142
A. Krawiec and A. Sadurski
Keywords Groundwater resources of poland · Disposable groundwater resources ·
Available resources · Therapeutic · Mineral and thermal waters
8.1 Introduction
The scientific term “groundwater resources” was properly introduced into hydrogeology over a century ago due to the analogy of solid mineral resources applied in
economic geology. It was originally used for the sake of spatial planning and investments in groundwater intake constructions. The accession of Poland to European
Union required the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (2000/60 WE),
which took account of hydro-environmental needs – inviolable river flows, water
levels of great ecological significance, which are legally protected areas. Since 2004
groundwater resources available for development have been designated and water
management plans, whose aim is to preserve good water status or take measures to
improve poor groundwater quality in water economic regions, have been drawn up.
The assumption accepted in new water policies expressed in the Water Framework
Directive concerns a full realisation of catchment-based approach to water management according to the requirements and standards of European Union as well as the
adopted principle of Integrated Water Resources Management.
About 99.7% of the territory of Poland is located within the Baltic Sea catchment
area (Fig. 8.1). Only 0.2% of the country’s area belongs to the Black Sea catchment area whereas approximately 0.1% to that of the North Sea. This is why the
country’s water balance is mainly based on precipitation, evaporation, and flows of
the rivers situated within the area of Poland. Only about 5% of water volumes participating in the water recharge in Poland comes from foreign tributaries. Over 70% of
groundwater resources is used for human water consumption.
Water supply for the inhabitants of small towns and villages comes primarily from
groundwater intakes, whereas municipal water intakes of big cities and industrial
plants take up water also from surface bodies such as rivers. The use of water for
agricultural irrigations is rather insubstantial, and even during dry years did not
exceed 1 km
3 . Open-cast and underground coal mines have a higher share of the
exploitation of water resources, and they supply about 1.2 km
3 of water through their
drainage systems, which frequently greatly impairs the quality of surface waters. The
greatest water abstraction is recorded in power plants, particularly those generating
coal-based energy, and exceeds 8 km
3 a year.
During the process of planning water management policy of the country, including
water licenses for groundwater intakes as well as water status assessments according
to the Water Framework Directive, which has been implemented in the Polish Water
Law, groundwater resources available for development play a significant part. Such
groundwater resources are determined taking into account natural river flows and the
preservation of good groundwater status in dependent ecosystems, which are legally
protected.
A. Krawiec and A. Sadurski
Keywords Groundwater resources of poland · Disposable groundwater resources ·
Available resources · Therapeutic · Mineral and thermal waters
8.1 Introduction
The scientific term “groundwater resources” was properly introduced into hydrogeology over a century ago due to the analogy of solid mineral resources applied in
economic geology. It was originally used for the sake of spatial planning and investments in groundwater intake constructions. The accession of Poland to European
Union required the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (2000/60 WE),
which took account of hydro-environmental needs – inviolable river flows, water
levels of great ecological significance, which are legally protected areas. Since 2004
groundwater resources available for development have been designated and water
management plans, whose aim is to preserve good water status or take measures to
improve poor groundwater quality in water economic regions, have been drawn up.
The assumption accepted in new water policies expressed in the Water Framework
Directive concerns a full realisation of catchment-based approach to water management according to the requirements and standards of European Union as well as the
adopted principle of Integrated Water Resources Management.
About 99.7% of the territory of Poland is located within the Baltic Sea catchment
area (Fig. 8.1). Only 0.2% of the country’s area belongs to the Black Sea catchment area whereas approximately 0.1% to that of the North Sea. This is why the
country’s water balance is mainly based on precipitation, evaporation, and flows of
the rivers situated within the area of Poland. Only about 5% of water volumes participating in the water recharge in Poland comes from foreign tributaries. Over 70% of
groundwater resources is used for human water consumption.
Water supply for the inhabitants of small towns and villages comes primarily from
groundwater intakes, whereas municipal water intakes of big cities and industrial
plants take up water also from surface bodies such as rivers. The use of water for
agricultural irrigations is rather insubstantial, and even during dry years did not
exceed 1 km
3 . Open-cast and underground coal mines have a higher share of the
exploitation of water resources, and they supply about 1.2 km
3 of water through their
drainage systems, which frequently greatly impairs the quality of surface waters. The
greatest water abstraction is recorded in power plants, particularly those generating
coal-based energy, and exceeds 8 km
3 a year.
During the process of planning water management policy of the country, including
water licenses for groundwater intakes as well as water status assessments according
to the Water Framework Directive, which has been implemented in the Polish Water
Law, groundwater resources available for development play a significant part. Such
groundwater resources are determined taking into account natural river flows and the
preservation of good groundwater status in dependent ecosystems, which are legally
protected.