Abstract
The sustainable management of river basins is a comprehensive problem involving not only environmental quality but also socio-economic aspects. The primary objective of the study is to propose a sustainable management model of a river basin based on a clear identification of the good water quality in the river basin applicable for any river basin. The proposal is based on a monitoring of the quality of surface water in the basin, a quantitative and qualitative analysis of pollution, a questionnaire survey on the sewer systems and wastewater treatment in the basin and the diffuse sources of water pollution. For a better outline, a case study of Hornád river basin, Slovakia, was carried out. Two methodologies were applied: SWOT analysis for identification of indicators and the priorities and AHP analysis for a prioritization of the decisions. These analyses can be carried out for any activity based on identification of indicators and the priorities of the defined indicators to promote sustainable development. Based on the findings and the results of the analyses the model for managing the development of surface water quality in the basin was proposed. Generally applicable principles of sustainable development, accepting legislation in the field of water management, considering the quality of surface water in the basin, the impacts of wastewater discharges into the recipient, the identification and evaluation of positive and negative aspects of surface water quality, and the implementation of the proposed measures and post-implementation monitoring of qualitative development were covered in and by the proposed model.
Highlights
Water quality is becoming a criterion and its assessment is a requirement for the determination of the water source for different areas of the economy and for households [3,4]; the continuous monitoring of processes leads to the elimination of pollution of surface and groundwater [5,6] and a need for reliable and sustainable water management [7,8]
Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) analysis, it can be concluded that an effective surface water quality management in the basin should have clearly defined rules for monitoring and regular evaluation of quantitative and qualitative indicators determining the development of water quality in the basin with an integrated matrix for assessing the impact of discharges into the basin based on the quantifier—scoring ratio—reflecting the intensity of positive aspects supporting the achievement and subsequent maintenance of good surface water status in the basin
From the point of view of increasing the quality of surface water in the basin, there are hydrogeological conditions, allocation of diffuse sources of water pollution, intensity of wastewater treatment in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) discharging wastewater into the basin, as well as the qualitative state of individual components of the environment primarily influencing the development of surface water quality in the basin
Summary
Water quality is becoming a criterion and its assessment is a requirement for the determination of the water source for different areas of the economy and for households [3,4]; the continuous monitoring of processes leads to the elimination of pollution of surface and groundwater [5,6] and a need for reliable and sustainable water management [7,8]. An innovation in sustainable river basin planning strategies and management faced uncertainties and conflicting interests among experts, while critical zones for implementing policies were identified and prioritized with improving reliability on the model results and optimistic, pessimistic and nominal viewpoints were obtained [22]
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