In the Transdanubian and Northern mountainous regions, in the area of Mecsek and the Budapest region the quality of subsurface water in general is not satisfactory. Nitrate in groundwater at several places, especially in the vicinity of settlements, exceeds the 40 mg/l limit value. A survey carried out in 1993 indicated that nitrate at karstic waters exceeded the limit value only in 7 per cent of the samples. Although the deep aquifers are less exposed to anthropogenic pollution, they do not always meet the water quality standards (because of methane, iron, manganese, ammonia and arsenic contents of natural origin).
The quality of the bank-filtered water is in general related to the water quality of the river.
A part of water resources have high iron contents. The iron concentrations of water resources in almost half of the country’s territory exceed 0.5 mg/l, while in some parts of the Great Plain even 1 mg/l.
Regarding geological protection, almost three-quarters of aquifers in Hungary (ground, bank-filtered and karstic water resources) are vulnerable. In 1996-1997, based on the data of samples from almost 6,000 waterworks well, 85 per cent of the sampling sites showed nitrate content lower than 10 mg/l, 6.3 per cent indicated 10-25 mg/l, 3.6 per cent 25-50 mg/l and only 2,7 per cent indicated more than 50 mg/l.
In 1997 the bacteriological and chemical quality of the drinking water was unacceptable at 16 and 26 per cent of the samples and the proportion of poor quality samples in wells was higher than at waterworks.
The inhabitants are supplied by good or acceptable quality of water in 75 per cent of the cases and in 5 per cent by unacceptable quality (arsenic, nitrate, and faecal coliforms). The remaining 20 per cent are supplied by aesthetically poor water quality (does not comply with the limit values set for iron, manganese or other metals).
The nitrate content of groundwater has caused drinking water quality problems in the Great Plain and the Small Plain for years.
The main problem in the Great Plain is the bacterial contamination of the deep wells and the arsenic contents of natural origin in the groundwater. About 80 per cent of the population consume drinking water with low iodine content leading to high occurrence of goitre.
Source:
Environmental Indicators of Hungary, 2000
Editors: Elemér Szabó, István Pomázi
Translation: Judit Galló
Responsible Publisher: Sándor Skultéty
Information & Contact:
Elemér Szabó
Fő utca 44-50.
H-1011 Budapest
Phone: +36 1 3468362
