Without limiting human presence on Velika Planina, it won't work.
The Kamnik Caving Club, in collaboration with the Municipality of Kamnik, has completed extensive research on the quality and quantity of groundwater for the year 2025. The final report, prepared by Rok Slapnik, Vid Kregar, and B. Lap, spans 27 pages and presents the latest overview of the status of water resources in the area of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps and the Velika Planina Plateau.
Scope of the work performed
Within the framework of the research, 32 measurements of various physical, chemical, and microbiological parameters were conducted, including: water flow, air and water temperature, electrical conductivity, redox potential, TDS (dissolved solids), dissolved oxygen, pH and water hardness, nitrates, ammonium, sulfates, presence of Escherichia coli, coliform bacteria, enterococci, colony count at 22 °C and 37 °C.
Microbiological analyses were performed by the National Laboratory for Health, Environment, and Food. Additionally, researchers assessed the presence of bioindicator species of snails and freshwater mussels and sampled 15 springs for stable tritium isotope analysis.
Field work and cave explorations
During the Velika Planina 2025 Caving Camp (23–24 August) and additional actions on Velika Planina, Planina Dol, and Rzenik, club members explored and surveyed several cave objects, inspected blowholes and sinkholes, and assessed the amount of snow and ice in them.
In several multi-day field actions, they also surveyed the western slope of the Velikoplaninska Plateau from Stahovice to Kalič, recorded several new springs, and inventoried two intakes.
Key findings of the report
Researchers highlighted several concerning trends in the final report:
1) Groundwater pollution remains high
Despite efforts to reduce pollution, high levels of E. coli, enterococci, coliform bacteria, and other microorganisms continue to appear in all sampled stream outlets.
2) The 2023 floods have altered hydrological conditions
The prolonged, three-week turbidity of the Kamniška Bistrica after heavy rain and high E. coli presence confirm that underground water paths and flow dynamics have significantly changed after the floods.
3) New waste dumps on the Velikoplaninska Plateau
New illegal dumpsites are appearing in the plateau area, further threatening groundwater quality.
4) Remediation exceeds volunteers' capacities
The extent of landfills and illegal dumpsites has become so large that volunteer actions can no longer effectively manage it. Systemic measures and broader support will be needed.
Slapnik R., Kregar V. & B. Lap 2025: Research on the quality and quantity of groundwater in the year
2025.
The final report of the Kamnik Caving Club thus warns of the urgency of comprehensive measures to protect groundwater, which is one of the municipality's key natural resources. The research results clearly show that environmental changes, flood consequences, and improper waste management pose serious threats to water resources, so the coming year will require even more coordinated work between the municipality, experts, local communities, and people…
Source:
https://gore-ljudje.net/informacije/zakljucno-porocilo-o-raziskavah-podzemne-vode-v-obcini-kamnik-za-leto-2025/