Application of EU Water Framework Directive for monitoring of small water catchment areas in Hungary, II. Preliminary study for establishment of surveillance monitoring system for moderately loaded (rural) and heavily loaded (urban) catchment areas

For the elaboration of a monitoring guidance corresponding to the EU Water Framework Directives, a comprehensive monitoring network on small water catchment areas was developed on three investigated areas in Hungary. In the present study the experience of monitoring of the Galga and Rákos streams are presented, which represent a moderately loaded rural and a heavily impacted urbanic catchment area, respectively. Hydrological, biological and chemical parameters were monitored during one year. The influence of human impact on the spatial and temporal variability of parameters and the appropriate frequency of sampling were compared. Necessary actions to improve the ecological status can be suggested on the basis of the above monitoring programme.