Explore the vast range of titles available.

Springs are objects of natural environment, which are studied by different scientific disciplines: geography, hydrology, hydrogeology, hydrochemistry, hydrobiology, ecology, environmental protection, landscape architecture, touring, archeology and ethnography. These objects, in both the past and the present, were of a great importance to man, who, in different ways and very willingly, used the clean water flowing out and the surrounding environment. Springs, giving rise to streams, which feed into larger rivers, have great scientific, economic, natural, landscape, cultural and even therapeutic values. They have been protected from devastation and pollution for centuries, mainly due to the rational and often iconic perception of them. They were and still are objects of mystification resulting from the assignment of miraculous properties to their water and fantastic legends and historical events to places where they flow out.

Detailed research on the content of heavy metals in ground and surface waters in the upper Sanna River catchment was initiated in 2013. The investigations were conducted in one of the most promising areas of potential shale gas extraction, in which the Frampol 1 test wellbore was drilled in 2012 (SE Poland, Roztocze Region). In the area of the wellbore, hydrochemical analyses of the waters of the river drainage zone were performed. Water was sampled from six objects representing soil water, porous groundwater, fissure-layer groundwater, and river water. The hydrological regime of groundwater and surface water was analysed based on data obtained from automatic recorders of water levels and results of periodic measurements of water flow. In 2013, water was sampled on a monthly basis for determination of the levels of Ba, Sr, Al, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Cd, Co, Cr, Ni, As, V, Rb, Pb, Th, and U. The analysis results showed that the concentration of Sr was usually in the range of 100–400 µg/L, Fe 10–100 µg/L, Ba 10–40 µg/L, and Mn, Al, and Zn 1–10 µg/L. The concentration of the other metals generally did not exceed 1 µg/L. The concentrations of the elements analysed in the zone of drinking water intake were within the range specified by Polish and WHO standards. Significant differences were found in the metal content in the analysed waters; they were related to the water intake site, form of land management, and hydrometeorological conditions. The highest metal content was recorded in soil and river waters and the lowest in the spring waters of the main water-bearing horizon. At the current stage of the research, no impact of the Frampol 1 shale gas exploration wellbore on the metal content in the upper Sanna River catchment was found.

Wezbrania i niżówki w dorzeczu Ciemięgi The paper concerns problems of variability of runoff from the Ciemięga River basin (northern part of the Lublin Upland) as well as determines frequency and conditions of occurrence of extreme values. The work is based on daily discharges counted from observation materials gathered by the Department of Hydrography of UMCS and covering the period of 1995-2007. Surface relief and permeability determine occurrence of violent and high thawing floods, rarely precipitation floods. Good retention conditions of the ground are favourable for water retention and slow empting of Cretaceous-Tertiary groundwater reservoir, which determines persistency of low flows on the relatively high level. The analysis of floods and low flows of the Ciemięga was prepared with the use of IHA (Indicators of Hydrologic Alteration) Software, which enables counting and visualization of dozens of hydrologic indicators describing water regime.

The Lublin Region is an area where local transformations in the natural environment, including the hydrosphere, occur. They result from the impact of agriculture, industry as well as water supply and sewage disposal. These activities lead to changes in the water network resulting from land improvement works, channel straightening and water runoff acceleration, as well as to the formation of local, both point and diffuse sources, of water pollution. The consequences of human impact are manifested in local transformations of the quality or quantity of water resources. As a result of intense groundwater draw-off, hydrogeological conditions are transformed, which is reflected in the persistence of depression cones of varied size and depth, noticeable in the vicinity of water intakes for Lublin, Chełm, Zamość and Kraśnik. The lowering of the first-level groundwater table also occurs as a consequence of the drainage of chalk and marl mine workings in Chełm and Rejowiec, whereas in the area of the hard coal mine both shallow and deep groundwater was transformed. It is important to indicate the consequences of human impact changes of water conditions as the hydrosphere resources should be used according to the principles of sustainable development. Lubelszczyzna jest obszarem, gdzie zaznaczają się lokalne przekształcenia środowiska przyrodniczego, w tym również hydrosfery. Są one efektem wpływu rolnictwa, przemysłu oraz gospodarki wodno-ściekowej. Ich oddziaływanie prowadzi do zmian sieci wodnej w wyniku melioracji, prostowania biegów rzek, przyspieszania odpływu wody, a także do powstawania lokalnych, punktowych i obszarowych ognisk zanieczyszczeń wód. Konsekwencje antropopresji uwidoczniają się w lokalnych przekształceniach ilości lub jakości zasobów wodnych. Następstwem dużych poborów wody podziemnej są przekształcenia warunków hydrogeologicznych, których odzwierciedleniem jest utrzymywanie się różnej wielkości i głębokości lejów depresyjnych, obserwowanych w sąsiedztwie ujęć Lublina, Chełma, Zamościa oraz Kraśnika. Obniżenie zwierciadła wody podziemnej pierwszego poziomu następuje także w wyniku odwodnień wyrobisk górniczych kopalni kredy i margli w Chełmie i Rejowcu, a w rejonie kopalni węgla kamiennego nastąpiło przekształcenie zarówno płytkich, jak i wgłębnych wód podziemnych. Rozpoznanie konsekwencji zmian antropogenicznych stosunków wodnych jest istotne ze względu na wykorzystywanie zasobów hydrosfery, które powinno być realizowane zgodnie z zasadami zrównoważonego rozwoju.

Hydrological characteristics of the Czerniejówka river basin This paper is focused on an analysis of conditions of groundwaters occurrence in the Czerniejówka river basin. The paper also presents the outflow rate from the upper and middle course of the river, where the natural environment is only slightly influenced by human activity. The lower part of the catchment is under city impact, intensified since 1954, when the water intake Dziesiata has started exploitation of groundwater resources. The middle part of the catchment is influenced by exploitation of water resources in the water intake Wilczopole, since 1988. Ten-year (1979-1988) water gauge observations and discharge measurement and water levels in the upper and middle part of the catchment, in the period of documentation of water resources of the water intake Wilczopole, are the basis of analysis. The Czerniejówka river basin is under strong and diversified human impact. Two water intakes constructed in the catchment of the river assure the water for 40% of the city demand. Hydrogeological conditions, fissured rocks and low elevation of the water division, determine the possibilities of underground water flow from the left part of the catchment to the Bystrzyca river basin, which significantly influences the reduced water resources of the Czerniejówka river. Good permeability of rocks is favourable for retention of water that steadily inflows to the river channel. Surface runoff occurs sporadically, usually in the frozen ground period rather than in the summer, which determines the high share of the ground feeding in total runoff. Average specific runoff for the upper and middle part of the basin was estimated as 4.2 dm[3]·s[-1]·km[-2] in the ten-year period. At present conditions of catchment land use and exploitation of Dziesiata and Wilczopole water intakes, the Czerniejówka river discharge will decrease with the only feeding from the upper part of the catchment. In dry periods, in the middle and lower course of the Czerniejówka river infiltration of river water to underground resources, as well as in the Skrzyniczanka river, will take place.

In order to help develop a better understanding of relevant catchment processes, this paper presents the changes in physico-chemical features of the Wieprz River water during the spring snowmelt flood of 2006. The obtained results showed that the groundwater sampled from the springs and the water sampled from the river had a similar and quite stable composition of the basic physicochemical features in the period of solely groundwater feeding (the river is fed only with the water coming from underground sources). The physico-chemical composition of river water during snowmelt depended on the contribution of surface runoff in total outflow and the flood phase. The correlation coefficients between the discharge in the Wieprz River and the concentrations in the studied indices were significantly negative: pH, SEC, HCO3, Ca, Mg, Na, Sr, SiO2, Cl, SO4, F. Significantly positive correlations associated with an increase in discharge were observed in the case of: K, NO3, NO2, total organic carbon, chemical oxygen demand and biochemical oxygen demand. Step and bidirectional responses were noted during the snowmelt flood in the case of the content of NH4 and PO4. W pracy przedstawiono zmiany cech fizyczno-chemicznych wody rzeki Wieprz w Guciowie (SE Polska) w czasie wiosennego wezbrania roztopowego 2006 roku. Wyniki badań wykazały, że wody gruntowe pobrane ze źródeł oraz wody pobrane z koryta rzeki Wieprz w okresie wyłącznego zasilania podziemnego, miały zbliżony i stabilny skład podstawowych wskaźników fizyczno-chemicznych. Podczas roztopów wartości parametrów fizyczno-chemicznych wody w rzece były uzależnione od stopnia przemarznięcia pokrywy glebowej, udziału spływu powierzchniowego w odpływie całkowitym oraz fazy wezbrania. Współczynniki korelacji między przepływem wody w rzece Wieprz a stężeniem badanego wskaźnika były istotne ujemne w przypadku: pH -0,78, SEC -0,92, TH -0,92, HCO3 -0,93, Ca -0,89, Mg -0,88, Na -0,81, Sr -0,87, SiO2 -0,81, Cl -0,87, SO4 -0,83, F -0,59. Istotnie dodatnie zależności związane ze zwiększeniem przepływu zanotowano w przypadku: K 0,73, NO3 0,71, NO2 0,58, TOC 0,62, COD 0,63 i BOD 0,62. Skokową i różnokierunkową reakcję podczas wezbrania roztopowego notowano w przypadku: NH4 0,34 i PO4 0,13.

The quality and its changes of the Bystrzyca River waters, related to the operation of the reservoir in Zemborzyce (Lublin area), were analysed. In the years 2005–2007, the following eutrophication indicators were analysed in the Bystrzyca River: total nitrogen, total phosphorus, nitrate, and chlorophyll a content. In accordance with the flowing waters criteria of the Polish law, the river waters did not show susceptibility to eutrophication or showed advanced water eutrophication. In the case of the criteria applicable to stagnant waters, the river waters showed high eutrophic potential. When constructing a reservoir on a river, water trophic potential based on the standing water criteria should be taken into account.

Lublin Upland and Roztocze region are known for the occurrence of a large number of springs of high yield. These springs are fed mainly from Cretaceous or Tertiary water-bearing horizon. In order to determine variability of springs' yield, 61 selected springs were analysed in spring periods of the years 1998-2008. Collected hydrometric materials allowed for comparing average and extreme yield values of springs in various physiographic regions within the period of 11 years. Average value was 76.1 dm³·s⁻¹, while the mean of the minimal yields was 44.7 dm³·s⁻¹ and of the maximal - 132.7 dm³·s⁻¹. Coefficient of irregularity of the springs' yield ranged from 1.5 to 5.0, which may lead to the conclusion that the springs' yield is constant or varies slightly. In some cases the irregularity was higher but it was determined by hydrogeological, meteorological and local factors.

Lake water stage dynamics in the Leczna-Wlodawa Lake District in 1991-2010 In the years 1991-2010 the water stages of 38 lakes in the Leczna-Wlodawa Lake District were observed. Water stage dynamics of the Leczna-Wlodawa lakes was varied. A multi-annual trend with seasonal water stage variability was clearly observable. Low water stages were observed in the years 1994-1996 and 2004-2005, whereas the highest water stages were reported for 2002 and 2010. The water stages of Lake Piaseczno, the deepest lake, were consistent with solar activity changes. Land improvement works in the Leczna-Wlodawa Lake District and black coal mining caused further local changes in the directions of flow of surface and underground water, as well as modifying the water stage regime of some of the lakes.

Zmiany przepływu Bystrzycy na terenie Lublina w 2007 roku Changes of the water conditions in the Lublin agglomeration have been taking place due to the city development. Rivers in their urban course are not fed by groundwater resources. Water in rivers comes from the upper part of the catchment, and rivers collect water outflowing from the network of storm sewers, at the high amount especially during torrential rainfalls. On the basis of detail hydrometric data, the rate of runoff from the Lublin area was calculated. In the urban area surface water runoff was decisively higher than in the agriculture and simultaneously renewing of water resources was limited.