Statistical Yearbook of the Czech Republic

 

Environment - methodology

 Contents
 
            The environment comprises anything that creates natural conditions for the existence of organisms, including human beings, and is a prerequisite for their further evolution. Its components are especially the air, water, rocks, soil, organisms, ecosystems, and energy.
            Environmental protection expenditures include expenditures on the acquisition of environmental fixed assets and environmental non-investment expenditures. The data are collected by means of an annual statistical questionnaire of the CZSO. The data on fixed assets are the sum of expenditures expended by reporting units on acquiring fixed assets (by purchase or own activities) and the total value of fixed assets acquired by free transfer, transfer according to respective legislation or by a change from private use to business. The non-investment expenditures include wages and salaries, payments for rent, energy and other material, and payments for services whose principal purpose is to protect the environment.
            Environmental investments data (data on investments in environment pollution control) are measured through annual statistical questionnaires. The data on tangible fixed assets are the sum of expenditures spent by reporting units on the acquisition of tangible fixed assets (by purchase or own activity), together with the total value of tangible fixed assets acquired free of charge, by transfer under respective laws and regulations, and by transfer from personal use to business.
            Waste management refers to activities focused on preventing waste generation, managing waste, and subsequent care for places where waste is deposited, as well as to checking these activities.
            Water management refers to all activities which target the use, development and protection of water sources as well as protection against harmful effects of water.

Notes on tables

Table 3-1. Changes in land use (plantations)
            The differences between decreases/increases in agricultural and non-agricultural land are due to the updating of areas after mapping.
The figures shown in this table were provided by the Czech Office for Surveying, Mapping and Cadastre.


Tables 3-2 to 3-5. Protected areas
            Act No. 114/1992 Coll., of the Czech National Council, on Nature and Landscape Conservation distinguishes between 6 categories of especially protected areas:
  •     national parks and protected landscape areas - referred to as large protected areas, and
  •      national nature reserves, nature reserves, national nature monuments, and nature monuments referred to as small protected areas.
            The figures listed in the tables are provided by the Agency for Nature Conservation and Landscape Protection, Prague.


Tables 3-6 to 3-10. Environmental fixed assets acquired, environmental non-investment expenditures expended and economic benefit from environmental protection activities
            Environment pollution control projects include:
Air pollution control and climate protection includes e.g. innovations of technological processes designed to prevent pollution from arising (protection of air, climate and ozone layer); removal of waste gas and vented air; removal of solid and gaseous emissions; air quality monitoring systems.
Wastewater management includes e.g. innovations of technological processes designed to prevent pollution from generation; construction of wastewater treatment plants; construction of sewerage systems connected to wastewater treatment plants; cooling water management; water quality monitoring systems.
Waste management includes e.g. innovations of technological processes designed to prevent waste from generation; facilities and equipment for waste collection, transport, separation and treatment; construction of incineration plants, recycling plants, controlled landfills, and composting plants; redevelopment (sanitation) of old landfills; waste monitoring systems.
Landscape and biodiversity protection includes e.g. protection and rehabilitation of habitats and species; protection of natural and semi-natural types of landscape; protection and renewal of environmental stability elements; revitalization of hydrological network; costs of solutions to duties resulting from Articles 35 and 32 of Act No. 44/1988 Coll., on the Protection and Use of Mineral Resources (the Mining Act).
Soil, groundwater and surface water protection and remediation includes e.g. prevention of pollutants from deposition in soil and then from infiltration into water; prevention of soil from contamination and degradation by chemical effects, followed by soil remediation; protection of soil against erosion, slope movements and other degradation caused by physical phenomena, including costs of solutions to landslide issues; costs of geological survey tasks aimed at protection of soil, groundwater and surface water.
Vibration and noise abatement (excl. workplace protection) includes e.g. prevention of noise and vibration from generation through technological innovations; construction and application of noise and vibration control systems in transport by road, rail and air and in industry; measuring equipment.
Radiological protection includes e.g. anti-radon measures; geological work connected with the issue of locating deep nuclear waste depositories; measuring equipment; highly radioactive waste transport and handling.
Research and development include R&D activities dealing with air pollution control and protection of climate and ozone layer; water pollution control; waste management; soil and groundwater protection; noise and vibration abatement; biodiversity and landscape conservation; radiological protection, and other environmental research and development.
Other activities include acquisition of tangible fixed assets to protect against floods, environmental protection education and training.
            Source data for the tables were data from annual questionnaires of the CZSO.


Tables 3-11 to 3-16. Emissions from air polluters and specific emissions of main pollutants
            Basic pollutants of primary concern, which are generated by combusting solid and liquid fuels and discharged into the air, comprise solids (fly-ash and solid particulate matter), sulphur dioxide (SO2 ) nitrogen oxides (NOx ), carbon monoxide (CO), and hydrocarbons (CxHy ).
            Since 2002, volatile organic compounds (VOC) have been reported instead of emissions of hydrocarbons (CxHy ) . Available data for the emission balance of VOC, which also covers emissions from the use of solvents, paints and varnishes e.g. for outdoor maintenance and in households, do not permit making a breakdown by individual polluter at present. Hence, only the total of VOC emissions of VOC is given for the time being.
            Amounts of pollutants discharged into the air are listed in the Register of Emissions and Air Polluters (Registr emisí a zdrojů znečišťujících ovzduší - REZZO). The register keeps records of the following types of polluters broken down by their thermal outputs:
  •             REZZO 1: includes stationary fuel-burning systems more than 5 MW in thermal output, plus systems operated in especially important technological processes. The systems classified to this group are referred to as 'big polluters';
  •             REZZO 2: includes technological systems incorporating stationary fuel-burning equipment whose thermal output ranges from 0.2 to 5 MW, equipment of important technological processes, and coal mines and similar areas, where burning, evaporating or escaping of pollutants is possible. This group is referred to as 'medium-sized polluters';
  •             REZZO 3: includes local technological systems with stationary fuel-burning equipment whose thermal output is lower than 0.2 MW (with the exception of local furnaces used in flats, residential and weekend houses), production process equipment not falling into the category of big and medium-sized polluters, areas where work done can pollute the air, storage sites of fuel, raw materials, products, waste and captured emitted pollutants, and other facilities and activities polluting the air to a large extent. This group is referred to as 'small polluters';
  •             REZZO 4: mobile systems equipped with air-polluting combustion or other engines. This group includes especially road and rail motor vehicles, vessels and aircraft. It is referred to as 'mobile polluters'. Since 1995, the balance has been including emissions of solid and sulphur dioxide pollutants from transport.
            Specific emissions are emissions of pollutants per unit of time per unit of area.

Tables 3-17 and 3-18. Pollution at selected locations and background stations
            Pollution limit is the maximum permissible concentration (by weight) of a pollutant contained in the air.
            Permissible 24-hour concentrations are set for sulphur dioxide and PM10 as 50 µg/m3 and 40 µg/m3, respectively.
Methods of measurement:
  • sulphur dioxide (SO2 ) : colorimetry, coulometry and UV fluorescence
  • PM10 (respirable fraction of suspended particulate matter with an aerodynamic average of 50% of particulates below 10 µm): radiometry
  • nitrogen oxides (NOx ): colorimetry and chemical luminescence
  • precipitation acidity: pH-metry.
            Precipitation acidity is read on the scale of 14 to 1, where pH values = 14, 7 and 1 indicate extremely alkaline, neutral and extremely acidic environments, respectively.


Table 3-19. Near-ground layer of ozone
            The maximum level of ozone at the ground is the maximum 8-hour average level measured between 09.00 and 17.00 hours.
            The ozone concentrations at the ground are measured by the method of UV absorbance.
Figures shown in Tables 3-11 to 3-19 were taken over from the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute.


Table 3-20. Total amounts of ozone in the atmosphere
            Ozone is measured with Dobson spectrophotometer on the principle of determining the extent of selective absorption of solar radiation, passing through the atmosphere, by ozone at certain wavelengths. The extent of selective absorption is proportional to the amount of ozone. All the values are given in Dobson units (D.U.) B.P. Scale and supplied by the Solar and Ozone Observatory, Hradec Králové managed by the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute.

Table 3-21 to 3-24. Generation of waste
            On 1 January 2002 a new Act No. 185/2001 Coll., on Waste and Amendments to Some Other Acts, as last amended, entered into force. The Act fully complies with waste management laws and regulations of the EU.
            Waste is any movable thing its owner disposes of or intends to dispose of, which is classified to a group of wastes listed in Annex No. 1 to Act No. 185/2001 Coll.
            Hazardous waste is waste included in the list of hazardous wastes given in the implementing regulation as well as any waste exhibiting one or more hazardous characteristics listed in Annex No. 2 to Act No. 185/2001 Coll.
            Waste management refers to gathering, concentration, concentration, purchase, sorting, transport, recovery and disposal of waste.
            Ways of waste management
            The ways of waste management are divided into two groups, in compliance with the division according to the EU. They are:
  • waste recovery - activities shown in Annex No. 3 to Act. No. 185/2001 Coll.; and
  • waste disposal - activities shown in Annex No. 4 to Act. No. 185/2001 Coll.
Municipal waste refers to all wastes generated within the municipality by the activity of actual persons, coming under Group 20 of the Waste List, except for wastes produced by legal or natural persons holding a business licence.
In this publication the municipal waste refers to all wastes generated within the municipality by the activity of actual persons and similar wastes generated by trades, offices, etc., including components of these wastes collected separately.
            Trade waste refers to wastes, whose composition is similar to the municipal wastes classified under Group 20 of the Waste List, generated by the non-productive activity of legal or natural persons holding a business licence (e.g. small entrepreneurs, offices, etc.).
            Standard collection of waste refers to collection of mixed wastes from dustbins, containers or bags.
            Collection of bulky wastes refers to collection of wastes overly large to be placed in dustbins, containers or bags.
            Data for the tables were collected and processed by the CZSO from figures provided on CZSO statistical questionnaire. Except for CZ-NACE divisions and classes 37, 5155, 5157, and 90, the reporting units for Tables 3-21, 3-22 and 3-24 are enterprises with 20+ employees, classified under CZ-NACE codes 01, 02, 10-41, 45, 502, 505, 5155 (5+ employees), 5157 (5+ employees), 52, 55, 601, 602, 61, 62, 642, 747, 7481, 851, 852, 90 (0 or more employees), 9211 and 93. The data listed in Table 3-23 were provided by municipalities (chosen via local authorities) classified under CZ-NACE group 751.


Tables 3-25 and 3-26. Environmental expenditure from central resources; incomes and expenditures of the State Environmental Fund (SEF)
            SEF‘s incomes consist of various payments and charges and resources from the National Programme of Air Pollution Control (NPAPC), while SEF‘s expenditures include grants and loans.
            The data were taken over from the State Environmental Fund, National Property Fund and the Ministry of Finance of the CR.


Table 3-27. Contamination of food with selected foreign substances
            The choice of commodities, chemical elements and organic contaminants, made in cooperation with the Czech Agricultural and Food Inspection, was primarily directed to those substances whose acceptable daily intakes (ADI) established by the World Health Organization are comparatively high. The table gives the numbers of samples taken and their share (in % of total samples taken) which is off the hygienic limit.
            The figures listed in the table were provided by the State Veterinary Administration of the CR and the Czech Agricultural and Food Inspection.


Tables 3-28 and 3-29. Quality of surface and ground water
            The indicators of the quality of surface water are expressed by an arithmetic mean and evaluated according to the national standard ČSN 75 7221.
            The quality of groundwater is evaluated according to the national standard ČSN 75 7111 - Drinking water, as follows:
            Chemical oxygen demand (CODCr): the consumption of oxygen determined by dichromate method.
            Chemical oxygen demand (CODMn): the consumption of oxygen determined by manganese method.
            Alpha activity: the activity of radioactive radiation; its unit of measure is 1 Becquerel (1 Bq).
            Figures were provided by the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute.


Table 3-30. Pollutants discharged into watercourses and accidents on water sources
            The quantities of pollutants discharged into watercourses are given in metric tonnes per year, separately for individual pollutants defined as follows:
  • undissolved substances: substances determined by filtering water and drying up the residue to constant weight at 105° C;
  • dissolved inorganic salts: substances which remain after the filtration of the water sample. They are determined by evaporating a filtered water sample and by drying up and annealing (at 600° C) the residue after evaporation. The residue is annealed to constant weight;
  • biological oxygen demand (BOD5 ) : the amount of oxygen consumed by aerobic biochemical decomposition of organic matter contained in water, over 5 days under standard conditions;
  • chemical oxygen demand (COD): the amount of consumed oxygen (O2) as determined by dichromate method.


Table 3-31. Watercourses and surface water supplies under watercourse management organisations
            Watercourses are national property (Water Act No. 254/2001 Coll.) and the administration of their substantial part is entrusted to water management organizations – state-owned enterprises Povodí).
            Length of watercourses (km) includes regulated, partially regulated and non-regulated courses and excludes drainage, irrigation and feeding channels.


Tables 3-32 to 3-37. Public water-supply and sewerage systems, public wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), sludge production in WWTPs
            The area of water-supply and sewerage systems embraces activities linked to the administration and operation of these systems - i.e., to providing sufficient supply of good quality drinking water and to removing sewage water, including its treatment.
            Public water-supply and sewerage systems: water-supply and sewerage systems established and run in the interest of the general good.
            Production of water: includes both invoiced and non-invoiced water. The sum of these two items may differ from figures for the total production by amount of water received from or supplied to other organizations.
            Wastewater treatment plants are buildings and equipment used for treating wastewater in a mechanical, biological and/or another treatment stage. Equipment used for coarse pre-treatment of wastewater (rakes, sand traps, oil traps, etc.), cesspools and simple devices with mechanical function, which are not monitored and operated regularly, are not considered to be wastewater treatment plants.
            The capacity of WWTPs given here refers to design capacities (in m3/day) or higher if implemented intensification measures that raised the design capacity have been approved by water authorities.
            The figures listed in Tables 3-30 to 3-37 have been obtained from the processing of CZSO questionnaires completed by watercourse management organizations and operators of water supply and sewerage systems.
            Information on water supply and sewerage systems has been collected from major operators. At present, a sample survey is also conducted to collect data from small operators and the data obtained are grossed up to regions and the country.


The figures released in this chapter are comparable with those given in the statistical yearbooks of previous years. The information on environmental non-investments expenditures, economic benefit from environmental protection activities, wastewater treatment plants, and sludge production has been newly incorporated into the chapter.



*          *          *

            Other and more detailed information on the environment can be found in the following regular CZSO publications brought out according to the CZSO Catalogue of Publications 2005 under group 2 – ENVIRONMENT, AGRICULTURE, subgroup 20 - Environment:

  • “Generation, Recovery and Disposal of Waste in the CR in 2004” (Czech-English) – September 2005
  • “Information on the Environment in the CR (1999-2004)” (Czech–English) – November 2005
  • “Water Supply, Sewerage and Watercourses 2004” (Czech-English) – April 2005, and
group 5 – MACROECONOMY, subgroup 52 – Investment:
  • “Environmental Protection Expenditure in the CR in 2004” (Czech-English) – December 2005,
as well as in the “Statistical Environmental Yearbook of the Czech Republic” (Czech-English – a publication jointly produced by the Ministry of the Environment of the CR and the Czech Statistical Office.