The article evaluates the water quality in rural areas in the Czech part of Labe River catchment using the example of Slapanka River catchment. This river drains a typical landscape of Ceskomoravska Highland. Water quality in rural areas is still very low and the attention is paid to organic substances and nutrients. Increased amount of them in streams is caused mainly by agriculture and production of municipal wastewater resulting in increased eutrophication. A significant part of the article consists in the evaluation of point and non-point sources of water pollution. Identifying the type of the pollution source is helped by regression analysis using data from the public monitoring network. Eleven sampling sites were selected for evaluating the water quality. Physical and chemical analyses were made 12 times during the field monitoring in the years 2001-2003. In long-term development water quality has improved in all monitored parameters during the last 15 years. Least significant improvement has been found with the concentration of nitrate nitrogen. The water quality within the whole catchment area still remains low.To reduce the influence of pollution sources, we recommend the sanitation of diffuse sources of pollution from small settlements with less than 2000 inhabitants, and a successive change from agricultural management and intensive mass production to extensive ways, especially in mountain and sub-mountain areas.

This article evaluates water quality of the river Šlapanka, which runs through a typical landscape of Českomoravská vrchovina. It deals with water quality at present and with its long-term development (since 1976). A significant part of the article consists of evaluation of pollution sources (agriculture, industry, population). The type of pollution sources is distinguished by dependence analysis of concentration of substances on flows and in different seasons. At the end of the article there are measures suggested to reduce the impact of pollution sources.

The state of environment in 1989 was a result of political and economic development of Czechoslovakia during preceding 40 years. Political and economical changes were the reason why the water quality in the Czech Republic has been significantly changing since 90's. In this text we want to describe not only these changes, but also their causes, including the legislation changes due to preparation for the membership in the EU and their consequences in the field of water management, water quality, water ecosystems restoration and others.