6 Quality Assessment of Water Resources of River in Poland
123
6.3 River Water Quality in Poland, 2010–2015
The Water Framework Directive (WFD) introduced a systematic study of rivers in
discrete Surface Water Bodies (SWBs). In the years 2010–2015, which covered the
water management “Cycle 2”, monitoring research was carried out under the State
Environmental Monitoring Programme by Voivodeship Inspectorates for Environmental Protection at over 2,300 sites in water bodies of various abiotic types (27
abiotic river types have been designated in Poland). Depending on the type of monitoring performed in water bodies (diagnostic, operational, research), water samples
are taken for physico-chemical indicators between 6 and 12 times a year, which gives
a total of over 20,000 assays per indicator, creating a comprehensive database.
The study of river waters under the WFD covers a wide range of physico-chemical
indicators. Some of the indicators are assayed obligatorily, regardless of the type of
monitoring and abiotic type of water body. Based on these indicators, the degree of
water salinity (general conductivity [SEC], and total hardness), organic compound
load (BOD 5 and TOC) and biogenic compound content (Total Nitrogen, Total Phosphorus). These indicators were used to assess the spatial diversity of water quality
in watercourses in the catchments of the main courses of Poland’s largest rivers
and their subcatchments. The assessment does not include the results of research in
Poland’s largest main rivers: the Vistula, Oder, San, Narew, Bug, and Warta. In the
above-mentioned rivers, the variability of selected indicators along their course is
described.
The physico-chemical properties of river waters and the hydromorphological
features of individual river sections affect the growth of hydrobionts, whose status
was assessed by biological indicators as the basis for ecological classification
according to the WFD.
In 2010–2015 Polish rivers varied significantly in water salinity, organic
compound loads, and biogenic substances. The ranges of values for specific electrical
conductivity, total hardness, and total nitrogen concentration were particularly wide
(Table 6.1). For this reason, the best measure of the average of the selected indicators
was determined to be the median. To assess the spatial diversity of water quality in
Polish rivers, a division into five groups was adopted. Group threshold values were
determined based on the fractal distribution of average values for the catchment and
subcatchments of the Polish rivers. The class limits were 20, 40, 60, and 80% [5].
6.3.1 Spatial Variability of River Water Quality
The extent of river water pollution by dissolved mineral compounds was diverse
across the catchment system (Fig. 6.1). The highest specific electrical conductivity
(SEC) was found in Martwa Wisła (7,556 µS/cm), which is exposed to the inflow
of marine salt waters due to the current hydrographic system. An additional factor
in the salinity increase in this former Vistula estuary section may be the inflow of
123
6.3 River Water Quality in Poland, 2010–2015
The Water Framework Directive (WFD) introduced a systematic study of rivers in
discrete Surface Water Bodies (SWBs). In the years 2010–2015, which covered the
water management “Cycle 2”, monitoring research was carried out under the State
Environmental Monitoring Programme by Voivodeship Inspectorates for Environmental Protection at over 2,300 sites in water bodies of various abiotic types (27
abiotic river types have been designated in Poland). Depending on the type of monitoring performed in water bodies (diagnostic, operational, research), water samples
are taken for physico-chemical indicators between 6 and 12 times a year, which gives
a total of over 20,000 assays per indicator, creating a comprehensive database.
The study of river waters under the WFD covers a wide range of physico-chemical
indicators. Some of the indicators are assayed obligatorily, regardless of the type of
monitoring and abiotic type of water body. Based on these indicators, the degree of
water salinity (general conductivity [SEC], and total hardness), organic compound
load (BOD 5 and TOC) and biogenic compound content (Total Nitrogen, Total Phosphorus). These indicators were used to assess the spatial diversity of water quality
in watercourses in the catchments of the main courses of Poland’s largest rivers
and their subcatchments. The assessment does not include the results of research in
Poland’s largest main rivers: the Vistula, Oder, San, Narew, Bug, and Warta. In the
above-mentioned rivers, the variability of selected indicators along their course is
described.
The physico-chemical properties of river waters and the hydromorphological
features of individual river sections affect the growth of hydrobionts, whose status
was assessed by biological indicators as the basis for ecological classification
according to the WFD.
In 2010–2015 Polish rivers varied significantly in water salinity, organic
compound loads, and biogenic substances. The ranges of values for specific electrical
conductivity, total hardness, and total nitrogen concentration were particularly wide
(Table 6.1). For this reason, the best measure of the average of the selected indicators
was determined to be the median. To assess the spatial diversity of water quality in
Polish rivers, a division into five groups was adopted. Group threshold values were
determined based on the fractal distribution of average values for the catchment and
subcatchments of the Polish rivers. The class limits were 20, 40, 60, and 80% [5].
6.3.1 Spatial Variability of River Water Quality
The extent of river water pollution by dissolved mineral compounds was diverse
across the catchment system (Fig. 6.1). The highest specific electrical conductivity
(SEC) was found in Martwa Wisła (7,556 µS/cm), which is exposed to the inflow
of marine salt waters due to the current hydrographic system. An additional factor
in the salinity increase in this former Vistula estuary section may be the inflow of