ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT: The Šalek Valley is overburdened with many human activities. The river Paka is too small for an industrially and energetically intensive area. Not only environmental pollution itself, but also changes in the river network have enlarged the sensitivity of the water bodies. Due to coalmining the surface of the Šalek Valley has subsided and subsidence lakes have appeared.A high standard of measures for environmental protection is necessary to prevent the pollution of these lakes. Due to the poor quality of the river Paka at the beginning of nineties, a water improvement programme was adopted. The main goal was to upgrade the Paka to the 2nd quality class. A lot of environmental improvement activities have been carried out. Upgrading of the wastewater treatment plant was the main aim of the programme. A financial grant (50%) was awarded by the European Union’s ISPA financial instrument for carrying out the project.