Results of initial characterization of the groundwater bodies in Croatian karst

Zeljka Brkic

Croatian Geological SurveyDepartment for Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology,

Zagreb, Croatia

Contractor: Croatian Geological Survey, Department forHydrogeology and Engineering Geology

Team leader: dr Zeljka Brkic

Co-authors: dr Ranko Biondic (Kupa river basin – karst area, Istria, Hrvatsko Primorje)dr Janislav Kapelj (Una river basin – karst area)dr Ante Pavicic (Lika region, northern and middle Dalmacija)dr Ivan Sliskovic (southern Dalmacija)

Other associates: dr Sanja Kapeljdr Josip Terzicdr Tamara MarkovicAndrej Stroj

On 23 October 2000, the "Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for the Community action in the field of water policy" or, in short, the EU Water Framework Directive (or even shorter the WFD) was finally adopted.

The purpose of WFD is to establish a framework for the protection ofinland surface waters, transitional waters, coastal waters and groundwater (protection of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, reduction in pollution groundwater, protection of territorial and marine waters, sustainable water use, …)

WFD is one of the main documents of the European water policy today, with the main objective of achieving “good status” for all waters within a 15-year period

What is the groundwater body ?

“groundwater body” means a distinct volume of groundwater within an aquifer or aquifers

Member States shall identify, within each river basin district:

all bodies of water used for the abstraction of water intended for human consumption providing more than 10 m3 per day as an average or servingmore than 50 persons, and

those bodies of water intended for such future use.

location and boundaries of groundwater bodies

pressures to which the groundwater bodies are liable to be subject, including

diffuse sources of pollutionpoint sources of pollution abstraction artificial recharge

general character of the overlying strata in the catchment area from which the groundwater body receives its recharge

those groundwater bodies for which there are directly dependant surface water ecosystems or terrestrial ecosystems

Initial Characterization – Groundwater(Annex II, 2.1 - WFD)

Initial Characterization of Groundwater Bodies in Croatia

Approach for the initial characterization of groundwater bodies is made in the regional level

The hydrogeological map 1:300.000River basins defined in WMP

Delineation of horizontal boundaries:Geology and hydrogeological units,Hydraulic properties,Groundwater flow,Interaction of surface and ground water – karst areas

Upper boundary – covering aquitard is included in groundwater bodies

Lower boundary – temperature of 200C, mineralization of 1000mg/l

Aquifers of termal and mineral water is not included in groundwater bodies because there is not enough data

The hydrogeological general map on the scale of 1:300,000 serves as a basis for determination of locations and boundaries of groundwater bodies.

the Drava river basin– 3 water district,

the Sava river basin– 13 water districts

the immediate Danuberiver sub-basin

– 2 water district.the Adriatic drainage area

– 20 water districts(without islands).

Groundwater flow in the karst areas

Some ten tracing tests have been undertaken in Croatia

The oldest tracing tests – during 1930

GWB in the Kupa and Una river basin (karstarea)

* 21 GWBDobra river basin – recharge area

Cabranka spring Dobra river basin - ponorsLower flow of the Kupa river

Kupa spring Lower flow of the Dobra river Lower flow of the Mreznica river

Kupica and Zeleni Vir springs Korana river basin

Mreznica river basin– recharge area

Mreznica river basin – swallow-holes(ponors)

Slunjcica river basinLicka Jasenica

Plitvice – Korana areaPljesivica-Krbava area

GWB in the Istria and Hrvatsko PrimorjeGWB in the Istria and Hrvatsko Primorje

* 21 GWB

Bulaz springDragonja river basin Rijeka - west

Sv.Ivan spring Kvarner area RijekaButoniga

Bakar bayRight bank of the Mirna river

Left bank of the Mirna river Licanka river basin

Area between Rovinj-Novigrad Left bank of the Rasa river

Right bank of the Rasa river Recharge area

Krk island

Wells in the Pula area Cres island

Area between N. Vinodolski-Karlobag

Zone of estavelles and ponors

Rab island Gacka spring

Lika river basin Pag island

Ricice – Lika

Ricice river basin

Area of coastal springs

GWB in the Lika region

* 7 GWB

GWB in the Zrmanja, Krka and Cetinariver basins

* 33 GWBBokanjac – Policnik area Right bank of the Zrmanja river

Left bank of the Zrmanja riverUpper flow of Krka riverMiljacka spring

Simica spring

Cikola springBiba spring

Left bank of the Cetina riverRight bank of the Cetina river

Kakma spring

Roski slap and Kalnicki KukStudenci spring

Torak and Jaruga springs

Pantan spring

Jadro and Zrnovnica springs

Dubac submarine spring

Opacac spring and north side of Imotsko poljeVrgorska banja

Butina spring and north side of Jezera

Klokun and Modro Oko springs

Klokun – Drasnice bayPrud spring

Neretva valleyLeft bank of the Neretva river

Zaton - Bistrina

Doli – Slano bay

Palata springOmbla spring

Duboka Ljuta spring

Konaovska Ljuta springKonaovska river

GWB in the Neretvariver basin and Dubrovnik area

* 23 GWB

Type of aquifers in the groundwater bodies

Groundwater bodies at risk

The groundwater bodies at risk in Croatia was preliminarily determined on the basis of the general character of the aquifers and the overlying deposits, the pressures to which groundwater body are liable to be subject and the existing groundwater quality data.

Next steps?

grouping groundwater bodies together within 4 river basins,

collecting detailed informations on the locations, type and magnitude of the significant anthropogenic pressures,

further characterisation of groundwater bodies at risk and

establishing monitoring network for groundwater quantity and quality with the requirements of the WFD

I.II.

Example of grouping GWB in the Kupa river basin

III.

IV?

Thank you for your attention !!!