Soil and water pollution status of Soil and water pollution status of the Hungarian environment and the Hungarian environment and

needneedss for remediation for remediation

Endre Molnár* – Levente Kardos* – János Fehér***Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary

1118 Budapest, Villányi 29-43. HungaryE. Molnár e-mail: endre.molnar@uni-corvinus.hu

L. Kardos e-mail: levente.kardos2@uni-corvinus.hu

**VITUKI Environmental Protection and Water Management Research Institute, Hungary

E-mail: feher.janos@vituki.hu

SoilsSoils

• One of the most significant effects of nature degradation caused by pollution of surface and subsurface water resources and the decrease of soil buffering capacity due to absorption of heavy metals, organic compounds and excess of nutrients. The accumulation of different elements can occur due to the natural factors or the consequence of human activity. Contaminants reaching soils and water bodies can be divided into two main groups: macro- and micropollutants.

• The presence of these can serve as a ticking “chemical time

bomb”. It means, that any change in environmental circumstances can “blow-up” the bomb by increasing the solubility of harmful elements and compounds.

Remediation of soilsRemediation of soils

• As a contradiction the Hungarian soils and waters are relatively clean or can be remediated. The remediation methods needs a permanent monitoring system which Hungary already has for soils as well as for water quality. The remediation activity of polluted sites has the steps as follows:

• Identification of the problem.• Assessment for describing impairment (pilot plant, laboratory

analysis system).• Design of remediation (several methods, selection of its).• Implementation of the technology.• Post-remediation of activities (monitoring, re-use of treated

material and site).• Validation of ecological risks of the contamination.• Methodology for prevention of further contamination.

Areas with polluted and supposedly Areas with polluted and supposedly polluted soils polluted soils

Source: MoEW 2005, KÁRINFO database, 2004

Remediation and remediation technologiesRemediation and remediation technologies

• The remediation activity of polluted sites has the steps as follows:

• Identification of the problem.• Assessment for describing impairment (pilot plant, laboratory

analysis system).• Design of remediation (several methods, selection of its).• Implementation of the technology.• Post-remediation of activities (monitoring, re-use of treated

material and site).• Validation of ecological risks of the contamination.• Methodology for prevention of further contamination.

The set up is shown below.

Steps of remediation Steps of remediation

Source: MoEW 2005

NEW DIRECTION IN THE EU WATER POLICY

• integration of different theories • river basin approach• water quality, quantity and ecology• hydrology, hydraulics, chemistry, ecology, soil science,

economics• NGOs in decision making• level of public discussions, stakeholders• river basin management plans

WATER FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE

• The EU Water Framework Directive requires the assessment for all kind of water bodies in order to describe their status and to prove the result of the process of reaching the good ecological status or good ecological potential • Assessment of the structure of the physical environment

and the flow regime of streams and rivers • Reference conditions (river passports)

WFD in HungaryWFD in Hungary

• Surface water resources in Hungary• Subsurface water resources in Hungary• Water quality monitoring

– Surface water monitoring– Subsurface water monitoring

• Implementation of Water Framework Directive in Hungary

• Revitalization of small water courses and wetlands in Hungary

Position of Hungary in the Danube River BasinPosition of Hungary in the Danube River Basin

CLASSIFICATION OF WATER BODIES

• According to WFD the followings must be – Natural water body– Heavily modified body– Artificial water body

They are important because of the level of environmental objectives

> good ecological status

> good ecological potential

> good ecological potential

Surface water resources in HungarySurface water resources in Hungary

Characteristic figures of the yearly average water resources:

Yearly average precipitation: 58 km3 Surface waters inflow: 114 km3 Yearly average evapotranspiration: 52 km3 Surface waters outflow: 120 km3

Surface water resources in HungarySurface water resources in Hungary

LAKE WATER BODIES

Assessment of human activity

Significant point source pollution• discharge of WWTP• discharge of (industrial IPPC and IPPC type)

Significant diffuse source pollution• nutrient and pesticide from agriculture• lack of storage

Water extractions:• agricultural• drinking water,• industrial,• reservoir,• sharing discharge for energy use,• sharing discharge for other uses

Assessment of human activity (Cont.)

At RISK (point source pollution)

1. Organic load 2. Nutrient load3. Hazardous parameters (Annex 10)

At RISK (diffuse source pollution)

1. Sensibility analyses for N and P from CORINE 2. Cells are made3. Water probably effected by actual pressure—

impact is estimated, multiplied value, by catchments

Nutrient, hydromorphological pressures, subsistence priorities

RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT PLANNING

Water quality monitoringWater quality monitoring

surface waterssurface waters

EARLIER SYSTEM NEW SYSTEM (WFD)

NETWORK SITES NETWORK SITES

BASIC 150SURVEILLANCE

(BASIC)122 river

21 lake

REGIONAL 90OPERATIONAL

(WBs AT RISK)

836 river

40 lake

LOCAL ~250 INVESTIGATIVE ?

Surface water quality monitoring networkSurface water quality monitoring networkRiversRivers

M River wb operative monitoring site

River wb surveillance monitoring site

Surface water quality monitoring networkSurface water quality monitoring networkLakesLakes

‚ Lake wb operative monitoring site Lake wb surveillance monitoring site

Risk type Parameter Frequency (minimal proposal)Hydromorphological parametersRatio of medium, small and basic water discharge, water level fluctuations Continuous measurementsElevated water levels/reservoirs above 20 kms of the beginning of water body (in river km) 1/yearPhysico-chemical compounds

Compounds of oxygen houshold and nutrients12/year (26/year in case of big variability or uncertain risk)

Anions, kations and total dissolved material 4/yearBiological elementsPhytoplankton Lakes and lowland rivers: apr-sept: 6 (if

chlorophyl-a >10 mg/m3 in the river)Phytobenthos 2/yearMacrophytes 1/yearMacroinvertebrates 2/yearPhysico-chemical compounds

Priority pollutants from the list of 33 compounds 12/year, only the pollutans over boundary-valuesBiological elementsMacroinvertebrates 2/yearFish 1/yearHydromorphological parametersIdentifier data (locality, type of water body, unit & subunit of planning)Hydromorphological data (extension, hydrological data)Impact of human activity (risk type, hydromophological impacts, waste water discharge, distance from waste water discharge)Physico-chemical compoundsCompounds of oxygen houshold and nutrients paralell with biological sampling: 2/yearBiological elementsLongitudinal passing (continuity) Fish: 1/yearDownstream impact of reservoirs Phytoplankton: 6/year, phytobenthos: 2/yearElevated stretches Macroinvertebrates:2/yearDownstream stretch of elevated section Phytoplankton:6/year, phytobenthos: 2/year

Not sufficient cross- section of river bed Macrophytes: 1/year, macroinvertebrates: 2/yearRegulated stream line Macrophytes: 1/year, macroinvertebrates: 2/year

Impact of dredgingPhytobenthos: 2/year, macrophytes: 1/year, macroinvertebrates: 2/year

Artificial cover on river bed Macrophytes: 1/year, macroinvertebrates: 2/yearWater regime problems in lakes Phytoplankton: 6/yearWater regime problems in rivers Phytobenthos: 2/year, macroinvertebrates: 2/év

Nutrient and organic risk

Hydromorphological risk

Hazardous and chemical risk

In the first year on water body level, and after the arrangement continue affected elements

Surface water quality operational monitoringSurface water quality operational monitoring

Subsurface water resources in Hungary

Subsurface water monitoring in HungarySubsurface water monitoring in Hungary

Subsurface water monitoring networks before WFD:

• basic network: 500 wells• subsoil water quality network 700 wells• production wells 7 000 wells• water works observation wells 1 800 wells• protected groundwater-basis 900 wells

12-15 chemical („routine”) parameters, + special micropollutants

Further developments: fulfilling the Water Framework Directive requirements

Concerning subsurface waters 2 monitoring programmes (GWPQ1, GWPQ2) for quantity and 4 surveillance programmes (GWPS1-4) for the quality purpose were established in Hungary in the frame of WFD implementation.

QUANTITY MONITORING GWPQ1The representative monitoring was chosen from the state-operated water level network.The measured parameter is the water level. Site method:• Smooth, uniform density, should be appropriate for the mapping of the ground water level• The density decrease with the depth on the basis of the vertical and horizontal structure of the water body• All sites were selected within 10 km at the state border• NATURA2000 and drinking water protection areas for future use were selected• Advantage for the long term operating wells with automatic registration equipmentsThe average density of sites is 1-2 site/100km2/GWB in case of the cold-water bodies and 3-9 site/100km2/GWB for

the GWBs, which are at risk. The mean density of the sites is 0.15 site/100km2/GWB in case of thermal water bodies. The measuring frequency is minimum weekly in case of shallow groundwater, and the frequency is monthly for the deep groundwater. The number of the sites is 1659.

GWPQ2GWP2 is complementary monitoring of the GWP1 where the density of network was not appropriate. The measuring

parameter is the yield of springs (some are captured by the waterworks) and the yield of groundwater dependent small surface watercourses/water bodies. The number of the sites is 113.

Subsurface water monitoring in HungarySubsurface water monitoring in Hungary

QUALITY MONITORINGThere is no groundwater body at risk at this time from chemical point of view only surveillance monitoringprogrammes were established in Hungary.

GWPS1GWPS1 is surveillance monitoring for the shallow groundwater in the upper 40-50 m thick zone of the water body, which can be affected by the spreading of pollution of surface origin, groundwater quality monitoring wells or groups of wells with screens at different depths below the unsaturated zone are selected based on the principle of type-specific monitoring – types are specified by combining hydrogeological and agricultural and forest land usecharacteristics – and the number of observation points for each type must be sufficient for statistical analysis (5 to 30). Based on the combination method 25 types were specified with considerable area within the monitoringprogramme. The afore-mentioned network is operated by the state and is completed by observation wells in the safeguard zones

of perspective drinking water sources, as well as observation and operating wells on vulnerable drinking water sources in use. Concerning the karstic GWBs additional springs were delineated based on the type specific methodology. The existing monitoring concerning the Nitrate Directive has been also taken into consideration.

The parameters that are required by the WFD are measured at the sites generally with 2/year minimum frequency (excepts are the oxygen content and pH). After the adaptation of Ground Water Directive (118/2006/EC) the planned further parameters are arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, chloride, sulphate, and pesticides. Additional parameters concerning the drinking water sources are specified in national ministerial decree. The number of sites is 685.

Subsurface water monitoring in HungarySubsurface water monitoring in Hungary

QUALITY MONITORING

GWPS2GWPS2 is surveillance monitoring also for the shallow groundwater in the upper 40-50 m thick zone of the waterbody. Based on the type specific monitoring method described in the previous monitoring programme the types inthis programme are specified by combining hydrogeological and industrial and urban land use characteristics. Basedon the combination method 16 types were specified with considerable area within the monitoring programme. Allparameters described in the GWPS1 are measured; additional parameters will be the trichloroethene and tetrachloroethene after the adaptation of the GWD. The number of sites is 196.GWPS3In the GWPS3 monitoring programme deeper layers generally are monitored by selected operating wells of waterworks of different depth in the medium and lower part of the cold GWBs, which are not vulnerable. This programmeis specified mainly to monitor the aquifers used by drinking water abstraction. Within the programmes there aresome springs also captured by the water works. The average density of the sites is 0.97 site/100km2 regarding theporous GWBs, 0.16 is the mountainous type of GWBs, and 0.30 site/100km2 in the karstic areas. All parametersdescribed in the GWPS2 are (will be) measured, generally with the minimum frequency 1/year. The number of sites is

784.The total numbers of sites used for quantity monitoring are 1772 and 1742 used for quality monitoring in Hungary.

Subsurface water monitoring in HungarySubsurface water monitoring in Hungary

Subsurface water monitoring networkSubsurface water monitoring networkQuantityQuantity

M water level monitoring siteM discharge monitoring site

Subsurface water monitoring networkSubsurface water monitoring networkQualityQuality

M Near surface cold water wb site – forest and agro areas Near surface cold water wb site – settlement and industry Deep wb, not vulnerable layer monitoring site Thermal water wb

The WFD came into force on 22 December 2000.Main milestones of the WFD implementation process in Hungary:

• 22 Dec 2003: Designation of competent authorities responsible for the implementation of WFD; determination of regional planning units.

• 22 Dec 2004: Designation of water bodies; determination of reference conditions; characterization of the state of water bodies; general economic analysis of water uses.

• 21 Dec 2006: Schedule of the river basin management planning process; Issue of the working programme of river basin management planning for 2006-2009 period.

• 22 Dec 2006: Plan of the monitoring network and putting of it into operation. • 22 Dec 2007: Release of the discussion paper of the significant water management issues

(start of the public participation process of the river basin management planning)• 22 Dec 2007: Schedule and working programme of the river basin management

planning process 2006-2009 (Revised final version)• 29 Nov 2008: Summary of the societal discussion of the significant water

management issues – revised proposal• 31 March 2009: Issue of the river basin management plans for societal discussion.

Implementation of WFD in HungaryImplementation of WFD in Hungary

Wastewater and sewage sludge Wastewater and sewage sludge • The 861 sources monitored by the Environmental Inspectorates have discharged into

surface waters 713 million m3 of wastewater in 2002, of which 231 million m3 received no treatment at all. The quantity of sewage treated on a biological stage with the desirable efficiency was 278 million m3 only.

• Besides Budapest, the largest wastewater quantities were discharged into surface water in the counties Pest and Fejér.

• Of the wastewater produced in the catchments of the major streams, 44.1%, or 314 million m3 were released directly to the Danube, 182 million m3 without any treatment. The wastewater load on the Danube tributaries was 68 million m3. The direct discharges to the River Tisza amounted to 38.6 million m3 (2.4 million m3 untreated), or 5.4 % of the total discharge to surface water. The wastewater load on the tributaries was 50.1 million m3. The quality of the 68 million m3 (9.5 %) wastewater discharged to the Körös river network was controlled by the 17 million m3 release from the industrialised fish farms. A survey of the organic pollutant loads (CODp) in the main catchments has revealed that 74 113 tons (64.1 %) were discharged directly to the Danube.

• Of the organic pollutants 8.5 % were discharged to the River Tisza directly in 2002, while the load on the tributaries was also a heavy one, 5.7 % (6553 tons).

• Communal sewage treatment plants and public sewers will be seen to have discharged the bulk (499 million m3, or 69.9 %) of the effluents and also of the organic pollutants (94 746 tons/a, or 81.9 %).

Wastewater collected and pollutant loadsWastewater collected and pollutant loadsin the main river basinsin the main river basins

Catchment

Sewage discharged to surface water (million m3/year)

Loads of pollutions (t/a)

TotalUntre-ated

Primaryonly

Primary+

part-bio-

logical

Primary+

fullbio-

logical

CODCr TDS NH4-N TSSExtract

-ables

Danube 489,8 198,6 57,1 88,3 145,8 89452 270866 7055 35418 6116

Dráva 199,2 30,3 22,4 32,5 113,9 24747 175623 2044 12731 1397

Tisza 24,2 2,0 0,08 3,7 18,4 1453 26801 130 871 57.4

Total: 713,2 231,0 79,6 124,5 278,1 115652 473290 9229 49020 7570

Treated wastewater discharged into Treated wastewater discharged into surface waters by countiessurface waters by counties

Revitalization of small water coursesRevitalization of small water coursesand wetlandsand wetlands

• The importance of wetlands and small creeks has increased because of – Habitants for rear plant and animals communities– Natural buffering capacity for harmful chemicals – Preserving landscape– Multi-funtionality of the area