Iwona Skoczko

ANALYSIS OF ECOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF PODLASIE PROVINCE

The beginning of the period where the impact of human activity took dangerous size is considered to be 40 years of the nineteenth century. Then the large-scale production of electricity increased production of metallurgical industry and transport development. Significant changes contributed to rapid population growth and urbanization and in dustrialization processes. Man by intensive exploitation reduces or completely exhausted most natural resources. This has resulted in the availability criterion, which is distinguished by inexhaustible and exhaustible resources. Exhaustible resources may include solar, wind, energy, ocean currents and the energy of the Earth. Exhaustible resources, however, are the elements of nature that as a result of the operation can be completely depleted or destroyed. These resources include: water, soil, plant world, animal world natural resources. The greater the intensity of acquiring human resources, the faster will be the depleted. There is also a very important division of exhaustible resources: non-renewable resources, renewable and very difficult reproducible (living areas). Non-renewable resources are mainly minerals, such as iron ore, crude oil, coal, sulfur, natural gas, useful stones, limestone, salt, and many other minerals). After extraction resources are processed, and the bed from which they were extracted can no longer be used. It is different from renewable resources; they are characterized by the fact that over time they are reconstituted, although, for this to happen balance of the environment through the rational use must be maintained. These resources include, among others, soil, water, flora and fauna, as well as atmospheric air.

ASSESSMENT OF SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DEGRADATION BY SCHINDLER FACTOR OF SELECTED RESERVOIRS IN PODLASKIE – PART I

The availability of water in adequate sufficient quantity and quality is the most important factor in maintenance of life and human activity. Surface water as easily accessible resources per citizen in Poland should not be compared to other countries of the European Union. Podlasie is a lowland region, which is dominated by vast plains occasionally varied by low hills with gentle slopes. Natural lakes occurring sparsely are heavily overgrown or completely restated as a result of moor succession. The storage of natural hollows which store water resulted in the construction of artificial dam reservoirs, allocated primarily to water accumulation. Lowland development of small retention mainly consists of increasing the retention capacity and prevention of drought and floods, while maintaining and supporting the development of the natural landscape. This article presents the characteristics of selected major small water reservoirs in Podlasie. Characterized and evaluated the susceptibility of dam reservoirs degradation: Czapielowka, Korycin, Otapy-Kiersnowek, Repczyce, Zarzeczany. To evaluate the susceptibility of degradation there was applied Schindler factor, which is the ratio of the accumulated surface water reservoir and its catchment area to the volume of the reservoir. In addition, the influence of development of catchment management and the degree of degradation has been evaluated. Realising aware of the limitations of the size of the water resources is suggested to take appropriate action to alleviate the degradation of artificial reservoirs.

Impacts of Climate Change on Hydrological Regime and Water Resources Management of the Narew River in Poland

The amount of water required to support a river ecosystem in proper condition are of particular importance in the areas of high natural value. The hydrological threats for the protected areas are region-specific and vary from region to region. The local hydrological conditions depend largely on the temporal and spatial variations of the hydrologic cycle, of the main components and physiographic conditions on site. Future climate change is projected to have a significant impact on the hydrological regime, water resources and their quality in many parts of the world. The water-dependent ecosystems are exposed to the risk of climate change through altered precipitation and evaporation. Investigating the current climate changes and their hydrological consequences are very important for hydrological issues. This analysis may be a very important foundation for determining the causes observed in the recent period of anomalous growth – both hydrological and climatic. The aim of the research is to assess the effect of projected climate change on water resources in lowland catchment the Narew River in Poland. The hydrological reaction to climate warming and wetter conditions includes changes in flow and water level. This paper describes the directions of changes climatic and hydrological conditions and the impact of climate change on the Narew River. The data such as: daily air temperature, precipitation obtained from the Bialystok climate station located within the Narew river and hydrological data such as water flows and water states observed in water gauges were used for the analysis of climate variability and their hydrological consequences. The results show a significant decrease in winter outflows in river, as well as a delayed increase in the spring melt flow. It has also been observed that this is the initial phase of changes in maximum water levels and maximum flows.

SEASONAL CHANGES IN NITROGEN, PHOSPHORUS, BOD AND COD REMOVAL IN BYSTRE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT

The aim of this study was to determinate seasonal changes in industrial wastewater treatment effectiveness. Studies were carried out in mechanical-biological wastewater treatment plant in Bystre near Giżycko to which inflows mixture of domestic and dairy wastewater. Laboratory studies were carried out by Water and Wastewater Company in Giżycko. For statistical analysis results form years 2014 and 2015 were considered. The scope of statistical analysis includes basic statistical measures including arithmetic mean, median, minimum, maximum and standard deviation. Changes in seasonal treatment effectiveness were shown by Fisher-Snedecore LSD test. Seasonal changes were observed for BOD, COD and total nitrogen removal effectiveness. Total phosphorus was not subjected to that kind of changes.

DYNAMICS OF NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS FORMS CONTENT IN DOJLIDY RETENTION RESERVOIRE

The Dojlidy Ponds, which include Dojlidy water dam, are located within Bialystok city limits in Podlasie area, Poland. The reservoir with a water surface of 34 ha and average depth of 1.75 m was constructed in 1962 as a result of Biala River damming. The researches were conducted in July, October and December 2014 as well as in March 2015. Each time five test samples were collected from spots located along the reservoir. Water samples were tested for the presence of ammonia nitrogen, nitrite nitrogen, organic nitrogen, phosphates and organic phosphorus. The values of nutrient indicators exhibited high variability during the study period. The highest concentration of nitrite and nitrate nitrogen were observed in July, while the lowest in October – nitrite nitrogen, and in December – nitrate nitrogen. Different situation was observed after the analysis of phosphorus forms – the highest concentrations of organic phosphorus and phosphates were observed in December and the lowest in July. Relatively high concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus forms identified in water samples were most likely caused by tributaries, due to the pollution from the reservoir catchment. Technical parameters of the object and location of the reservoir have undoubtedly an impact on the tested parameters contents.

STUDIES ON THE EFFICIENCY OF GRUNDWATER TREATMENT PROCESS WITH ADSORPTION ON ACTIVATED ALUMINA

One of inorganic sorbents used in water treatment technology is activated alumina. It is recommended by the European Commission to remove inorganic impurities, such as arsenic, fluoride, selenium and silicates. The adsorbent is usually applied in a granular form, under flow conditions. It can become absorbent material, increasingly used due to the presence of arsenic beside iron and manganese in groundwater intakes. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of groundwater treatment in the technological system containing adsorption on activated alumina. The experiment was performed on test model CE 581 manufactured by G.U.N.T. Hamburg, in which four treatment stages can be extracted. The first stage is used in a gravel filter of grain size 1–2 mm, in the second sand filter of grain size 0.4–0.8 mm. The third and fourth phase includes two adsorbers. The first adsorber comprises activated alumina (Al2O3) and the other comprises a granular activated carbon. The study was conducted at different speeds of filtration: 5, 10 and 15 m/h. In the raw water samples and the purified water samples after each treatment step the following parameters were determined: pH, O2 concentration, electrolytic conductivity, SO4 2-, concentration, NO3 concentration, PO4 3concentration, Clconcentration, color, turbidity, iron and manganese concentration, CODMn, total hardness, calcium hardness, magnesium hardness, content of dissolved substances. The conducted research indicates that optimum filtration rate for most pollution is 15 m/h. Moreover, the presence of activated alumina has contributed to increasing the efficiency of nitrate (V) and phosphate (V) ions removal.

WATER AND SEWAGE ECONOMY DEVELOPMENT IN PODLASKIE VOIVODESHIP IN 2008-2015

The aim of this article was to evaluate the water and sewage economy development in Podlaskie Voivodeship in comparison to the rest of the country. Moreover, the best developing districts in analysed area have been marked out. The data from Central Statistical Office of Poland from 2008–2015 pertaining to a range of waterworks, sewerage and sewage plants was used in the study. In recent years we have observed a decreasing tendency in the number of cesspits in favour of sewage systems and household sewage treatment plants. In 2008–2015 water and sewage economy in Poland was expanded in 150 840 Household Sewage Treatment Plants and 54 876.4 km of sewage systems. Podlaskie Voivodeship assumed 12th place in the country in respect to newly built waterworks (advancement by one position) and the last place in respect to sewerage length.

RESEARCH ON THE INFLUENCE OF TEMPERATURE ON THE ACTIVATION OF SELECTED POROUS MNO2 BEDS

Rising demands concerning water treatment and conservation make it necessary to search for more effective as well as cheap and ecologically safe solutions. During the filtration process quartz sand is replaced by filter materials which also have a strong effect on account of reactions taking place on a bed’s surface. Today’s technologies for groundwater and seepage water treatment in rapid filters make use of oxidation beds. They are able to effectively remove manganese (II) and iron (II) compounds based on heterogeneous oxidation catalysis. The main catalyst of the manganese removal process in terms of its catalytic oxidation in filtration beds is manganese dioxide. This compound is used as an oxidizing agent in many processes. The research conducted as part of this paper was aimed at creating a product with the qualities similar to a popular Greensand bed protected by patent. The authors tested washed quartz sand varying in granulation which was subject to activation in 10% KMnO4 solution. Grains of quartz sand after covering them with a permanent coat of manganese oxide developed the superficial oxidation layer. While performing the tests, a temperature of the process served as a variable. The beds produced as a result of the experiment enable the removal of iron and manganese from water without prior alkylation. Furthermore, they are an effective method of purifying water of organic pollutants and ammoniacal nitrogen. They function as oxidizing and filtering masses.

THE ANALYSIS OF PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF TWO UNKNOWN FILTER MATERIALS

One of the most important technological processes of water treatment is the process of filtration. Scientists and producers keep on searching new filtration materials which allow for better water purification, are simple in exploitation and do not add chemical substances to the treated water. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to analyze physical and chemical parameters of two unknown porous masses X1 and X2. Such physical parameters as color, granulation, bulk density, the equivalent diameter, the coefficient of uniformity and the porosity of the material were measured and determined. Additionally, the possibility of water treatment was studied during the filtration process in the laboratory tests. Chemical parameters were examined in the water flowing through the mass, such as pH, conductivity and COD-Mn as a general indicator of the content of organic substances in the water. Both studied porous masses were characterized by uniform size of particles. But they were not efficient enough in satisfactory reduction of oxygen consumption. Mass X2 slightly better adsorbed organic substances. It was found that the tested unknown mass filter slightly increase the pH of the filtered water.

ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF SELECTED ADSORPTION BEDS USED FOR WATER TREATMENT

In the paper an economic analysis of the sorption deposits used for water purification was performed. Such masses of carbon as Organosorb 10 deposit, Norit ROW 0.8 Supra deposit, Hydroantracyt N deposit and K110 deposit were selected. The economic substantiation for the selection of specific deposits was based on the purchase cost of filter deposits, the environmental fee for water intake, the cost of equipment to aerate water, the cost of chemicals for deposits regeneration, the cost of the dosing pump reagents for regeneration generated during the process of adsorption using each of the deposits selected to the analysis. K110 deposit turned out to be the cheapest in the exploitation and Norit ROW 0.8 Supra was most expensive. The operating costs of the adsorption deposits depend mainly on the purchase of the adsorbent and the speed of adsorption. Moreover, environmental fee for water intake constitutes a significant share in the costs of exploitation of carbon deposits , which is greater than the deposit costs.