10
K. Kubiak-Wójcicka et al.
elevated plateaus. Water resources of the studied rivers were determined on the basis
of the unit outflow and the runoff layer are measures. All rivers have a unit outflow
higher than the average for Poland estimated at 5.6 dm
2 · s
−1 · km
−2 . Air pressure
changes, wind waves and hydrological factors associated with the seasonal outflow
of land waters cause changes in the level of the southern Baltic waters include water
accumulation and depressions. The coastal lakes that often are connected with the sea
by engineered canals, play a unique role in the potamic outflow of the Pomeranian
rivers. These lakes are somehow an extension of the main drainage base on the continent, creating a regional base. The high content of substances in the coastal waters
of the Southern Baltic is mainly due to the rivers carrying pollution load. Delivery
of pollutants to the Baltic Sea, takes place via rivers, but the nutrient load in rivers
contains only a particular part of nutrients from various sources in the basin get to
the rivers and then to the receiver.
1.5 Economic Importance of Water Resources
The next part of the work consists of four chapters. The first of them concerns
“Exploitation of Rivers in Poland for the Purposes of Electricity Production –
Current Condition and Perspectives for Development”. According to the findings
of the European Union, the energy industry in Poland is forced to increase electricity
production from renewable energy sources. The use of renewable energy sources
in Poland does not exceed 8–10% of electricity generated. Environmental pollution
and decreasing fossil fuel resources convince to increase the share of wind, solar
and water energy. The construction of new hydropower plants is expensive, but on
the other hand, the durability of these energy sources is incomparably greater than
that of photovoltaics or wind turbines. Poland has the potential and a good 100year tradition in the use of hydropower. It is only necessary to draw the attention
of decision-makers to this underdeveloped area of the Polish energy sector. The
potential for increasing electricity production from hydropower plants is seen in the
hydrotechnical development of the lower Vistula. This would increase the production
of renewable electricity by 4.5 TWh/year. This is a great potential that has not been
used, which requires support from the Polish state.
One of the basic goals of European transport policy is to ensure sustainable development in the field of transport. The next chapter was devoted to “Waterways in
Poland – the History, Present State and Future”. Currently, the role of inland navigation in Poland is negligible. Poland has a favorable arrangement of inland roads.
Polish waterways are elements of three international waterways: E30 – connecting
the Baltic Sea with the Danube, E40 – connecting the Baltic Sea with the Black
Sea and E70 – connecting the Baltic Sea with the Atlantic Coast. However, the
main factor determining the efficiency of inland navigation is the correspondence
between ship sizes and waterways. Only about 6% of Polish waterways are suitable
for modern navigation on international waterway standards (categories IV and V).
The remaining 94% (3441 km) of waterways meet regional standards (categories I,
K. Kubiak-Wójcicka et al.
elevated plateaus. Water resources of the studied rivers were determined on the basis
of the unit outflow and the runoff layer are measures. All rivers have a unit outflow
higher than the average for Poland estimated at 5.6 dm
2 · s
−1 · km
−2 . Air pressure
changes, wind waves and hydrological factors associated with the seasonal outflow
of land waters cause changes in the level of the southern Baltic waters include water
accumulation and depressions. The coastal lakes that often are connected with the sea
by engineered canals, play a unique role in the potamic outflow of the Pomeranian
rivers. These lakes are somehow an extension of the main drainage base on the continent, creating a regional base. The high content of substances in the coastal waters
of the Southern Baltic is mainly due to the rivers carrying pollution load. Delivery
of pollutants to the Baltic Sea, takes place via rivers, but the nutrient load in rivers
contains only a particular part of nutrients from various sources in the basin get to
the rivers and then to the receiver.
1.5 Economic Importance of Water Resources
The next part of the work consists of four chapters. The first of them concerns
“Exploitation of Rivers in Poland for the Purposes of Electricity Production –
Current Condition and Perspectives for Development”. According to the findings
of the European Union, the energy industry in Poland is forced to increase electricity
production from renewable energy sources. The use of renewable energy sources
in Poland does not exceed 8–10% of electricity generated. Environmental pollution
and decreasing fossil fuel resources convince to increase the share of wind, solar
and water energy. The construction of new hydropower plants is expensive, but on
the other hand, the durability of these energy sources is incomparably greater than
that of photovoltaics or wind turbines. Poland has the potential and a good 100year tradition in the use of hydropower. It is only necessary to draw the attention
of decision-makers to this underdeveloped area of the Polish energy sector. The
potential for increasing electricity production from hydropower plants is seen in the
hydrotechnical development of the lower Vistula. This would increase the production
of renewable electricity by 4.5 TWh/year. This is a great potential that has not been
used, which requires support from the Polish state.
One of the basic goals of European transport policy is to ensure sustainable development in the field of transport. The next chapter was devoted to “Waterways in
Poland – the History, Present State and Future”. Currently, the role of inland navigation in Poland is negligible. Poland has a favorable arrangement of inland roads.
Polish waterways are elements of three international waterways: E30 – connecting
the Baltic Sea with the Danube, E40 – connecting the Baltic Sea with the Black
Sea and E70 – connecting the Baltic Sea with the Atlantic Coast. However, the
main factor determining the efficiency of inland navigation is the correspondence
between ship sizes and waterways. Only about 6% of Polish waterways are suitable
for modern navigation on international waterway standards (categories IV and V).
The remaining 94% (3441 km) of waterways meet regional standards (categories I,