3 Development and Protection of Water …
51
3.6 Main Threats to Water Quality in Protected Areas
The Preamble of the Framework Water Directive issued by the European Union
states: “…water is not a commercial product as are other products, but an inherited
good that must be protected and treated as such….” Hence, the most important goals
for European countries are to meet the water needs of their populations, farm sector,
and industrial sector, and to promote sustainable water use and water protection along
with the protection of ecosystems that remain in good ecological shape. Sustainable
water management takes into account entities competing for resources in a way that
water is allocated in a fair manner in order to fully meet the needs of the various
entities utilizing water for a variety of purposes. Water management in protected
areas in an exceptionally important part of sustainable water management.
The Framework Water Directive [57] makes reference to a variety of issues, but
its environmental goals section includes a direct reference to protected areas among
other goals such as not worsening water quality, reaching a good chemical and ecological state of waters, and reducing the effects of floods and droughts. The reference to
protected areas states that “it is important to meet the requirements of protected areas
in terms of the threat of pollution by nitrogen compounds arriving from agricultural
areas, designation for recreational use, drinking water collection, threat of eutrophication due to household wastewater influx, designation for protection of marine
animals with economic significance, and protection of habitats and species whose
survival depends on good water quality. FWD Article 6 underscores the requirement
to create a separate registry of protected areas for tributary catchment areas”.
These areas are defined in Attachment IV and include areas marked for drinking
water collection, areas designated for the protection of marine animals with economic
significance, parts of waters designated for recreational purposes including areas
designated as swimming areas based on Directive 76/160/ECM [58], areas sensitive to biogenic substances including areas designated as sensitive areas based on
Directives 91/676/ECM [59] and 91/271/ECM [60], areas marked for habitat and
species protection, where the maintenance of water quality or its improvement is
a key factor in their protection, including selected sites part of the Nature 2000
program that were identified based on Directive 92/43/ECM (Habitat Directive) [61]
and Directive 79/409/ECM (Bird Directive) [62]. Despite the protections afforded
by these directives—and direct and indirect protections provided by national parks
and other forms of environmental protection—there are still many threats to the
natural environment of these areas. These threats are particularly strong with respect
to surface waters including standing waters. Two leading threats are tourism and
water sports. In the opinion of more than 60% of tourists, the natural environment
represents the “main attraction” [63].
This is particularly true of water areas, which are very popular recreational sites
across Poland. However, increased tourist traffic, especially around lakes, means
more human impact on lakes and their ecotones [64]. According to Krzymowska–
Kostrowicka [63], there are three primary types of human impact on the natural
environment:
51
3.6 Main Threats to Water Quality in Protected Areas
The Preamble of the Framework Water Directive issued by the European Union
states: “…water is not a commercial product as are other products, but an inherited
good that must be protected and treated as such….” Hence, the most important goals
for European countries are to meet the water needs of their populations, farm sector,
and industrial sector, and to promote sustainable water use and water protection along
with the protection of ecosystems that remain in good ecological shape. Sustainable
water management takes into account entities competing for resources in a way that
water is allocated in a fair manner in order to fully meet the needs of the various
entities utilizing water for a variety of purposes. Water management in protected
areas in an exceptionally important part of sustainable water management.
The Framework Water Directive [57] makes reference to a variety of issues, but
its environmental goals section includes a direct reference to protected areas among
other goals such as not worsening water quality, reaching a good chemical and ecological state of waters, and reducing the effects of floods and droughts. The reference to
protected areas states that “it is important to meet the requirements of protected areas
in terms of the threat of pollution by nitrogen compounds arriving from agricultural
areas, designation for recreational use, drinking water collection, threat of eutrophication due to household wastewater influx, designation for protection of marine
animals with economic significance, and protection of habitats and species whose
survival depends on good water quality. FWD Article 6 underscores the requirement
to create a separate registry of protected areas for tributary catchment areas”.
These areas are defined in Attachment IV and include areas marked for drinking
water collection, areas designated for the protection of marine animals with economic
significance, parts of waters designated for recreational purposes including areas
designated as swimming areas based on Directive 76/160/ECM [58], areas sensitive to biogenic substances including areas designated as sensitive areas based on
Directives 91/676/ECM [59] and 91/271/ECM [60], areas marked for habitat and
species protection, where the maintenance of water quality or its improvement is
a key factor in their protection, including selected sites part of the Nature 2000
program that were identified based on Directive 92/43/ECM (Habitat Directive) [61]
and Directive 79/409/ECM (Bird Directive) [62]. Despite the protections afforded
by these directives—and direct and indirect protections provided by national parks
and other forms of environmental protection—there are still many threats to the
natural environment of these areas. These threats are particularly strong with respect
to surface waters including standing waters. Two leading threats are tourism and
water sports. In the opinion of more than 60% of tourists, the natural environment
represents the “main attraction” [63].
This is particularly true of water areas, which are very popular recreational sites
across Poland. However, increased tourist traffic, especially around lakes, means
more human impact on lakes and their ecotones [64]. According to Krzymowska–
Kostrowicka [63], there are three primary types of human impact on the natural
environment: