Slovakia faces water distribution and protection challenges

Slovakia possesses sufficient water capacity, primarily due to the Žitný ostrov reservoir, which could theoretically supply the entire country in an extreme scenario. However, Alena Trančíková, head of water quality and environment at Bratislavská vodárenská spoločnosť, warns that the nation lacks the necessary infrastructure to distribute this water to drier regions, such as eastern Slovakia.

Beyond distribution issues, there are significant concerns regarding the protection of water sources. While Slovakia has high-quality legislation for groundwater protection, Trančíková notes that enforcement is problematic and criticizes the State Water Management authority for failures in oversight. She identifies agriculture as a primary source of pollution on Žitný ostrov, noting that unlike the Danube, which benefits from advanced wastewater treatment in upstream countries like Austria and Germany, local agricultural runoff remains a major issue.

To mitigate water scarcity, Trančíková recommends individual measures such as rainwater harvesting through infiltration or the use of storage tanks for gardening and other purposes.