146
A. Krawiec and A. Sadurski
aquifers are also exploited. In the Quaternary range, aquifers occur in the forms
of intermoraine water-bearing levels, lenses, buried valleys, or outwash ranges (see
Fig. 8.2). On average the thickness of the Quaternary levels locally amounts to 50–
100 m, but can reach even up to 300 m in the buried river valleys. The majority
of Neogene and Paleogene layers have the thickness of 30–60 m, but they occur
sporadically in the northern part of Poland due to erosion. The upper roof of the
Mesozoic is located in the Lakeland zone at the elevation of 70–110 m amsl.
The groundwater in Quaternary aquifers is predominantly of the HCO 3 –Ca type,
whereas water in the Neogene, Paleogene, and Cretaceous aquifers is mostly of the
HCO 3 –Na type [7]. Locally, the Mesozoic aquifer contains abnormally high concentrations of fluorine compounds released to water from fluorine-bearing phosphate
nodules occurring in the Paleogene and in the roof of the Upper Cretaceous [8, 9].
The coastal zone constitutes the extension of the Lakelands zone in terms of its
geological structure. However, it is distinguished by the boundary of two different
hydrogeochemical environments formed by the area separating fresh groundwater
and brackish water of the marine origin, which has been diffused due to the spreading
of sediments. The saltwater wedge is located at the bottom of the aquifer in the range
of coastal lowlands, but in the estuary parts of rivers, it expands inland causing
the degradation of groundwater resources. This process, commonly called saltwater
ingression, can be attributed to the excessive extraction of potable water at municipal
intakes in the coastal zone. An additional hazard acutely affecting the coastal regions
is the ascension of saline waters (brines of Na–Cl type) from the deeper Mesozoic
basement. The salinization of groundwater can occur here as a result of both ascensions of brines from the Mesozoic strata and local ingression of seawater along the
Baltic Coast [9–12].
In the western part of the Polish Baltic coast, the Quaternary aquifers have
reduced thickness which does not exceed 80 m, except buried river valleys. On the
eastern coast, the upper roof of the Mesozoic occurs on average at the elevation of
−100 m amsl. The aquifer of the Quaternary and Upper Cretaceous sediments are
those that abound in groundwater. The Neogene and Paleogene layers occur locally
and thus are of little utility significance. In the Quaternary sediments porous groundwater aquifers prevail, and only in the upper roof of the Cretaceous and Jurassic
fracture aquifers can be found in hydraulic connection with sandy sediments situated
above.
8.2.2 Thermal and Therapeutic (Healing) Groundwater
in Poland
Therapeutic water is a specific type of groundwater used in hydrotherapy of people.
In Poland healing waters are precisely defined by the Regulation of Minister of
Health of 2006 (Journal of Law, No. 80, Item 565) as well as by the Geological
and Mining Act of 2011 (Journal of Law, No. 163, Item 981, as amended). In light
A. Krawiec and A. Sadurski
aquifers are also exploited. In the Quaternary range, aquifers occur in the forms
of intermoraine water-bearing levels, lenses, buried valleys, or outwash ranges (see
Fig. 8.2). On average the thickness of the Quaternary levels locally amounts to 50–
100 m, but can reach even up to 300 m in the buried river valleys. The majority
of Neogene and Paleogene layers have the thickness of 30–60 m, but they occur
sporadically in the northern part of Poland due to erosion. The upper roof of the
Mesozoic is located in the Lakeland zone at the elevation of 70–110 m amsl.
The groundwater in Quaternary aquifers is predominantly of the HCO 3 –Ca type,
whereas water in the Neogene, Paleogene, and Cretaceous aquifers is mostly of the
HCO 3 –Na type [7]. Locally, the Mesozoic aquifer contains abnormally high concentrations of fluorine compounds released to water from fluorine-bearing phosphate
nodules occurring in the Paleogene and in the roof of the Upper Cretaceous [8, 9].
The coastal zone constitutes the extension of the Lakelands zone in terms of its
geological structure. However, it is distinguished by the boundary of two different
hydrogeochemical environments formed by the area separating fresh groundwater
and brackish water of the marine origin, which has been diffused due to the spreading
of sediments. The saltwater wedge is located at the bottom of the aquifer in the range
of coastal lowlands, but in the estuary parts of rivers, it expands inland causing
the degradation of groundwater resources. This process, commonly called saltwater
ingression, can be attributed to the excessive extraction of potable water at municipal
intakes in the coastal zone. An additional hazard acutely affecting the coastal regions
is the ascension of saline waters (brines of Na–Cl type) from the deeper Mesozoic
basement. The salinization of groundwater can occur here as a result of both ascensions of brines from the Mesozoic strata and local ingression of seawater along the
Baltic Coast [9–12].
In the western part of the Polish Baltic coast, the Quaternary aquifers have
reduced thickness which does not exceed 80 m, except buried river valleys. On the
eastern coast, the upper roof of the Mesozoic occurs on average at the elevation of
−100 m amsl. The aquifer of the Quaternary and Upper Cretaceous sediments are
those that abound in groundwater. The Neogene and Paleogene layers occur locally
and thus are of little utility significance. In the Quaternary sediments porous groundwater aquifers prevail, and only in the upper roof of the Cretaceous and Jurassic
fracture aquifers can be found in hydraulic connection with sandy sediments situated
above.
8.2.2 Thermal and Therapeutic (Healing) Groundwater
in Poland
Therapeutic water is a specific type of groundwater used in hydrotherapy of people.
In Poland healing waters are precisely defined by the Regulation of Minister of
Health of 2006 (Journal of Law, No. 80, Item 565) as well as by the Geological
and Mining Act of 2011 (Journal of Law, No. 163, Item 981, as amended). In light