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Emerging organic compounds EOC are substances which have been only recently determined as pollutants, and substances which have been newly developed or discovered in the environment. EOC in groundwater can cause adverse effects on the environment and human health. They enter into the natural environment as a result of various anthropogenic activities. The article provides an overview of emerging organic pollutants that occur in groundwater. These compounds are drug residues, substances originating from personal čare products, pesticides, veterinary products, food additives, nanomaterials, industrial and other compounds found in wastewater. The article describes the main sources and the presence of EOC in groundwater, pathways and potential impacts (risks). An overview of EOC detection research in the world is presented. Within the review of Slovenian studies the investigations dealing with the determination of wide spectrum of EOC presence in groundwater, with drug residues in groundwater and waste water, or with the development of analytical methods for these substances were analyzed. From the entire analysis we inferred that we must be aware of the possible presence of EOC risk in groundwater even in small concentrations. To reduce the yet extent unknown risks, it is necessary to determine EOC threshold values in groundwater and their impact. In the future it will be necessary to identify new pollutants, to develop new analytical methods to determine their sources and routes, and in particular, to establish monitoring for these substances. UvodOrganske spojine antropogenega izvora predstavljajo pomemben dejavnik pri onesnaževanju okolja. Izraz novo nastale organske spojine (emerging organic compounds -EOC) se na splošno uporablja za spojine, ki so bile šele pred kratkim določene kot onesnaževala. To je predvsem po-sledica razvoja analitskih metod, ki omogočajo določitev spojin v nižjih vsebnostih Stuart et al., 2012). Kot onesnaževala v podzemni vodi lahko EOC povzročijo neželene vplive na okolje in zdravje ljudi, saj vsebujejo široko paleto različnih spojin, tudi metabolitov, produkte transformacije in razkroja: farmacevtske spojine, izdelke za osebno nego, pesticide, ve-

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With increasing exploitation of groundwater resources and implementation of various activities in their recharge areas, it is vital to conduct a comprehensive assessment of aquifers to ensure their conservation and sustainable management. In the present study, we used a comprehensive approach to conceptualise and identify the functioning of two connected aquifer systems in north-eastern Slovenia: the Quaternary porous aquifers Dravsko polje and Ptujsko polje. The study presents the conceptual models of both aquifers and their interconnectedness using separate mathematical-numerical models with the aim of ensuring an integrated management of these alluvial aquifer systems. It also highlights the importance of understanding connections between such systems for simulating groundwater flow and transport of different contaminants. To describe the entire aquifer system, the study defines its three essential elements: the geometry of the aquifers, their recharge by precipitation, and other boundary conditions. The geometry of the Quaternary aquifers was defined using Sequential Indicator Simulation (SIS) with the ESRI’s ArcMap software. Next, LIDAR was used for determining their surface geometry. The hydrogeologic model was designed using the Groundwater Modelling System (GMS) developed by AQUAVEO. We used the MODFLOW 2000 calculation method based on the finite difference method (FDM). The model was calibrated with the PEST module, which was used to calibrate hydraulic conductivity and hydraulic heads between the measured and modelled data. Finally, the model was validated using the Nash–Sutcliffe (NSE) efficiency coefficient. In addition, the model results estimated using the PEST tool were validated with the hydraulic conductivities determined at the pumping sites (pumping tests), each belonging to water protection zones that define the maximum travel time of the particles. This was performed using the MODPATH method. The paper also presents the possibility of modelling heterogeneous but interdependent aquifers in a groundwater body. Modelling the connection between the two aquifers, which are the most important ones in the region, is essential for a comprehensive management of the entire system of water resources. The models allow for a better understanding of groundwater flow in both aquifers. Moreover, their interconnectedness will be used for further studies in this field, as well as for integrated water management.

<p>Determining the transport characteristics of pollutants in a gravel unsaturated zone is particularly difficult, owing to the heterogeneity of the geological media. Understanding the mechanisms and rates of movement of pollutants in the unsaturated zone is an important issue in the process of groundwater protection. One of the most valuable ways of investigating the characteristics, groundwater flow and solute transport in the unsaturated zone is by conducting experimental research, namely tracer experiments. Flow and transport parameters of propyphenazone, caffeine and carbamazepine have been studied with tracer experiments using a lysimeter facility in the Selniška Dobrava (NE Slovenia). The lysimeter site is designed as a field laboratory. The dimensions are 2x2 m, 5 m deep, with 0.2 m thick walls. There are 10 sampling and measuring points at different depths (from JV-1 to JV-10) with approximately equal distances in depth. For the purpose of sampling groundwater in the unsaturated zone, drainage samplers were installed and connected to a water sampling system. The tracer experiment lasted over a time period of approximately two years. The organic pollutants selected to determine the processes of migration and degradation through the aquifer were carbamazepine, propyphenazone and caffeine. Compounds differ in their physical and chemical properties, which results in different transport paths and velocities of individual pollutants through the aquifer. Due to its conservative behaviour, deuterated water was used as the conservative tracer. For the evaluation of flow and transport parameters the HYDRUS 1-D software was used. In the conference contribution, modelling and estimation of hydraulic properties of the soil and selected pharmaceuticals within a coarse gravel unsaturated zone will be presented.</p>