1. Ministry of Environment
Groundwater in Hungary by
dr. László Balásházy
Ministry of Environment

2. A few information about use of groundwater in Hungary
94 % of drinking water is supplied from groundwater
36 % bank filtered water
16 % karstic water
8 % shallow groundwater
out of that 64 % from vulnerable resources
70 % of other demand is supplied from groundwater

3. Protection of drinking water resources with high priority
700 vulnerable sources
National program for diagnostics and safeguarding
determination of different protective zones (areas)
(20 days, 6 months, 5 years, 50 years, recharge area)
survey of the water quality
diagnostic of pollution sources
assessment of risk in case of real pollution
decision on remediation

4. Protective areas of groundwater resources
for future use
in operation

5. Source protection with high priority
700 vulnerable sources
National program for diagnostics and safeguarding
determination of different protective zones (areas)
(20 days, 6 months, 5 years, 50 years, recharge area)
survey of the water quality
diagnostic of pollution sources
assessment of risk in case of real pollution
decision on remediation
until now appr potential pollution sources
have been assessed at 230 vulnerable well fields
until 2009: appr pollution sources will be aassessed

6. General protection 20 000 registered potential pollution sources
(excluding individual communal sewage infiltration)
Governmental decree on the protection of groundwater
Issued in 2000, compyling with 80/68/EEC and considering draft WFD
Pollution of groundwater is vorbidden
either from direct or indirect discharge
(exemption based on impact assessment)
Monitoring of emission and immission
Limit values for control of existing pollution
General principle: protection of groundwater is harmonised with that of surface water and soil!!

7. General protection In case of pollution surveillance is obligatory
Measures have to be taken to improve the situation
Clean-up is required on the basis of risk assessment,
determination of target value for remediation

8. General protection Possible distinction according to sensitivity
category A:
category B:
category C:
green korridors
riparian zone of lakes
(< 0,25 km)
open karstic areas
protective areas (5 years)
nature conservation areas I.
riparian zone of lakes
(0,25-1 km)
covered karstic aquifer
(travel time <100 years)
protective areas (50 years)
other porous aquifer
(travel time < 100 year)
local aquifers
nature conservation areas II.
less sensitive areas

9. map of sensitive areas A B C

10. General protection Problems:
How can we stimulate investments on brawnfields,
if the immission values are the same for industrial
sites as green fields
How can we take into account the
sensitivity/ vulnerability?
How can we tackle the pollution of soil and
groundwater under settlements?