Drinking water

Dátum poslednej aktualizácie:24.01.2024

Téma

Značky

Definícia indikátora

The indicator describes the number of population supplied from public water supply systems, drinking water quality in them and the specific water consumption in households.

Jednotka indikátora

%, l/pers./day

Metadáta

Related definitions:

Drinking water is water in its original state or after treatment, intended for drinking, cooking, food preparation or other domestic purposes, regardless of its origin and whether it is supplied from a distribution network, tank or as water packed into consumer packaging, and water used in a food production undertakings for the manufacture, processing, preservation or selling of products or substances intended for human consumption.

Drinking water is safe for health if:
a) does not contain any microorganisms, parasites or substances which, in certain amounts or concentrations, constitute a risk to human health from acute, chronic or delayed action, and its properties perceivable by senses do not prevent its consumption or use, and
b) complies with the limits of drinking water quality in accordance with the SR Government Regulation no. 354/2006 Coll. as amended by the SR Government Regulation no. 496/2010.

The public water supply system is a set of structures and facilities serving to public needs, enabling the mass supply of water for the population and other consumers.

Supplying the population with water from public supply system is expressed by the number of the population or the percentage of population connected to public water supply distribution network.

Specific water consumption in households- quantity of water supplied to households (i.e. water invoiced to households) corresponding to one per time unit.

An indicator value is the value of drinking water quality indicator of nonspecific or group character used to assess the need for more detailed testing of drinking water quality.

A maximum limit value is the value of medically significant indicator of drinking water quality the exceedance of which excludes the use as drinking water.

A limit value is the value of drinking water quality indicator, beyond which drinking water loses satisfactory quality in the indicator whose value has been exceeded.

Drinking water - other essential terms

Methodology:

The analysis of drinking water indicators was based on the requirements of STN 75 7111 "Water quality. Drinking water." which was, with effect from 01.02.2002, replaced the Ministry of Health Decree no. 29/2002 Coll. on Requirements for drinking water and drinking water quality control. With effect from 01.04.2004 a new Decree of the Ministry of Health no. 151/2004 Coll, on Requirements for drinking water and drinking water quality control came into force. On 01.06.2006 the SR Government Regulation no. 354/2006 Coll. entered into force, laying down requirements on water intended for human consumption and quality control of water intended for human consumption; this Regulation was amended by the SR Government Regulation no. 496/2010 Coll.

Radiological parameters were determined according to the Ministry of Health Decree no. 12/2001 on the Requirements for radiation protection. In 2007, the Ministry of Health Decree no. 528/2007 Coll. came into force, laying down details on the requirements for limiting radiation exposure from natural radiation.

The quality control of raw water in resources and water quality control in distribution networks is provided by public water supply system owners or operators. The operators of public water system may be water companies, municipalities and other legal and natural persons. Within the monitoring the Public Health Office of the Slovak Republic (PHO SR) and regional public health authorities (RPHA) observe the drinking water quality at the consumer´s site. Monitoring takes place continuously and also permanently, and sampling points are selected at places or buildings where the water emerges from the taps normally used for human consumption.
In addition, the authorities monitor the quality of raw water through the check of the results from an operational control performed by operators of public water supply.

Quality control of drinking water and its health security is determined by a set of water quality parameters representing physical, chemical, biological and microbiological properties of water. In addition to a complete analysis of water (82 indicators) (Annex no. 1 SR GR no. 354/2006 Coll.) also a minimal analysis is performed – i.e. the examination of 28 indicators of water quality (Annex no. 2 SR GR no. 354/2006 Coll.)- to control and obtain regular information on the stability of the water source and the effectiveness of water treatment, especially disinfection, on biological quality and sensory properties of drinking water.

The quality of analytical water tests is ensured by the National Reference Laboratory for the water sector.

Data relating to the number of inhabitants supplied with water from public water supply system and to water consumption are collected in ZBERVAK database. Based on the Decree of MoE no. 605/2005 on the Details of the supply of data from property records and operating records of facilities and equipment of public water supply and sewage systems, the owners of public water supply system are obliged to send the prescribed information annually, including the number of inhabitants supplied from the public water supply and water abstractions. The data for water quality are to be sent on a quarterly basis.

Data sources:

WRI

Related indicators:

Surface water quality
Groundwater quality

Related international indicators:

Linked references:

Úrad verejného zdravotníctva SR (pitná voda)

Väzba indikátora k rozvojovým dokumentom a cieľom

Action Plan for Water Protection in the Protected Water Management Area of Žitný ostrov (2023)

The main goal of the Action Plan is to effectively protect the quality and quantity of groundwater on Žitný ostrov as the most important source of drinking water in Slovakia.

Therefore, the proposed preventive measures are mainly aimed at:

• preventing or limiting the entry of pollutants into the groundwater and preventing the deterioration of the condition of all groundwater bodies,

• reversing any significant and permanently upward trend in the concentration of the pollutant, which is caused by human activity, in order to gradually reduction of groundwater pollution. The key areas for which measures are proposed in the Action Plan were identified in the Problem Analysis. These are the following areas/problems:

• excessive use and development of the territory threatening the quality and quantity of water in CHVO Žitný ostrov,

• unsupportive legal regulations and weak enforcement of the law,

• insufficient information system and connection of monitoring systems,

• insufficient environmental awareness and education of professional and lay people public.

Based on the analysis and the established vision, specific goals were proposed:

• sustainable use of the territory and its development,

• safe drinking water taken from CHVO Žitný ostrov,

• reduction of threats to groundwater quality from local sources of pollution,

• reliable monitoring and information system,

• environmentally responsible approach to the protection and use of water.

The implementation of the Action Plan will be evaluated in 2027. The measures will be evaluated and then, as necessary, incorporated into the update of the Water Plan of Slovakia, or to planning documents in other areas (e.g. waste management, environmental burdens, spatial planning).

The concept of the water policy of the Slovak Republic until 2030 with a view to 2050 (2022)

The concept formulates measures in ten areas of intervention and indicators and a time frame for the implementation of individual measures are assigned to them. The achievement of the target value is generally considered for the year 2030, unless another time frame is indicated. In the case of indicators where the initial value is not known, the expected development trend (increasing/decreasing) is indicated.

The concept of water policy focuses on ten priority areas, which are interconnected, and focuses on the area of water use.

3. Sustainable use of water

Goal 3.1. Sustainable and efficient use of surface and underground waters without endangering their quantity and quality

Goal 3.2. Functional crisis management in times of drought and water shortages

4. Water for all residents

Goal 4.1. Ensuring the supply of health-safe drinking water for all residents

Goal 4.2. Increasing the connection of residents to municipal wastewater treatment systems and increasing the share of treated municipal wastewater

Water plan of the Slovak Republic - Update 2021 (2021)

Areas determined for the abstraction of water for human consumption

In terms of Art. 7, par. 1 and Art. 6 par. 2 WFD, it is necessary that every object from which the drinking water is abstracted in an amount of more than 10 m³ per day or it is used by more than 50 persons, is defined as a protected area. Furthermore, Art. 7 par. 3 WFD requires to ensure the necessary protection of these water bodies in order not to worsen their quality, and reduce the extent of treatment needed for the production of drinking water. Member States may establish safeguard zones for those water bodies. In Slovakia, protective zones of water sources for human consumption are defined under the section 32 of Act no. 364/2004 Coll. on waters as amended by Act no. 384/2009 Coll.
Protection zones of water sources within the meaning of this Act are defined by the State Water Management Authority based on the public health authority’s binding opinion. Protection zones are divided into:
- protection zone of I^st level - used for the protection in the immediate proximity of water abstraction or arresting devices
- protection zone of II^nd level - used for the protection of water resource against threats from more distant places.
To enhance the protection of the water resources the state water management authority may determine also the III^rd level protection zone.
Each protection zone has a defined management regime to protect drinking waters. Objectives under the Art. 7 par. 3 WFD are currently reached, no measures are required.

Plan for the development of public water supply systems and public sewers for the territory of the Slovak Republic for the years 2022 - 2027 (2021)

A. Plan for the development of public water supply systems

The Water Supply Development Plan is a starting document drawn up in accordance with the requirements established by the European Union for the fulfillment of the basic condition for the financing of measures in the field of water management in the program period 2022 – 2027.

The goal of the Public Water Supply Development Plan is to analyze the conditions for ensuring the necessary level of drinking water supply, to establish priorities and conditions for its implementation.

The strategic goal of the development of public water supply systems is to increase the number of inhabitants supplied from public water supply systems and to ensure the supply of health-safe drinking water.

The plan for the development of public water supply systems proposes to implement:

- construction of public water supply systems in villages without water supply systems

- increasing the number of inhabitants supplied from public water supply systems

- and ensuring problem-free supplying residents with safe drinking water without negative impacts on residents' health and the environment.

The strategic goal is to ensure that the supplied drinking water meets health safety requirements and the limits of drinking water quality indicators for all residents of the Slovak Republic. Municipalities within the reach of the constructed water systems will gradually be supplied with water and the inhabitants will be supplied with drinking water supplied from high-quality water sources. Water supplies should gradually be built in municipalities that are beyond the reach of current water supplies and large-capacity sources. In the case of municipalities that are currently without a public water supply system, a proposal is presented to solve the supply until 2027, or the following years, depending on available public financial resources. If no solution method is proposed for the village, this village will be solved after 2027.

Strategy of the environmental policy of the Slovak Republic - Greener Slovakia (2019)

Sustainable Use and Effective Protection of Natural Resources

Goals: A good condition and water potential of all water bodies through the restoration of river ecosystems will be accomplished.

1.4 Adjustment of Sustainable Water Prices
The water pricing model will include environmental protection costs as well as costs for resources, in accordance with the "polluter pays" principle.Until now, environmental protection costs have been taken into account only partially, a rise in prices was mainly due to costs ofproducing and supplying drinking water through the public water supply network, drainage and waste water treatment. A price of water that is used in agriculture will guarantee an environmentally sustainable production of agriculture, even during the drought periods

The Slovak Republic Strategy for Adaptation to Adverse Effects of Climate Change- Update (2018)

1. Strategy Goals

The main goal of the updated the Slovak Republic Strategy for Adaptation to Adverse Effects of Climate Change is to prepare Slovakia for tackling the adverse effects of climate change, deliver comprehensive information about the current state of adaptation processes in Slovakia, and based on their analysis establish an institutional framework for a coordinating mechanism which will ensure effective implementation of adaptation measures across all levels and in all areas, as well as improve general awareness of the domain.

5. Impact of climate change on select areas and recommended adaptation measures

5.4. Water regime and water management

Adaptation measures in local conditions should aim at compensating for the instances of drought, that is, the decrease of flows of water and water yields, as well as minimising the negative consequences of floods, especially flash floods in montane and submontane regions. Climate change adaptation within the domain of water management should be oriented towards implementing measures which will create the conditions for better water outflow management in catchment areas. In the domain of water management elements of green and blue infrastructure, green structural approaches and non-structural adaptation concepts should be prioritised over elements of grey infrastructure whenever it is technically possible and efficient to do so. Adaptation measures should focus on preserving or improving the current state of water, with the aim of achieving its good state, efficient and sustainable utilisation of water resources, protection against floods and contribution towards protection of nature and land and support with ecosystem services provision. It is important to create space for a wider application of so-called "green" measures in catchment areas where the main goal is to increase the land's adaptability through regeneration and improvement of efficiency of ecosystem functions of the land. "Green" measures are recognised as the better environmental choice, that is, as supplementary-mitigating measures with the aim of minimising the consequences of grey infrastructure, assuming that they are equally effective or more effective in regards to set goals.
Water is becoming a critical strategic stock of the state and it is necessary to protect it and manage its rational and efficient use in line with the goal of ensuring sustainable development. Justifiably, the highest priority is given to water sources, their protection and the need of their more efficient use.

Proposed adaptation measures
-slowing down of water outflow from catchment areas
-decreasing of the maximum flow of floods
-risk assessment
-water management
-general

Kľúčová otázka

Is the access to safe drinking water satisfactorily ensured?

Kľúčové zistenia

Drinking water quality in the Slovak Republic has a long-term high level. In 2022, the share of drinking water analyses meeting limit values amounted to 99.81%, while in 2006 it was 99.32%.
The share of samples meeting the drinking water quality requirements in all indicators reached a value of 96.14%. The free chlorine indicator is not included in these proportions.

Change since 2005	Change since 2015	Last year-on-year change

Drinking water quality shows a long-term positive status and trend.	The positive status and development of quality drinking water persisted.	The share of analyzes complying with hygiene limits was at the level of 2021. The share of samples complying with all indicators of drinking water quality increased.

Sumárne zhodnotenie

Exceedance of limit values in drinking water samples

Year	2005	2015	2022
Share of analyses meeting hygienic limits *	99.32 %	99.70 %	99.81 %
Share of samples meeting all requirements for drinking water quality in all indicators	89.59 %	94.52 %	96.14 %

* The shares do not include free chlorine
Source: WRI

Total number of analyzes (blue) and number of over-limit (red) analyzes of indicators with the most frequently exceeded limit value of biological and microbiological indicators (2022)

Source: WRI

The total number of analyzes (blue) and the number of over-limit (red) analyzes of indicators with the most frequently exceeded limit value, which can adversely affect the sensory quality of drinking water (2022)

Source: WRI

Podrobné zhodnotenie

Monitoring and evaluation of drinking water quality

Quality control of water and its health safety is determined by the presence of a set of water quality indicators representing physical, chemical, biological and microbiological qualities of water. Drinking water quality indicators are defined by Decree of the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic No. 247/2017 Coll., which establishes specifics on drinking water quality, drinking water quality control, monitoring programme and risk management in drinking water supply, as amended (Decree of the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic No. 97/2018 Coll.) and Decree of the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic No. 100/2018 Coll. on the limiting exposure of the population to drinking water, natural mineral water and spring water. Apart from complete water analysis for control and gathering of regular information about the stability of water sources and the effectiveness of treatment of water, especially disinfection, about biological quality and sensory qualities of drinking water minimal analysis is also conducted – i.e. examination of 26 indicators of water quality and water chlorine, specifically chlorine dioxide.
In 2022, in the water companies´ operational laboratories 18,272 samples of drinking water were analysed, in which 538,907 analyses of drinking water individual indicators were done. The share of drinking water analyses complying with hygienic limits reached the value of 99.81% in 2022. The share of samples meeting the requirements of all indicators on the quality of drinking water amounted to 96.14%. These shares don´t include the indicator of free chlorine whose assessment in relation to the microbiological quality of drinking water was done separately.

Microbiological and biological indicators

In 2022, the exceedance of hygienic limits in drinking water in distribution networks was recorded in the following indicators: Escherichia coli, coliform bacteria, enterococci, cultivated microorganisms at 22^oC and 36^oC, Clostridium perfringens and living organisms. The presence of Escherichia coli, coliform bacteria and enterococci indicates faecal contamination from the intestinal tract of warm-blooded animals, including humans, and shows the lack of protection of water resources and shortcomings in treatment and health security of drinking water.
Occurrence of excessive values of culturable microorganisms at 22°C and 36°C is an indication of general contamination of water.

Microbiological and biological indicators of drinking water in distribution networks in SR

Indicator	Number of analyses			% of analyses complying with Decree no.151/2004 Coll.	% of analyses complying with Government Regulation no.354/2006 Coll.	% of analyses complying with Decree MoH SR 247/2017 Coll.
	2006	2010	2022	2006	2010	2022
Escherichia coli	11 036	7 559	16 902	99,43	98,82	99,76
Coliform bacteria	11 901	7 565	16 901	97,82	97,24	99,24
Enterococci	11 889	7 543	16 900	99,11	98,55	99,50
Culturable microorganisms at 22^oC	11 299	7 765	16 844	99,67	99,32	99,59
Culturable microorganisms at 36^oC	-	6 575	16 894	-	99,04	99,46
Clostridium perfringens	-	-	4 379	-	-	99,68
Living organisms (except of colourless Flagellata)	10 610	7 765	16 697	99,68	99,68	99,92
Micromycetes microscopically detectable	-	-	16 697	-	-	99,94
Abioseston	-	-	16 697	-	-	99,92

Source:WRI

Physical and chemical indicators

From inorganic drinking water quality indicators, which in 2022 did not meet the threshold indicators: iron and manganese.

For organic water quality parameters, the threshold limit value was exceeded for dichlorobenzene (0.20%) and total organic carbon (1.03%). In the indicator "total pesticides" there was no exceedance of the threshold limit value, in the evaluation of individual pesticides there were exceedances only in case of heptachlor (1 sample - 0.07%), alachlor (2 samples - 0.25%) and acetochlor (2 samples - 0.34%).

Physical and chemical indicators of drinking water in distribution networks in SR

Inorganic indicators	Number of analyses			% of analyses complying with Decree no.151/2004 Coll.	% of analyses complying with Government Regulation no.354/2006 Coll.	% of analyses complying with decree MoH SR 247/2017 Coll.
	2006	2010	2022	2006	2010	2022
Antimony	1 680	1 263	2 499	99,70	99,92	99,88
Arsenic	1 655	1 232	2 498	99,58	98,92	100,00
Nitrates	11 029	7 674	16 525	99,96	99,91	99,99
Nitrites	11 080	7 673	16 539	99,87	100,00	99,99
Fluoride	1 906	1 304	2 501	100,00	100,00	100,00
Cadmium	1 583	1 262	2 499	100,00	100,00	100,00
Nickel	1 580	1 232	2 498	99,94	100,00	100,00
Lead	1 584	1 261	2 500	100,00	100,00	100,00

Source:WRI

Organic indicators	Number of analyses			% of analyses complying with Decree no.151/2004 Coll.	% of analyses complying with Government Regulation no.354/2006 Coll.	% of analyses complying with decree MoH SR 247/2017 Coll.
	2000	2005	2022	2000	2005	2022
Benzene	566	1 368	2 500	100,00	100,00	100,00
Dichlorbenzene	437	1 297	2 500	100,00	99,85	99,80
1,2 dichlorethane	568	1 368	2 500	100,00	100,00	100,00
Vynilchlorine	-		1 111	100,00	-	100,00
Benzo(a)pyrene	-		2 434	99,91	-	100,00
Pesticides in total	307	1 297	2 482	100,00	100,00	100,00
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)	-	1 229	2 498	-	99,84	99,96

Source:WRI

Indicators influencing sensorial quality of water	Number of analyses			% of analyses complying with Decree no.151/2004 Coll.	% of analyses complying with Government Regulation no.354/2006 Coll.	% of analyses complying with decree MoH SR 247/2017 Coll.
	2006	2010	2022	2006	2010	2022
Ammonium	11 086	7 671	16 752	99,93	99,99	99,97
COD-Mn	11 104	7 686	16 845	99,92	99,90	99,95
Manganese	11 153	7 694	16 772	99,08	98,91	99,65
Water reaction	10 354	7 709	17 047	99,37	99,74	99,84
Iron	11 227	7 731	17 014	95,27	95,12	98,74
Colour	10 970	7 680	16 953	98,24	98,15	99,88
Sulphates	2 086	1 557	2 497	99,42	99,87	99,88
Turbidity	10 755	7 724	17 013	99,76	99,24	99,76

Source:WRI

Radiological indicator

In 2022, only the indicator of total volume activity alpha did not comply with Ministry of Health Decree no. 100/2018 Coll. A higher percentage of non-compliant analyzes since 2016 for the indicator total volume alpha activity caused a reduction of the limit value for the given indicator from 0.2 to 0.1 Bq/l (according to the requirement of the original SR Government Regulation No. 8/2016 Coll., which is amended and supplemented by SR Government Regulation No. 354/2006 Coll. z).

The results of radiological indicators of drinking water monitoring in distribution networks in SR

Radiological indicators	Number of analyses			% of analyses complying with Decree no.12/2001 Coll.	% of analyses complying with Decree no.528/2007 Coll.	% of analyses complying with decree MoH SR 247/2017 Coll.
Radiological indicators	2006	2010	2020	2000	2005	2020
total volume activity alpha	1 286	1 005	1 803	98,76	99,80	93,73
total volume activity beta	1 288	1 004	1 783	99,84	100,00	100,00
volume activity of radon 222	864	769	1 596	99,54	99,74	99,94

Source:WRI

Water disinfection

Drinking water supplied by a system of mass supply does not have to be, in regards to health, secured by disinfection if there is not a risk of contamination in the water source and the supply network, and if the water in the water source meets the limits of the quality indicators long-term.
The disinfection of drinking water is mostly carried out via a chemical process of chloration. The decree MoH SR No 247/2017 Coll. establishes, for the content of free chlorine in drinking water, the limit marginal value of 0.3 mg.l^-1. If the water is disinfected by chlorine, the minimum value of free chlorine in the supply network does not have to be 0.05 mg.l^-1.
The share of analyses not complying with the decree MoH SR No 247/2017 Coll. of requirements for drinking water and the control of drinking water quality due to exceeding the value of 0.3 mg.l^-1 was 1.13% in 2022. The requirement of the original Regulation of the Government for the minimal content of free chlorine of 0.05 mg/l was not met by 13.36% of drinking water samples.

Disinfectants and their by-products in drinking water networks

Disinfectants and their by-products	Number of analyses			% of analyses complying with Decree no.151/2004 Coll.	% of analyses complying with Government Regulation no.354/2006 Coll.	% of analyses complying with decree MoH SR 247/2017 Coll.
	2006	2010	2022	2006	2010	2022
Free chlorine	10 743	7 658	13 759	85,52	91,01	98,87
Trihalomethane	1 163	1 187	2 415	100,00	100,00	100,00
Chlorine dioxide	1 671	98	1 713	99,82	96,94	99,77

Source:WRI

Drinking water from distribution network with unsatisfactory concentration of active chlorine

Indicator	% of analyses complying with decree MoH SR 247/2017 Coll.
	2022
Concentration of active chlorine below 0.05 mg/l	13,36
Concentration of active chlorine above 0.3 mg/l	1,13

Source:WRI

Kontakt na spracovateľa

Ing. Ľubica Koreňová, SAŽP, lubica.korenova@sazp.sk