2005 - 2006 - Pinsent Masons Water Yearbook 2012

SLOVENIA PART 2: COUNTRY ANALYSIS
Slovenia
Management and financial strategy
A new Water Act was adopted in 1998, along with ordinances on the water quality standards of
surface fresh water and groundwater, the monitoring requirements concerning the quality of surface
water and the ecological quality standards of water. Approximately 30% of water costs are recovered
through pricing at present. Water and sewerage services are to become self financing in the medium
term (2005-2010), through the adoption of a pricing policy for cost-recovery and equitable allocation of
water in the Water Act. Domestic and commercial water users are taxed in proportion to the pollution
load of the wastewater discharged. Exemptions from the tax can be granted if the revenues are used
to fund projects aimed at reducing water pollution.
Environmental spending and sources of finance
Budgeted spending on water and wastewater was US$391.1 million for 2001-03 and US$519.4 million
for 2004-2006.
Inland water quality
The quality of watercourses has improved gradually since 1989 due to a decrease in industrial
sewage, along with the municipal wastewater treatment investment coming into effect.
Class 1992 1995 2000 2002
1 0% 2% 1% 3%
1-2 3% 4% 1% 6%
2 32% 41% 54% 45%
2-3 30% 24% 14% 19%
3 23% 21% 23% 20%
3-4 4% 4% 1% 2%
4 9% 5% 6% 5%
Pollution of the majority of surface waters exceeds the allowed limit (3rd and 4th grades, equivalent to
poor and bad) and has been spreading towards river headwaters. The quality of groundwater has
been declining recently. The most polluted groundwater with nitrates are found in the areas with
intensive agricultural use, improperly maintained sewerage systems and thin cover layers. However,
point sources of pollution of water have been improved.
Water provision
Drinking water supply for 77% of the population is organized through public networks (treated), 14%
from private wells, 5% from rainwater reservoirs and 4% from other sources. Approximately 47% of
the total amount of piped drinking water is used by households, 39% by industry and the
manufacturing sector, while 8% are supplied to livestock farms, 5% to the tourist industry and 1% to all
other purposes. In 2000, almost 155,000 (7.8%) people had no drinking water from the public water
supply.
Sewerage and sewage treatment
Approximately 53% of the population lives in areas covered by the sewage system. The capacity for
treating wastewater is 190 million m 3 /year (45%), with 30% of the population connected to the sewage
system and sewerage treatment. There remains a pressing need for the adoption of secondary and
tertiary treatment on a broad basis.
Sewerage treatment 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2005*
Preliminary 45% 45% 45% 45% 48% 44%
Primary 11% 8% 9% 9% 7% 5%
Secondary 6% 8% 5% 7% 11% 40%
Tertiary 3% 3% 5% 5% 3% 5%
* the 2005 figure is a target.
180 Pinsent Masons Water Yearbook 2005 – 2006