The impact of the enlargement of the nuclear power plant 'Paks' (Hungary) on groundwater resources in Vojvodina

Abstract

The current decision of the neighbouring Republic of Hungary to enlarge the capacities of the existing nuclear power plant 'Paks', located on the Danube river, by two new reactors, poses a significant issue which requires extensive assessment of all aspects of the impact of such a decision on the environment in the given region due to the proximity to the territory of the Republic of Serbia. The paper is concerned with the impact of the future nuclear complex's functioning on groundwater resources in Vojvodina, based on experience in the area of groundwater reserve formation in the region of the Pannonian Basin, its utilization and protection. Furthermore, an impact assessment has been given, relative to the strategic solution for future water supply system of the northern and north-western Bačka region, according to which the construction of a groundwater regional source in the Danube alluvion near the city of Apatin is planned, an area which was subjected to detailed hydrogeological explorations and hydrodynamic investigation in recent years.

Keywords

• groundwater
• nuclear power plant 'Paks'
• radioactivity