Water protection areas cover 347,000 ha or 17% of the Slovenian territory.
Water protection areas are protected by municipal ordinances and governmental decrees. They have been designated in order to protect water bodies that are used, or are intended to be used, for the public drinking water supply against pollution or other burdens that might affect the quantity of water or its suitability for human consumption.
The size of a water protection area must be sufficient to allow the protective measures to effectively ensure long-term sustainability of water quantity and quality in an exploited water source. Depending on the distance and time required for groundwater or surface water to reach the water supply well, water protection areas are subject to protection regimes that distinguish three levels of strictness.
RABA, Ministry of Agriculture and the Environment, 2016; Water protection areas, Slovenin Environment Agency, 2016
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Water protection Areas, Slovenain Environmental Agency, July 2016
· To designate water protection areas, primarily in densely populated areas, in order to protect water bodies or parts thereof that are exploited or are intended for the public drinking water supply or the production of beverages from pollution or other burdens that would affect water quantities or the suitability of water for human consumption.