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Quality of waters flowing in foothill areas subject to anthropopressure illustrated by the example of the Biała River catchment in southern Poland

Madzia Marek, Jaguś Andrzej

Journal of Ecological Engineering

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2025

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Vol. 26, nr 2

112--120

EN

The physicochemical parameters of the water of the Biała River and its tributaries were analysed at 11 test points. Some points represented highly urbanized catchment areas while the remaining ones – mixed catchments (with buildings, forest and agricultural areas). The research was conducted from June 2021 to May 2022. Its aim was to identify the pollution of water flowing in developed foothill areas. Basic water quality parameters were determined: C, TDS, CODMn, Fe, Cl-, SO4,2-, PO4,3-, NO3,-, TKN. During the research period, the parameter values at individual points were very variable (variation over time). Differences in values between points (spatial variation) were also noted. Water quality was related to the development of the catchment area – overall pollution expressed as C or TDS values was greater in highly urbanized catchments and in the lower part of the studied area, but individual substances in high concentrations were also observed locally. It was found that the water was contaminated mainly with organic and biogenic substances.

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Środowiskowo-prawne aspekty planowania przestrzennego na terenach górniczych

Harat Andrzej, Jaguś Andrzej

Polish Journal of Materials and Environmental Engineering

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2024

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Vol. 7 (27)

43--55

EN

The environmental and legal aspects of spatial planning in mining areas presented in this work should be considered important, especially in the region of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin, where mining has been carried out since the 17th century until present. Such a long period of mining activity, characterized by a particularly negative impact on the environment, has led to a number of adverse consequences for buildings and other infrastructure facilities. There-fore, it became necessary to develop and implement legal instruments aimed at reducing the negative influence of mining works on the environment. An important tool for achieving the indicated objectives is a forecast on the negative impact of mining works on land surface, which should be submitted by the mining entrepreneur as part of a deposit development plan. The negative impact of mining works on land surface usually results in land depression and defor-mation as well as the loss of its continuity, accompanied by the formation of cracks and faults. After the information submitted by the entrepreneur has been verified by the District Mining Office, it becomes one of the most important elements of the licence decision as it results in designating mining areas and so-called protective pillars. Interestingly, the currently appli-cable Geological and Mining Law of June 9, 2011, unlike the previously applicable regulation of February 4, 1994, does not impose a legal obligation to prepare local development plans for mining areas. It seems, however, that in the event such areas exist, their purpose and land development methods should be determined in the form of a local legal act despite the lack of a statutory requirement. This solution enables introducing restrictions on property develop-ment and, consequently, makes it possible to reduce mining damage.

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Procedure on the Assessment of the Environmental Impact of Investment Plans on Natura 2000 Sites in the Polish Legal System

Harat Andrzej, Jaguś Andrzej

Journal of Ecological Engineering

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2024

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Vol. 25, nr 8

190--197

EN

Numerous legal requirements regarding the implementation of all kinds of investment projects are extremely important means to attain goals related to environmental protection. The procedures concerning the assessment of the impact exerted by investment plans on Natura 2000 sites, which are discussed in this article, belong to the crucial ones. Their existence in the Polish legal system results from the implementation of Community directives (79/409/ EEC and 92/43/EEC). Establishing this type of legal form of nature protection in a given area limits its investment use, introducing the requirement to verify the actions taken in terms of their influence on the conservation objectives of Natura 2000 areas. Confirmation of the negative environmental impact in this respect obligatorily prevents a specific investment project from being undertaken. The described legal procedure serves to implement the basic rules of environmental protection, contained not only in the Environmental Protection Law, but also in the Constitution of the Republic of Poland, which include the principles of sustainable development and the individualisation of environmental costs associated with running a business.

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Retencja wody w zróżnicowanych geograficznie zlewniach górskich

Kowalczyk Agnieszka, Jaguś Andrzej

Polish Journal of Materials and Environmental Engineering

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2023

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Vol. 6 (26)

1--12

EN

The article describes the research on the retention capacity of two mountain catchments in the Polish Carpathian Mts. These are the catchments of the Czarna Woda and Biała Woda streams. These catchments are adjacent, have a similar area (about 11 km2 each), but are geograph-ically diverse. Their geomorphology, hydrographic network, soil water permeability and land use were analyzed. The Czarna Woda catchment is a forest catchment, and the Biała Woda catchment is a forest and agricultural catchment with pasture areas. The geographical analysis of the catchment showed that the Czarna Woda catchment most likely has greater retention capacity. Theoretical analyzes were verified on the basis of long-term measurements of flows in both streams. Outflows were calculated for the entire study period (2006-2022), as well as annual, monthly and daily outflows. The measurements were carried out using the overflow method in permanent measurement cross-sections. The total outflow from both catchments was simi-lar, so they had similar water resources. In particular years, months and days, outflow often differed significantly between catchments. It was found that during the periods of increased water runoff (from precipitation, from snowmelt) the outflow from the Biała Woda catchment was higher, while in the periods without precipitation the outflow from the Czarna Woda catch-ment prevailed. Short-term flood outflows were at least several dozen percent higher in the Biała Woda catchment. The measurement data confirmed that water was better retained in the Czarna Woda catchment and the outflow was slower. Water retention processes in the Czarna Woda catchment allowed to maintain minimum outflows at a level several times higher than in the Biała Woda catchment. The studies have shown that in a very small mountain area there can be a large variation in outflow in individual streams. Retention capacity of the catchment depends on environmen-tal conditions and human activity.

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Problematyka koncesjonowania wydobycia kopalin energetycznych w Polsce

Harat Andrzej, Jaguś Andrzej

Polish Journal of Materials and Environmental Engineering

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2023

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Vol. 5 (25)

1--13

EN

The extraction of minerals, including fossil fuels, is a licensed activity. In the case of strategic fossil fuels owned by the state, such as hard coal, lignite, crude oil, natural gas, a license is issued by the minister responsible for the environment. The minister also signs a mining lease agreement, that is the right to use a mining area, with the entity to which they grant the licence. In the case of resources that are not covered by mining lease, but are subject to land property ownership, such as rock or peat, the licensing authority is the staroste or voivodship governor (depending on the area of the deposit or the volume of the mineral to be extracted). The licensing procedure requires the preparation and completion of extensive documentation presenting the interested entity and the activity it is going to undertake. In the case of licences granted by the minister or governor, the submitted documentation is required to contain a de-posit development plan. The licensing procedure consists in examining the license application along with the attached documentation by the competent authority, as well as conducting ar-rangements with the interested institutions and supervisory authorities. Commencement of the licensing procedure for the extraction of coal or peat is not limited in time, whereas the granting of licences for the exploration, identification and extraction of hydrocarbon deposits begins only in the form of a time-limited tender. After the licence has been granted, the area covered by its provisions is entered in the register of mining areas. Licences are granted for a specified period of time. An important element to be included in their contents is indication of the requirements for conducting a business in a way that minimizes the negative impact on the environment.

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The water outflow from neighbouring mountain catchments in the Polish Carpathians : A comparative analysis

Kowalczyk Agnieszka W., Jaguś Andrzej

Journal of Water and Land Development

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2023

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no. 58

148--157

EN

The study covered water resources of two mountain streams in the Polish Carpathians. These were the Biała Woda and Czarna Woda streams, the catchments of which are adjacent to each other. Water flows in both streams were measured during the hydrological years from 2006 to 2020. Next, water outflows from the catchments were calculated. The study aimed to determine differences in the water resources of those catchments in a very small mountainous area. The study showed quantitative similarity in water resources in the entire multi-annual period but at the same time large differences in shorter periods. Instantaneous and daily outflows showed the largest differences, but differences in annual outflows of up to 20% were also recorded. Therefore, hydrological data from operational cross-sections to assess water resources of neighbouring uncontrolled watercourses should cover multi-annual mean values. It was found that during periods of increased runoff (from melting snow or precipitation), the outflow from the Biała Woda catchment was much larger, while during rain-free periods, the outflow from the Czarna Woda catchment prevailed. All short-term flood like outflows were at least several tens of per cent higher in the Biała Woda catchment. The higher retention capacity of the Czarna Woda catchment can be attributed to the land use (mainly forest areas). The results can be used for modelling catchments of similar parameters and determining their retention capacity.

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Impact of Mountain Grassland Management on Groundwater Recharge in the Polish Carpathians

Kowalczyk Agnieszka, Jaguś Andrzej, Grabowska-Polanowska Beata

Journal of Ecological Engineering

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2023

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Vol. 24, nr 11

321--329

EN

Which modern use of grassland is the most beneficial for the protection of water resources in the Polish Carpathians is scarcely known; thus, the deep outflows from organically, extensively, semi-intensively and intensively used and unused grasslands between 2019 and 2022 were measured. The studies showed that use impacted the process of deep infiltration, but the differences were clearest between the areas where management was reduced to a minimum (lowest outflow) and the areas which were mown most often (highest outflow). No effect of fertilisation was detected. To intensify groundwater recharge, it is evidently necessary to mow vegetation twice or three times per season; more frequent mowing changed the characteristics of the vegetation in an undesirable way. The fallowing of grasslands proved to be a practice unfavourable to groundwater resources.

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Środowiskowe aspekty wymywania składników mineralnych z popiołów lotnych i żużli elektrownianych

Adamczyk Zdzisław, Harat Andrzej, Jaguś Andrzej, Porszke Andrzej

Polish Journal of Materials and Environmental Engineering

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2022

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Vol. 4 (24)

21--29

EN

Leachability of chemical substances from waste produced during fuel combustion in a power plant has been investigated. The aim of the research was to identify the chemical composition of eluates obtained from fly ashes and slags subjected to the leaching test. The results of leaching tests indicate potential environmental hazards related to the migration of chemical substances. Migration can occur both during the storage of waste and due to the weathering of usable materials, including those made from waste. Leachability of the following substances has been analysed: sodium, potassium, chlorides, sulphates, arsenic, zinc, cadmium, copper, lead, nickel and chromium. The analysis of the results has demonstrated, above all, that fly ash eluates contain much more substances than slag eluates. This is particularly evident in the case of chlorides and sulphates, as well as nickel, which practically was not found in slag eluates. The leached substances included among others zinc, lead, chromium, which are potentially toxic to living organisms. It should be noted, however, that the contents of these substances in the eluates did not exceed the permissible concentrations in industrial wastewater discharged into the environment. Exceedances occurred only in the case of sulphates contained in ash eluates. The concentrations of a given substance in the tested eluates were found to be different during the entire research period. These differences, especially in fly ash eluates, reached several dozen and even more than one hundred percent. This shows that the use of power plant waste in civil or water engineering should be preceded by an analysis of potential environmental impact.

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Wybrane problemy zagospodarowania zlewni górskich w aspekcie ochrony zbiorników zaporowych w Karpatach Polskich

Jaguś Andrzej

Polish Journal of Materials and Environmental Engineering

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2021

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Vol. 1 (21)

1--15

EN

The current spatial development of the catchment area in the Polish Carpathians shows fea- tures that accelerate the water cycle and its erosive activity. The region is characterized, among others, by: insufficient forest cover, the presence of fallow land and abandoned land, scattering of buildings, disturbance of the course of agro-forest borders, excessive number of dirt roads and various hardened surfaces, degradation of forest ecosystems. This translates into siltation and pollution of Carpathian dam reservoirs important for the water and economic system of the country. The aim of the article is to present selected principles and methods of arranging the catchment area in the Polish Carpathians in terms of improving the catchment retention capacity and, at the same time, the quality of water. The result of proper manage- ment would be a stable supply of good quality water to the reservoirs. Protective activity for water resources should focus on replacing surface runoff with ground runoff in order to increase the retention capacity of the area and protect against erosion. The key is to properly shape the plant cover, which at the same time protects the water quality. The watershed zones and steep slopes should be forested. Permanent grasslands for exten- sive animal breeding should be considered the optimal form of agricultural use of the Carpa- thian areas. Together with forest areas with a good health condition, they not only create fa- vorable water conditions, but also ensure the preservation of biodiversity. The maintenance of arable land is permitted up to an altitude of 700 m a.s.l. and requires good agricultural practice to minimize soil erosion and nitrate migration. It is unacceptable to leave the soil without plant cover. River bed zones and watercourse beds require appropriate technical or biological support to prevent the development of bedside erosion and sediment displace- ment, as well as the ingestion of material from slopes. Plant communities near the river beds should be protected under landscape protection.

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The Impact of Extensive Grazing on the Fertility of Mountain Streams on the Example of the Biała Woda Valley in the Pieniny Range (Polish Carpathians)

Jaguś Andrzej

Journal of Ecological Engineering

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2020

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Vol. 21, nr 4

112--119

EN

The content of biogenic substances, i.e. ammonia (NH4+), nitrates (NO3 –) and phosphates (PO4 3–), in the mountain stream waters was studied. The test (zero) sample was the water flowing from forest areas, while the study samples included the water from the streams flowing through extensively used sheep pastures. The impact of grazing on the water quality during high (in the rainy season) and low (in the dry period) water flows was assessed. The studies demonstrated the water contamination with ammonia, particularly during the rainy season. The contamination was also present in the test sample, so it cannot be attributed to the grazing activity. The highest nitrate concentrations were reported in the dry period. An influence of grazing on the migration of nitrates into waters was found, however, on a scale causing no contamination. The water contamination with phosphates was found. The studies demonstrated that extensive grazing did not affect the fertilisation of mountain stream water, yet the water quality may be deteriorated by the surface runoff processes and soil cover erosion.

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Procedure for the Transboundary Environmental Impact Assessment of Contemplated Investment Projects in the Polish Legal System

Harat Andrzej, Jaguś Andrzej

Journal of Ecological Engineering

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2020

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Vol. 21, nr 8

285--291

EN

In the process of implementing a construction project, it is necessary to meet numerous requirements imposed on investors by regulations related to broadly understood environmental protection, which are significant for the vast majority of investment processes. For obvious reasons, the environment, understood as all natural elements, is not subject to geopolitical division principles. Therefore, the issue of international cooperation between states in the field of environmental protection is becoming increasingly important. One of its major tools is the procedure for transboundary environmental impact assessment in the Polish legal order. The article presents regulations applying to the strategic environmental impact assessment and verification of the environmental effects of project implementation. The complex nature of the indicated regulations, as well as their nonuniform application by entities issuing administrative decisions may directly contribute not only to delays in implementing an investment project, but also to a significant increase in its costs. It should also be remembered that strict compliance with these requirements is a necessary condition for the participation of Community funds in the implementation of a specific project.

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Monitoring środowiska gruntowego w Polsce

Jaguś Andrzej

Inżynieria Ekologiczna

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2020

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Vol. 21, nr 3

24--32

PL

W artykule przedstawiono systemy monitoringu środowiska przyrodniczego o zasięgu ogólnokrajowym, związane ze środowiskiem gruntowym. Pierwszy to monitoring chemizmu gleb ornych, ujawniający jakość gleb rolniczych w Polsce. Monitorowane jest 216 punktów. Problem stanowi głównie zakwaszenie gleb oraz niedobór przyswajalnego fosforu. Drugi to monitoring suszy rolniczej. Jest oparty na wyznaczaniu klimatycznego bilansu wodnego w powiązaniu ze zdolnościami retencyjnymi gleb. Stwierdzenie suszy uprawnia do uzyskania państwowej pomocy finansowej. Trzeci to monitoring osuwisk, który dotyczy głównie obszaru Karpat Polskich. Wyznaczane są tereny zagrożone ruchami gruntu, a w obrębie osuwisk analizowane są przemieszczenia powierzchniowe (pomiary GPS) i wgłębne (pomiary inklinometryczne). Opisano zakres każdego monitoringu, a także podano liczne informacje metodyczne. Zwrócono uwagę na praktyczne aspekty działań monitoringowych. Wyniki każdego monitoringu są w różnym zakresie dostępne do wiadomości publicznej, co umożliwia ich dyskutowanie.

EN

The article presents nationwide environmental monitoring systems related to the ground environment. The first system is the monitoring of chemical properties of arable soil, aiming to estimate the quality of agricultural soils in Poland. Totally 216 points are being monitored. The problem is mainly soil acidification and a deficiency of available phosphorus. The second one is monitoring of agricultural drought. It is based on the determination of the climate water balance in connection with soil retention capacity. When a drought is confirmed it entitles to receive state financial assistance. The third system is the landslides monitoring, which mainly concerns the area of the Polish Carpathians. The areas endangered by ground movements are indicated, and within landslides surface of ground displacements (GPS measurements) and deep movements (inclinometric measurements ) are analyzed. The scope of each monitoring was reviewed, as well as numerous methodological information was given. The attention was paid to practical aspects of the monitoring activities. The results of each monitoring are available to be public message in varying degrees, which makes it possible to discuss them.

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Water Retention Problem in the Mountain Areas: a Case of Sola River Flows, Polish Carpathians

Jaguś Andrzej

Journal of Ecological Engineering

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2019

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Vol. 20, nr 11

167--177

EN

The paper considers mountain rivers, which usually feature high dynamics of hydrological phenomena. The variability of the Sola river flows in the Polish Carpathians is presented based on water-gauge measurements from the hydrological long-period of 1956-2015. The flows for the upper section of the river, where no storage reservoirs are found, were analysed. A broad range of flows was shown – from 0.59 to 1250 m3/s at a mean flow of 15.5 m3/s. It was also shown that within a year, the flows grow in the spring (thaw freshets) and summer periods (rainwater freshets). Mainly the summer freshets are dangerous, consisting in a sudden rise of the flow due to rains. This is shown by the high values of maximum flows in June and July. In the case of mountain rivers, such as the Sola river, it is necessary to undertake the actions stabilising the flows, which on the one hand have flood-prevention importance, and on the other hand protect the water resources in long dry periods. The actions should be concentrated on the proper arrangement of the catchment area, slowing down the rainwater outflow. Appropriate land use is especially important (distribution of forests, of arable and developed areas) depending on the land elevation above the sea level and inclination, as well as creation of small storage facilities.

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Variation of Precipitation Gradient in Mountain Areas Based on the Example of the Western Beskids in the Polish Carpathians

Kozak Janusz, Cebulak Dominik, Stec Tomasz, Jaguś Andrzej

Journal of Ecological Engineering

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2019

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Vol. 20, nr 9

261--266

EN

The study aims at investigating the so-called precipitation gradient, i.e. changes in the amount of precipitation depending on the elevation above sea level in the mountainous areas of southern Poland. The gradient value is specified in mm of precipitation per 100 m elevation difference. Experimental studies were conducted in two small Beskids valleys, the Barbara stream valley and the Wilkówka stream valley. Five rain gauges were installed across land elevation profiles of said valleys. Decade precipitation amounts during the summer and autumn of 2015 were recorded. The precipitation data of the national environmental monitoring from the nearby mountain and foothill weather stations from 2014–2018 were also used for the analyses. The data analyses demonstrated a large spatial variation in the amount of precipitation. The occurrence of a varied gradient, and even inverse situations i.e. greater precipitation at the locations with lower elevation, were recorded. The precipitation gradient was differentiated, particularly by the terrain exposition relative to the dominant inflow direction of moist air masses, as well as the spatial arrangement of mountain ranges.

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Toxic Elements in Mountain Soils (Little Beskids, Polish Carpathians)

Jaguś Andrzej, Skrzypiec Mariusz

Journal of Ecological Engineering

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2019

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Vol. 20, nr 1

197--202

EN

The research consisted in the analyses pertaining to the occurrence of elements regarded as toxic (Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr, As, Pb, Cd, Hg), the presence of which in the environment is mainly associated with economic-industrial activities in mountain soils. The research area of about 5 sq. km. included the hilltops and south-western slopes of the Magurka Wilkowicka massif. The massif is situated on the western edge of the Little Beskids near the area of Bielsko-Biała city. The concentrations of elements were measured in 50 soil samples taken from three zones: at the foothill of the massif (arable fields), on its slopes (forest areas) and on the hilltop (grassland). Additionally, the pH of the soil samples was determined. The research showed that zinc and, to a lesser degree, copper and nickel, occurred in the highest concentrations at the foot of the massif, near built-up areas, while the highest concentrations of arsenic and lead were detected in the hilltop part of the grassland. The concentrations of chromium, cadmium and mercury did not differ spatially. The analysed elements, especially zinc and lead, often occurred in the concentrations higher than those regarded as natural. It is a disturbing fact combined with serious acidity of the analysed soils (almost 60% of the samples were very acid soils), which may increase mobility of metals. The research shows that the soil environment of the Polish Carpathians may be contaminated with toxic elements not only in the neighbourhood of built-up areas, but also in the undeveloped land.

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The Quality Problems of the Dammed Water in the Mountain Forest Catchment

Jachniak Ewa, Jaguś Andrzej, Młyniuk Agata, Nycz Barbara

Journal of Ecological Engineering

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2019

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Vol. 20, nr 5

165--171

EN

The research concerned the Wapienica dam reservoir, which is located in the Polish Carpathians, near the city of Bielsko-Biala. The dam closes the flow of water from the 11.1 km2 catchment. The forests cover about 90% of the catchment area, while the rest of the catchment constitutes grassland areas. The reservoir has a capacity of 1.05 million m3. The collected water is intended for supplying a water supply system. The catchment is treated as semi-natural, because within its borders the only works related to forest management are carried out. The aim of the research was evaluation of the water quality in this reservoir, including trophic status, based on the analyses carried out in 2015. It was found that the water was of good quality in basic physicochemical terms (e.g. suspension ≤13 mg∙dm-3,CODCr ≤11 mgO2∙dm-3, conductivity ≤82 µS∙cm-1, phosphates <0.05 mg∙dm-3, nitrates ≤5.1 mg∙dm-3, dissolved iron ≤0.12 mg∙dm-3). The contamination with heavy metals was not ascertained, with the exception of the zinc. The assessed sanitary indicators are worse – the bacteria of the Coli group and periodically also enterococci were observed in the reservoir water. The reservoir is not homogeneous in terms of biological production (the trophy degree). It is low in the upper part (oligotrophy generally) and increases in the part near the dam (mesotrophy, also eutrophy). The established presence of dangerous bacteria and symptoms of the reservoir eutrophication are disturbing in the context of the opinion on the purity of uninhabited mountain areas.

17

Możliwości rekultywacji zbiornika Tresna w kaskadzie Soły

Jaguś Andrzej, Duława Krzysztof

Gospodarka Wodna

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2019

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Nr 10

22--27

PL

Przedstawiono zbiornik zaporowy Tresna, będący najwyższym akwenem w trzystopniowej kaskadzie rzeki Soły. Zbiornik przyjmuje wody kilku większych dopływów, w tym Soły z Koszarawą, które wnoszą do niego duże ilości zanieczyszczeń i rumowiska. Obserwowana degradacja zbiornika wymusza podjęcie działań ochronnych oraz przeprowadzenie zabiegów rekultywacyjnych. Dokonano przeglądu możliwości rekultywacji, prezentując zabiegi, których zastosowanie warto rozważać. Przeanalizowano odmulanie, ingerencję chemiczną w osady denne, odizolowanie osadów dennych od toni wodnej, napowietrzanie wód przydennych, chemiczne oczyszczanie wody, instalowanie sztucznych podłoży dla rozwoju organizmów, biomanipulację i stosowanie preparatów mikrobiologicznych.

EN

The article presents the Tresna damming reservoir, the highest reservoir in the three-stage Soła river dam cascade. Waters from several larger tributaries, including Soła and Koszarawa, flow into the reservoir bringing along high quantities of pollutants and bed load. The observed degradation of the reservoir requires protective action and rehabilitation measures. The article reviews possibilities of rehabilitation, presenting procedures to be considered, such as desilting, chemical intervention in bottom deposits, isolation of bottom deposits from the body of water, aeration of benthic waters, chemical purification of water, installation of artificial substrates for organisms, biomanipulation and use of microbiological preparations.