6
K. Kubiak-Wójcicka et al.
for economic use (surface water) and supplying the population with drinking water
(mainly groundwater). That is why it is so important to protect their resources and
preserve their good quality.
Subsequently, chapters are presented that discuss water resources in Poland,
divided into surface and underground.
The chapter “Water Resources of Stagnant Waters” presents standing water
resources and their regional distribution. In total, there are 7081 lakes in Poland with
an area of over 1 ha. According to the authors’ calculations, the water resources accumulated in the lakes in Poland amount to 19.7349 km
3 , of which the lakes located in
the Masurian Lake District (51.27%), the Pomeranian Lake District (36.12%) and the
Greater Poland-Kujawskie Lake District have the largest capacity (11.93%). Apart
from natural lakes, water resources are collected in artificial reservoirs, of which
there are 101 in Poland (with a capacity of over 1 million m
3 ). In total, there are only
11 artificial reservoirs and 26 natural lakes in Poland with a capacity of over 100
million m
3 ). The authors point out the problem of water resources reduction/decrease
resulting from the reduction of the surface and their volume. This process is determined by two basic factors: fluctuations in water levels in the lake and reservoir
filling with sediments. The problem of lake disappearance is particularly evident in
the case of small water bodies. The chapter “Natural and Anthropogenic Lakes
of Rivers Valleys” discusses the genetic types of lakes occurring in river valleys.
These objects are an important and underestimated element of small retention. The
lakes of river valleys are very diverse reservoirs. High variability of morphometric,
hydrochemical and hydrobiological as well as ecological and landscape parameters
makes them attractive. In addition, they are young reservoirs subject to dynamic
disappearance processes. Although they constitute a very large group of lakes, their
recognition is relatively low.
In the chapter “Studies on, the Use and Protection of Springs in Poland”
special attention was paid to groundwater outflows. Sources are connections between
underground and surface links of the water circulation system, and its existence is
proof of unity between the two links, not their separateness. Their presence, type
of drainage and drainage regime indicate the conditions of the water cycle in the
underground phase of the water cycle. In Poland, the most numerous springs occur
in mountainous and upland areas, and the largest source discharges occur in parts
of the Tatra Mountains built of carbonate rocks. The water in the springs is usually
very high quality and requires special protection.
From the point of view of supplying people with water, the chapter “Groundwater
Resources of Poland” is an important element. Groundwater in Poland is the main
source of drinking water supply for urban and rural populations. This is due to large
documented groundwater resources and their high quality. Over 70% of water is
used to collectively supply the population with groundwater intakes, and this demand
is growing every year. Groundwater is of interest due to its special properties, e.g.
curative, thermal or highly mineralized (brine) waters. Waters with special properties
are used in health resorts for therapeutic purposes, in geothermal power plants or
recreational facilities. These waters require special protection and monitoring. As
part of the sustainable management of groundwater resources, particular attention is
K. Kubiak-Wójcicka et al.
for economic use (surface water) and supplying the population with drinking water
(mainly groundwater). That is why it is so important to protect their resources and
preserve their good quality.
Subsequently, chapters are presented that discuss water resources in Poland,
divided into surface and underground.
The chapter “Water Resources of Stagnant Waters” presents standing water
resources and their regional distribution. In total, there are 7081 lakes in Poland with
an area of over 1 ha. According to the authors’ calculations, the water resources accumulated in the lakes in Poland amount to 19.7349 km
3 , of which the lakes located in
the Masurian Lake District (51.27%), the Pomeranian Lake District (36.12%) and the
Greater Poland-Kujawskie Lake District have the largest capacity (11.93%). Apart
from natural lakes, water resources are collected in artificial reservoirs, of which
there are 101 in Poland (with a capacity of over 1 million m
3 ). In total, there are only
11 artificial reservoirs and 26 natural lakes in Poland with a capacity of over 100
million m
3 ). The authors point out the problem of water resources reduction/decrease
resulting from the reduction of the surface and their volume. This process is determined by two basic factors: fluctuations in water levels in the lake and reservoir
filling with sediments. The problem of lake disappearance is particularly evident in
the case of small water bodies. The chapter “Natural and Anthropogenic Lakes
of Rivers Valleys” discusses the genetic types of lakes occurring in river valleys.
These objects are an important and underestimated element of small retention. The
lakes of river valleys are very diverse reservoirs. High variability of morphometric,
hydrochemical and hydrobiological as well as ecological and landscape parameters
makes them attractive. In addition, they are young reservoirs subject to dynamic
disappearance processes. Although they constitute a very large group of lakes, their
recognition is relatively low.
In the chapter “Studies on, the Use and Protection of Springs in Poland”
special attention was paid to groundwater outflows. Sources are connections between
underground and surface links of the water circulation system, and its existence is
proof of unity between the two links, not their separateness. Their presence, type
of drainage and drainage regime indicate the conditions of the water cycle in the
underground phase of the water cycle. In Poland, the most numerous springs occur
in mountainous and upland areas, and the largest source discharges occur in parts
of the Tatra Mountains built of carbonate rocks. The water in the springs is usually
very high quality and requires special protection.
From the point of view of supplying people with water, the chapter “Groundwater
Resources of Poland” is an important element. Groundwater in Poland is the main
source of drinking water supply for urban and rural populations. This is due to large
documented groundwater resources and their high quality. Over 70% of water is
used to collectively supply the population with groundwater intakes, and this demand
is growing every year. Groundwater is of interest due to its special properties, e.g.
curative, thermal or highly mineralized (brine) waters. Waters with special properties
are used in health resorts for therapeutic purposes, in geothermal power plants or
recreational facilities. These waters require special protection and monitoring. As
part of the sustainable management of groundwater resources, particular attention is