132
P. Jokiel and Z. Michalczyk
comprise relatively harmonized information on the yields and essential parameters
of common springs in Poland (data for 87 springs). Part of the information has been
published in various issues of Rocznik Hydrogeologiczny (Hydrogeological Yearbook) of the Polish Hydrogeological Survey (information on 37 springs). A great
majority of the information relates to small springs located in mountainous regions
(in the Carpathians or Sudetes). Other, even the largest, springs in the lowlands or
uplands are only very rarely monitored. Even less information is available on the
chemistry of spring water. This relates both to the hydrogeochemical status of a
given spring but also to its changes within a single turnover of the spring-drained
groundwater reservoir and anthropogenic changes of the hydrological and hydrochemical regime of the springs. Those mineral water springs which are operated for
business are an exception: their monitoring is ongoing, but the information is kept
in a few different databases of the PIG-PIB. Under the circumstances, making an
inventory and identifying the features of springs both in the regional and national
scale in the hydrological, hydrochemical, and hydrobiological aspects seems simply
indispensable.
Not much, either, is known about the disappearance of springs and their “travel”
down the slopes. Opinions on the phenomenon are rather unambiguous: the dryingout of springs and lowering their altitude in Poland is a fact and is progressing:
it affects both urban areas and a quasi-natural landscape. So far for the declared
opinions. When it comes to validation of the opinions using detailed data, it appears
that credible, reliable and comparable information on the subject remains to be scarce.
Beside the spring drying-out process, the disastrous phenomenon of thoughtless
devastation of springs has emerged recently. The natural form of a majority of karst
springs and other large springs in Poland has been altered a lot before even though
many of them are located in national parks, landscape parks or nature reserves, or are
otherwise protected, for instance, as nature monuments or ecological sites. Also, far
too often do we see that existing spring niches are abused as dumping sites and the
spring water is polluted because of the absence of suitable protection zones. Also,
the so-called “utilization” of spring niches and valley bottoms having water outflow
lines by creating rearing ponds, swimming pools or garden ponds in them leads to
the devastation of existing groundwater outflows and annihilation of their biotopes,
many of which are unique.
Springs are an important environmental component having a high cognitive and
scientific value; they are important for the landscape, culture, and economy. They are
objects with unique features which ought to be protected by law as inanimate nature
monuments or, at least, as ecological sites. Such protection ought to include both
the groundwater outflow point (spring niche) and, as far as possible, even the entire
underground catchment that supplies water to the spring. Therefore, both pointfocused and area-focused protection of springs are required. Also, the historical,
cultural, and social role of springs ought to be protected. It is important for every
spring to keep or have its historical or local name (Fig. 7.15). Also, the ethnographic
function of springs ought to be protected. Historical facts, folk stories, legends,
proverbs or didactic parables of water outflows and their role in creating local nonmaterial culture ought to be meticulously recorded, studied and popularized. Any
P. Jokiel and Z. Michalczyk
comprise relatively harmonized information on the yields and essential parameters
of common springs in Poland (data for 87 springs). Part of the information has been
published in various issues of Rocznik Hydrogeologiczny (Hydrogeological Yearbook) of the Polish Hydrogeological Survey (information on 37 springs). A great
majority of the information relates to small springs located in mountainous regions
(in the Carpathians or Sudetes). Other, even the largest, springs in the lowlands or
uplands are only very rarely monitored. Even less information is available on the
chemistry of spring water. This relates both to the hydrogeochemical status of a
given spring but also to its changes within a single turnover of the spring-drained
groundwater reservoir and anthropogenic changes of the hydrological and hydrochemical regime of the springs. Those mineral water springs which are operated for
business are an exception: their monitoring is ongoing, but the information is kept
in a few different databases of the PIG-PIB. Under the circumstances, making an
inventory and identifying the features of springs both in the regional and national
scale in the hydrological, hydrochemical, and hydrobiological aspects seems simply
indispensable.
Not much, either, is known about the disappearance of springs and their “travel”
down the slopes. Opinions on the phenomenon are rather unambiguous: the dryingout of springs and lowering their altitude in Poland is a fact and is progressing:
it affects both urban areas and a quasi-natural landscape. So far for the declared
opinions. When it comes to validation of the opinions using detailed data, it appears
that credible, reliable and comparable information on the subject remains to be scarce.
Beside the spring drying-out process, the disastrous phenomenon of thoughtless
devastation of springs has emerged recently. The natural form of a majority of karst
springs and other large springs in Poland has been altered a lot before even though
many of them are located in national parks, landscape parks or nature reserves, or are
otherwise protected, for instance, as nature monuments or ecological sites. Also, far
too often do we see that existing spring niches are abused as dumping sites and the
spring water is polluted because of the absence of suitable protection zones. Also,
the so-called “utilization” of spring niches and valley bottoms having water outflow
lines by creating rearing ponds, swimming pools or garden ponds in them leads to
the devastation of existing groundwater outflows and annihilation of their biotopes,
many of which are unique.
Springs are an important environmental component having a high cognitive and
scientific value; they are important for the landscape, culture, and economy. They are
objects with unique features which ought to be protected by law as inanimate nature
monuments or, at least, as ecological sites. Such protection ought to include both
the groundwater outflow point (spring niche) and, as far as possible, even the entire
underground catchment that supplies water to the spring. Therefore, both pointfocused and area-focused protection of springs are required. Also, the historical,
cultural, and social role of springs ought to be protected. It is important for every
spring to keep or have its historical or local name (Fig. 7.15). Also, the ethnographic
function of springs ought to be protected. Historical facts, folk stories, legends,
proverbs or didactic parables of water outflows and their role in creating local nonmaterial culture ought to be meticulously recorded, studied and popularized. Any