Groundwater management in Vojvodina

Past utilization of groundwater resources in Vojvodina (the Serbian part of the Pannonian Basin) has resulted in a number of water supply problems, particularly insufficient water quantities and the deterioration of water quality. Increasing pressure on groundwater resources has resulted in over-abstraction (aquifer “mining”), with current abstraction rates exceeding sustainable yield. Water supply in Vojvodina is generally based on a groundwater aquifer (generally referred to as “the main” aquifer) which is shared with Hungary, Romania and Croatia. In order to achieve a better balance in groundwater utilization between the environment and water users (i.e. to establish a sound basis for sustainable utilization, management and protection of the transboundary aquifer), the development of new, renewable groundwater sources in the Danube and Sava alluvions has been proposed.