8
K. Kubiak-Wójcicka et al.
The chapter titled “Assessment of Pollution of Water Resources and Process of
Pollution Spreading” discusses the issues of lake water pollution. Excessive supply
of nutrients, organic matter and pollution to lake waters associated with the development of industrialization, tourism and intensive agricultural production into lake
waters causes a continuous deterioration of their quality. The ineffective methods
of lake protection also contribute to this. The progressing eutrophication process
has led to disturbance of the biocenotic balance of waters, and even embraced especially protected waters—in national parks. Currently, lake water quality assessment
for monitoring purposes includes only selected hydrochemical indicators whose
measurements are made during spring circulation and summer stagnation. Water
quality in lakes should be carried out annually, in all limnological seasons. In
assessing trophies and the quality of lake waters, it is also important to know their
natural susceptibility to degradation.
The chapter “Ingression and Ascension of Saline Waters on the Polish Coast
of the Baltic Sea” presents the problem of salinity of groundwater in the Polish
Baltic coast. In order to determine the extent of penetration and accumulation of salt
and saline waters, geophysical surveys were carried out using electrical resistance
tomography. Water samples were taken in selected wells and exploration wells for
detailed physicochemical analysis, determination of isotopes and inert gas concentrations. Lowering the water level or piezometric pressure of groundwater caused by
the exploitation of water intakes in the coastal zone causes an increased risk of salt
water intrusion from the lower rock ground or the risk of seawater penetration. The
penetration of salt water from the Baltic Sea occurs locally only in shallow aquifers
and has a limited range. Until now, they occurred mainly in coastal regions, in holiday
locations supplied with water from local groundwater intakes. On the Baltic coast,
there is a clear seasonal diversity in terms of groundwater extraction. In summer,
extraction is locally 3 times higher than the annual average.
The next chapter is entitled “Monitoring of Groundwater Quality in Poland”.
As a result of the research conducted within the past five years, it can be concluded
that the groundwater of the Jurassic, Cretaceous as well as Palaeogene and Neogene
aquifers has had a stable chemical composition. The greatest variability is revealed by
the groundwater of the Quaternary aquifer. It is a consequence of high concentrations
of chloride and sulphate ions, which are of anthropogenic origin and frequently
permeate into water-bearing levels. Taking into consideration the groundwater quality
classes, it can be claimed that the quality of groundwater on all water-bearing levels
either has increased or has remained stable.
The chapter “Sediment Management in River Basins: An Essential Element
of River Basin Management Plans” discusses the problem of understanding hydrodynamic and morphodynamic effects in sediment transport, which are therefore the
necessary scientific basis for optimal sediment management. Sustainable management in the catchment is not only about the rational management of water resources
(in terms of quantity and quality). It should take into account the functioning of the
entire river system, in which sediment management plays a very important role. At
the macro-scale, it plays an important role in delivering debris to the seas and the
World’s Ocean. Activities for sediment management are primarily necessary to meet
K. Kubiak-Wójcicka et al.
The chapter titled “Assessment of Pollution of Water Resources and Process of
Pollution Spreading” discusses the issues of lake water pollution. Excessive supply
of nutrients, organic matter and pollution to lake waters associated with the development of industrialization, tourism and intensive agricultural production into lake
waters causes a continuous deterioration of their quality. The ineffective methods
of lake protection also contribute to this. The progressing eutrophication process
has led to disturbance of the biocenotic balance of waters, and even embraced especially protected waters—in national parks. Currently, lake water quality assessment
for monitoring purposes includes only selected hydrochemical indicators whose
measurements are made during spring circulation and summer stagnation. Water
quality in lakes should be carried out annually, in all limnological seasons. In
assessing trophies and the quality of lake waters, it is also important to know their
natural susceptibility to degradation.
The chapter “Ingression and Ascension of Saline Waters on the Polish Coast
of the Baltic Sea” presents the problem of salinity of groundwater in the Polish
Baltic coast. In order to determine the extent of penetration and accumulation of salt
and saline waters, geophysical surveys were carried out using electrical resistance
tomography. Water samples were taken in selected wells and exploration wells for
detailed physicochemical analysis, determination of isotopes and inert gas concentrations. Lowering the water level or piezometric pressure of groundwater caused by
the exploitation of water intakes in the coastal zone causes an increased risk of salt
water intrusion from the lower rock ground or the risk of seawater penetration. The
penetration of salt water from the Baltic Sea occurs locally only in shallow aquifers
and has a limited range. Until now, they occurred mainly in coastal regions, in holiday
locations supplied with water from local groundwater intakes. On the Baltic coast,
there is a clear seasonal diversity in terms of groundwater extraction. In summer,
extraction is locally 3 times higher than the annual average.
The next chapter is entitled “Monitoring of Groundwater Quality in Poland”.
As a result of the research conducted within the past five years, it can be concluded
that the groundwater of the Jurassic, Cretaceous as well as Palaeogene and Neogene
aquifers has had a stable chemical composition. The greatest variability is revealed by
the groundwater of the Quaternary aquifer. It is a consequence of high concentrations
of chloride and sulphate ions, which are of anthropogenic origin and frequently
permeate into water-bearing levels. Taking into consideration the groundwater quality
classes, it can be claimed that the quality of groundwater on all water-bearing levels
either has increased or has remained stable.
The chapter “Sediment Management in River Basins: An Essential Element
of River Basin Management Plans” discusses the problem of understanding hydrodynamic and morphodynamic effects in sediment transport, which are therefore the
necessary scientific basis for optimal sediment management. Sustainable management in the catchment is not only about the rational management of water resources
(in terms of quantity and quality). It should take into account the functioning of the
entire river system, in which sediment management plays a very important role. At
the macro-scale, it plays an important role in delivering debris to the seas and the
World’s Ocean. Activities for sediment management are primarily necessary to meet