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Better flood protection in Slovenia with the help of the EU funds

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In April 2012 the Slovenian Environment Agency (ARSO) presented the new hydro-metric equipment which was purchased in the framework of the project Upgrade of the system for monitoring and analysing the water environment in Slovenia (BOBER). The equipment will enable more accurate and safer measurements of river flows. In the past ARSO employees measured the flow with the help of boats and hydrometric wings which was a time-consuming and dangerous procedure. The Cohesion Fund contribution for the acoustic Doppler metres of the flows for high-water and normal conditions, remote-controlled small boat and the ultrasonic metre amounts to 85% of the value, i.e. 117,500.00 Euros.

The acoustic Doppler flow metres (ADFM) enable more accurate and relatively safe measurements of the flow during high-waters or floods. Until now such measurements were almost unrealizable due to the limitations of the measuring equipment. For the measurements during normal conditions and droughts the ADFM also enhance the quality and the number of measurements and reduce the number of participants in the measuring team. The basic data of the measurements are simultaneously available for further use and analyses. In case of shallow river beds the speed metres are used. The remote-controlled small boat is used for the measurements of flows of those rivers which are too wide for the placement of two ropes and the use of manual operation and when there is no suitable bridging near the measuring site. It is also used for measurements on lakes and the sea to determine the depth as well as the direction and size of the water currents. These data are important for the direction of hydrological prognostic and general hydraulic models on rivers, lakes and at sea.

Prior to this presentation, the Agency also presented the overall prognostic system for the forecast of river flows in the banks of Sava and Soča which has been established in the framework of the project BOBER. The system contributes to accurate operational hydrological forecasts and timely flood warnings which has a significant contribution to flood protection. Indeed, the system enables monitoring the current water stages of rivers at the water gauge stations and the progress of river flows for six days in advance. It brings together the hydrological as well as the meteorological observations and predictions of the meteorological models. The system represents the main aid for the prognosticators for the overview of the current hydrological conditions, the preparation of hydrological forecast as well as timely warnings against floods. The system is, indeed, designed in such a way that it automatically turns on the models every hour when all the latest data from the hydrological and meteorological stations are gathered. The water levels, river flows, rainfall and the air temperatures are measured. According to the representatives of the Agency, the system of hydrological predictions is upgraded in such a way that it is more unified, simpler, more transparent and user-friendly.

The predictions of the river flows in individual water gauge stations also show the warning values of flows which enables the hydrological prognosticator to issue accurate warning against floods in due time. Hydro-alarm is a system which effectively warms the general public about the dangers of floods.

The main objective of the project is to increase the ability of an overall study and monitoring of the factors in the water circle from various aspects. Especially important is the aspect of a balanced spatial planning and, thus, better water management and the construction of representative measurement networks which will support the evaluation of the state of water bodies. From the view point of environment protection and effective and sustainable energy use the protection of drinking waters is of special importance – such as determining dangerous toxic substances in the environment, the protection of health and the lives of people and assets against the consequences of natural disasters (protection against floods and droughts), which needs to be grounded on the correct and timely meteorological and hydrological forecast and providing the data in due time.

The foreseen project results:

248 upgraded and new measurement locations throughout Slovenia
replacement of equipment at 33 measurement locations
placement of an additional weather radar
new equipment for periodic hydrological measurements and measurements of the dynamics of the sea
ensuring the conditions for the activity of the Service for Sea Meteorology and Oceanography
modernisation of computer infrastructure in the ARSO computer centre
modernisation and expansion of the chemical-analytical, biological and steering laboratory
establishment of the systems for the forecast of the hydrological state of the river Sava and Soča, dynamics of the sea, the state of the groundwater in the alluvium water bodies and the monitoring of drought

In the framework of the project BOBER, which is co-financed by the European Union from the Cohesion Fund in the amount of 27.7 million Euros, ARSO currently monitors 70% of aquatic environment in Slovenia.