314
J. P. Siwek
management situation of Tatra National Park improved markedly when wastewater treatment facilities at two lodges were fully modernized thanks to co-financing
from the European Union as part of the project: “Branding of Mountain Tourism
in the Polish Tatra Mountains – Green Lodges”. The two tourist lodges were the
Murowaniec Lodge and the Polana Chochołowska Lodge. A third lodge—the Lodge
in the Valley of Five Polish Ponds—launched in 2009 a new mechanical-biological
wastewater treatment facility [78]. In other areas of the Carpathians, tourist lodges
were also equipped with new wastewater treatment facilities including Leskowiec
Lodge in the Beskid Mały Mountains and the Stare Wierchy Lodge in the Gorce
Mountains. Finally, some Carpathian lodges fully modernized their wastewater treatment facilities—i.e. the Markowe Szczawiny Lodge in the Babia Góra Massif in the
Beskid ˙
Zywiecki Mountains [80].
13.5 Summary and Conclusions
Stream water and groundwater chemistry in the Carpathians is characterized by
significant variances primarily due to complex geologic structure. For example, in
the Tatra crystalline core formed of poorly soluble granite and gneiss rocks, the mean
TDS of groundwater is many times smaller than that in the sedimentary part of the
Tatra Mountains formed of an array of highly soluble carbonate rocks (33.7 mg/L
and 245.1 mg/L, respectively). The water chemistry of the Carpathians is determined
largely by local parent material, but also by a number of other natural factors. Changes
in discharge (hydrologic factor) is the most important factor driving stream water
and spring water chemistry changes in time. With increasing discharge, TDS and the
concentrations of most main ions decreasing, while the concentration of K
+ , NO 3
− ,
and PO 4
3− increasing. Elevation and geographic location of streams and springs in
given climate zone and vegetation zone are additional natural factors affecting water
chemistry in Carpathians. This is particularly true of SO 4
2− and Cl
− concentration
as well as pH.
Acid rain, deforestation, agriculture, and tourist-generated wastewater are the
most important anthropogenic factors affecting water chemistry in the Carpathians.
The effect of acid rain on the chemistry of stream water and groundwater is observed
first and foremost in the western and central parts of the Carpathians. This region was
affected by very high acidic sulfur and nitrogen deposition in the 1970s and 1980s.
The impact of acid rain on stream water and groundwater chemistry now results
in very low concentrations of most of main ions. Deforestation in the Carpathians
impacts mainly spruce monocultures declining due to acid rain, strong winds, and
bark beetle infestation. Deforestation results in increasing NO 3
− concentrations in
stream water and groundwater. For example, the increase in NO 3
− concentration in
stream water and spring water in the Tatra Mountains one and a half year after deforestation was more than 500%. Agricultural land use does not threaten stream water
and groundwater due to low usage of mineral fertilizer and low share of farmland
J. P. Siwek
management situation of Tatra National Park improved markedly when wastewater treatment facilities at two lodges were fully modernized thanks to co-financing
from the European Union as part of the project: “Branding of Mountain Tourism
in the Polish Tatra Mountains – Green Lodges”. The two tourist lodges were the
Murowaniec Lodge and the Polana Chochołowska Lodge. A third lodge—the Lodge
in the Valley of Five Polish Ponds—launched in 2009 a new mechanical-biological
wastewater treatment facility [78]. In other areas of the Carpathians, tourist lodges
were also equipped with new wastewater treatment facilities including Leskowiec
Lodge in the Beskid Mały Mountains and the Stare Wierchy Lodge in the Gorce
Mountains. Finally, some Carpathian lodges fully modernized their wastewater treatment facilities—i.e. the Markowe Szczawiny Lodge in the Babia Góra Massif in the
Beskid ˙
Zywiecki Mountains [80].
13.5 Summary and Conclusions
Stream water and groundwater chemistry in the Carpathians is characterized by
significant variances primarily due to complex geologic structure. For example, in
the Tatra crystalline core formed of poorly soluble granite and gneiss rocks, the mean
TDS of groundwater is many times smaller than that in the sedimentary part of the
Tatra Mountains formed of an array of highly soluble carbonate rocks (33.7 mg/L
and 245.1 mg/L, respectively). The water chemistry of the Carpathians is determined
largely by local parent material, but also by a number of other natural factors. Changes
in discharge (hydrologic factor) is the most important factor driving stream water
and spring water chemistry changes in time. With increasing discharge, TDS and the
concentrations of most main ions decreasing, while the concentration of K
+ , NO 3
− ,
and PO 4
3− increasing. Elevation and geographic location of streams and springs in
given climate zone and vegetation zone are additional natural factors affecting water
chemistry in Carpathians. This is particularly true of SO 4
2− and Cl
− concentration
as well as pH.
Acid rain, deforestation, agriculture, and tourist-generated wastewater are the
most important anthropogenic factors affecting water chemistry in the Carpathians.
The effect of acid rain on the chemistry of stream water and groundwater is observed
first and foremost in the western and central parts of the Carpathians. This region was
affected by very high acidic sulfur and nitrogen deposition in the 1970s and 1980s.
The impact of acid rain on stream water and groundwater chemistry now results
in very low concentrations of most of main ions. Deforestation in the Carpathians
impacts mainly spruce monocultures declining due to acid rain, strong winds, and
bark beetle infestation. Deforestation results in increasing NO 3
− concentrations in
stream water and groundwater. For example, the increase in NO 3
− concentration in
stream water and spring water in the Tatra Mountains one and a half year after deforestation was more than 500%. Agricultural land use does not threaten stream water
and groundwater due to low usage of mineral fertilizer and low share of farmland