AQUAMONEY - Impacts on surface and groundwater bodies in the Altat-ér catchment, Hungary

The many artificial lakes in the Altal-ér catchments have an impact on both the impounded and downstream section of the watercourse. The lakes’ retention of the flow can be important due to low flow conditions. Changes to the chemical and biological status due to the human activities in the catchment the include a markedly decrease of fish fauna (no particular river zones could be distuingesd on the basis of the fish fauna) and a lack of significant stands of macrophyta plants due to the high proportion of constructed shores. Impact on groundwater orgines from coal mining, which resulted sharp decrease of carstic water levels. Conserning quality is stated that the most serious problem is in and around Tatabánya, Vértessz?l?s and Tata, where due to urbanisation and numerous point source pollution, several pollutants are expected to exceed the limit value. Signifcant pH change and heavy metal pollution is probably related to the slurry dumping sites of power stations. Also other diffuse source pollutions have resulted in risk conditions. (2.2. Impacts on surface and groundwater bodies - p.12)