Landscape Vulnerability of Ljubljana’s Most Important Water Source

Abstract

Situated in the immediate vicinity of the city and in an area with landscape properties advantageous for its regeneration, the groundwater of Ljubljansko polje is the most important source of potable water for the supply of Ljubljana. A humid climate, the intensive infiltration of precipitation and the Sava River through a covering layer of sand and gravel sediments, a large dynamic stock of aquifer, and, in comparison with the majority of groundwaters in Slovenia, the great depth to the water table result in moderate landscape sensitivity or moderate regeneration and neutralization capacities of the water source. Due to the intensive, predominantly urban use of the surface above the groundwater and environmental pollution, Ljubljansko polje and its groundwater are excessively burdened, and the natural self-cleansing capacity of the environment is already diminished. We can therefore justifiably speak of the vulnerability of the environment of the water source to further pollution and about the groundwater as a limiting factor in planning further encroachments in the environment of Ljubljansko polje.