municipalities, which was developed for the municipality of Rovinka by a private company and its experts in the field of remediation of environmental burdens that carried out a geological survey of the toxic waste dump of former Chemical Plants of Georgi Dimitrov (CHZJD in Vrakuna) in 2015. Rovinka project responds to the current requirements of the new European and national legislation. Slovak public health authorities register the use of water from individual wells with unverified quality even where the groundwater in the wells may be contaminated due to known environmental burdens.
Regardless of the fact that Rovinka is located in the upper part of the Protected Water Management Area of Žitný ostrov, there are indications that the quality of underground water may be threatened in connection with the toxic landfill of CHZJD in Vrakuna (part of the city of Bratislava) and other potential hidden environmental burdens.
As a network of observation objects were chosen inhabitants´ drilled domestic wells (depth from 8 through 16 meters) within 12 various areas in the cadastre of Rovinka. The blue arrows on the map show the general flow of groundwater from Bratislava towards the Rye Island.
The Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic (ÚVZ SR) welcomed the initiative of the village of Rovinka, which can contribute to increasing the public's awareness of drinking water and the possibilities of drinking underground water from individual wells. Therefore the ÚVZ SR suggested cooperation in the form of consultation or consulting activities and in accordance with the current capacities of its laboratories.
The public health authorities regularly recommend that all residents of selected municipalities on the Rye Island (including Rovinka) use the public water supply as the primary source of drinking water, which quality is regularly checked. However, there is certain number of homes without access to public water supplies.
In October 2023, Rovinka municipality made public the call for domestic well owners from different parts of the village to apply and register themselves for water analysis within the project. Maximum number of well water samples that could be analyzed in the first round of the screening (due to limited financial resources from the municipality budget) was 12. The municipality also opened its bank account for potential donors and fundraising.
First sampling was carried out on November 6, 2023 in cooperation with ALS Slovakia, well-equipped accredited laboratory, and the experts of the ÚVZ SR, with which the municipality of Rovinka cooperates on the project. Second sampling is scheduled for June 3, 2024.
By analyzing water samples from selected wells, it will be possible for public health experts immediately assess possible risks for residents who use well water for consumption, for watering or for swimming pools or personal hygiene, as they do not have a connection to the public water supply (for various reasons).
The costs for the water analysis of the first and second sampling are covered from the municipality budget, and partially by the ÚVZ SR and through contributions from voluntary donors on Rovinka transparent bank account opened for this purpose. The civic association For Our Water (Za našu vodu) contributed to the analysis of water from two domestic wells from the first water sampling.
We plan to continue in water sampling at least for two years to see trends related to potential underground water pollution. This year we plan to organize seminar for neighboring municipalities to share our experience and the list of pollutants for their own underground water screening.
https://www.minzp.sk/files/sekcia-geologie-prirodnych-zdrojov/zs-vrakuna_final_t_2_9_15_final_ff.pdf
Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic (ÚVZ SR)
NGO - The civic association For Our Water (Za našu vodu)
Neighboring municipalities of Žitný ostrov area
https://www.shmu.sk/en/?page=949
https://youtu.be/p5SbbjIAzQ4
https://www.facebook.com/reporteri.rtvs/videos/720055052937958
https://obecrovinka.sk/verejna-diskusia-o-vode/
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=623360053135078&set=pcb.623360113135072
SDGS & Targets
Goal 6
Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
6.1
By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all
6.1.1
Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services
6.2
By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations
6.2.1
Proportion of population using (a) safely managed sanitation services and (b) a hand-washing facility with soap and water
6.3
By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally
6.3.1
Proportion of domestic and industrial wastewater flows safely treated
6.3.2
Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality
6.4
6.4.1
Change in water-use efficiency over time
6.4.2
Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources
6.5
By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate
6.5.1
Degree of integrated water resources management
6.5.2
Proportion of transboundary basin area with an operational arrangement for water cooperation
6.6
6.6.1
Change in the extent of water-related ecosystems over time
6.a
6.a.1
Amount of water- and sanitation-related official development assistance that is part of a government-coordinated spending plan
6.b
Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management
6.b.1
Proportion of local administrative units with established and operational policies and procedures for participation of local communities in water and sanitation management
SDG 14 targets covered
| Name | Description |
|---|
Deliverables & Timeline
Public discussion WATER OVER GOLD. The Commission for Environmental Protection (municipality of Rovinka) invited inhabitants and various interlocutors to the public debate dedicated to and named WATER OVER GOLD in Rovinka. The partners for further co-operation on the environmental screening project came up from this public event organized on the occasion of World Water Day 2023.
Launching of the project Environmental Screening of Underground Water in Rovinka and open public call for domestic well owners from 12 different parts of the village to apply and register themselves for water analysis within the first water sampling within the project.
The second water sampling within the project.
Rovinka Municipality plans to organize seminar for neighboring municipalities to share our experience and the list of pollutants for their own underground water screening.
World Water Monitoring Day is officially celebrated on September 18 annually, but monitoring and educational events can take place any time between March 22 and December 31 annually.
Resources mobilized
Partnership Progress
| Title | Progress Status | Submitted |
|---|---|---|
| WATER OVER GOLD - PROTECTION OF ŽITNÝ OSTROV - Tue, 05/21/2024 - 19:09 | Financial issues | |
| WATER OVER GOLD - PROTECTION OF ŽITNÝ OSTROV - Tue, 05/21/2024 - 18:05 | Financial issues | |
| WATER OVER GOLD - PROTECTION OF ŽITNÝ OSTROV - Tue, 05/21/2024 - 17:55 | Financial issues | |
| WATER OVER GOLD - PROTECTION OF ŽITNÝ OSTROV - Tue, 05/21/2024 - 17:55 | Financial issues | |
| WATER OVER GOLD - PROTECTION OF ŽITNÝ OSTROV - Thu, 05/09/2024 - 13:39 | On track |
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Entity
SDGs
Region
- Europe
Geographical coverage
Other beneficiaries
More than 16 million inhabitants of Central Europe.
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Contact Information
Veronika, Member of Rovinka Municipality Council