A survey was e.g. performed by the Research Institute of Water Management shortly after filling the reservoir in 1956 – 1958. The results of survey at that time characterized the water in the Palcmanska Masa reservoir as clean, and classified mostly in the then applicable IInd purity class, and declared it to be suitable for farming fish of salmon type. The control profiles of the permanent monitoring network are situated in the Hnilec tributary to the Palcmanska Masa reservoir at the dam wall of the reservoir and at the discharge from the reservoir to the Hnilec river basin.
A part of the monitoring network is also in the Dobsina Creek, in the profile of inlet to the compensation reservoir below Dobsina. Samples are taken in the control profiles since 1992 12-time per year. In the discharge from the reservoir to the Hnilec river basin, samples of water are taken in order to determine the radioactivity, four times per year. The taken samples of water are analysed in a wide scope of physical-chemical biologic and microbiological indicators.
In 2002, a new profile was added: the Dobsina water reservoir – a dam wall, and in 2003 another one: the water reservoir in the valley Vlcia dolina. In these new profiles, it is agreed to take samples twice per year.
The results of the previous systematic monitoring show the following evaluation:
The water quality in the inlet part of the Palcmanska Masa reservoir depends on quality of the water coming from the river Hnilec. The oxygen regime in the inlet to the reservoir corresponds to the IInd and IIIrd purity class (clear and contaminated water). In the basic physical-chemical indicators, it means classification in the lower class (IInd and one IIIrd) with pH and manganese contents.
The nutrients in the IInd class, and the biologic and microbiologic indicators in the IInd to IVth class show contamination of the river Hnilec above the reservoir by organic contamination. In the reservoir, the quality of accumulated water, as compared with the inlet part, is not significantly changed from the aspect of classification in the purity classes.
The worse quality of water in the compensation reservoir below Dobsina is caused by discharge of untreated municipal waste water from the public sewage of the town of Dobsina. The oxygen regime varies between the IInd and IVth class, and there are increased values of manganese, nitrite and ammonia nitrogen, as well the total phosphorus. The group of microbiologic indicators is permanently classified in the Vth purity class (very contaminated water).
The results of evaluation of the quality of surface waters for the floating two-year period of 2001 – 2002 in the monitored reservoirs are shown in the Surface Water Quality Map.
The bad quality of water in the reservoirs, especially in respect of biologic and microbiologic indicators is caused first of all by the untreated waste water from the river basin above the reservoir or from the settlement and recreation site at the Palcmanska Masa reservoir. The water quality is closely related to the quality of sediments in the reservoir.
The Institute of Geotechnology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences carried out a survey and analysed the sediments from the Palcmanska Masa reservoir in 1998 and 1999. The results prove the fact that in the sediments, the values of particularly nickel, cobalt, and exceptionally also cadmium exceed the limit.
Another survey of quality of sediments accumulated in the Palcmanska Masa water reservoir was carried out in 2001 by the Research Institute of Water Management in Bratislava. The survey was aimed at occurrence of heavy metals and organic substances. From the heavy metals determined in the sediments of the Palcmanska Masa water reservoir, attention should be paid to increased occurrence of arsenic and cobalt in the profile at the dam, further copper in all profiles except for the Dedinky bay, cadmium, mercury, and nickel in all profiles. From organic substances, separate polycyclic aromatic carbohydrates (PAU) and non-polar extractable substances (NEL) were found.
During systematic survey of water quality in water reservoirs since 1990, no material changes occurred in the development of quality, the classification in the quality classes in individual groups of indicators sometimes changes by one class. Based on classification of the water quality, we cannot speak of either improved or deteriorated quality for that period.
Information and Contact:
Ing.Natalia Rozdobudkova
Ing.Ludmila Cikrayova
Slovak Water Management Enterprise
Radnicna 8, 969 39 Banska Stiavnica
Bodrog and Hornad River Basin Office in Kosice
Tel: 00421 45 41429
