Sažetak
Settlements with less than 2.000 inhabitants, generally with rural character, account for approximately 60 % of the total population of the Republic of Croatia, and cover 70 % of its territory. There are 469 preliminary agglomerations in the Republic of Croatia below 2.000 PE and account for 15 % of Croatia's population. It is important to emphasize that 45 % of those settlements with less than 2.000 inhabitants are part of agglomerations larger than 2.000 PE. Simultaneously, a large number of inhabitants in agglomerations below 2000 PE live in protected areas and 410 agglomerations below 2.000 PE discharge the waste water into a sensitive areas, or discharge wastewater into small recipients without temporary flow or into the underground. The stricter water protection, by implementation of “adequate treatment level“ and by “combined approach”, are prerequisites for the achievement of good water status and fulfilling several environmental protection objectives for river basin.
Ključne riječi
agglomerations below 2.000 population equivalent PE; small urban waste water treatment plants UWWTPs; protected areas; combined approach; environmental protection objectives for river basin; good water status