Józef Koc

Evaluation of the distribution of fecal indicator bacteria in a river system depending on different types of land use in the southern watershed of the Baltic Sea

The aim of the study was to determine the effects of land use management on changes in the fecal contamination of water in the Łyna River, one of the main lowland watercourses in the southern watershed of the Baltic Sea (northern Poland). A total of 120 water samples were collected in different seasons of 2011 and 2012 at 15 sites where the river intersected forest (FA), agricultural (AA), and urbanized (UA) areas. Fecal indicator bacteria (FIB), the counts of Enterobacteriaceae and Escherichia coli, total bacterial counts (TBCs), and domain Bacteria (EUB338) were determined by culture-dependent and culture-independent methods. Temperature, pH, chemical oxygen demand, dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids, ammonia nitrogen, nitrite nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, orthophosphate, and total phosphorus were also determined. The lowest bacterial counts were noted in water samples collected in FA, and the highest in samples collected in UA. Statistically significant differences were determined between bacterial populations across the analyzed land use types and in different sampling seasons. Significant correlations were also observed between the populations of FIB and physicochemical parameters. The results indicate that land use type influenced FIB concentrations in river water. The combined use of conventional and molecular methods improves the accuracy of fecal contamination analyses in river ecosystems.

Inorganic Nitrogen Compounds in Water Mains in Northern Poland and Their Implication for Health Risk

AbstractThe presence of nitrogen compounds significantly affects the quality of water intended for human consumption. The maximum contaminant level (MCL) of nitrogen in potable water in Poland was set up as follows: NO2−–0.5 and NO3––50  mg/L, NH4+–0.50  mg/L. For this reason, the objective of the study was to monitor the chemical composition of water as a priority basis for the water quality information system to provide consumers with water that meets the appropriate health and quality standards. The results of a multiyear study (1992–2003) carried out in four regions and at 12 monitoring sites in northern Poland showed NO2− and NO3− levels significantly below MCL limits. Low nitrate concentrations in water drawn from Quaternary water-bearing horizons indicate the absence of point sources of pollution. Ammonia levels exceeded MCL values at every monitoring site. Supernormal ammonia concentrations in raw water are indicative of the natural origin of ammonia ions. They are correlated with the depth of the...

Profiling of groundwater quality based on its utilization

This paper presents an analysis of groundwater from the intakes “Park” and “Motlawa” situated in Tczew (Poland). These water intakes have varied hydrological conditions and volume of utilized resources (wells). In this area, the deepest drillings extend to 180 m (cretaceous stage) with 20% being constituted by tertiary-quaternary formations with depths ranging from 60 to 63.7 m. The distribution of water from the intakes depended on the population to which it was supplied and the average production of water ranged from 5,802.4 to 7,591.5 m 3 per day on “Motlawa” intake and from 3,196.3 to 4,125.4 m 3 /day on “Park” intake and did not exceed the production capacity specified by the regulations. In 1994–2009, analyses of water intended for consump tion from the above-mentioned intakes in Tczew were performed by testing the water reaction and the content of ammonium ions and chlorides. In the period of the studies, the permissible reaction was not exceeded and the concentrations of ammonium ion and chlorides were on a relatively steady level.

The significance of oxbow lakes for the ecosystem of afforested river valleys.

The significance of oxbow lakes for the ecosystem of afforested river valleys The interest in significance of forest areas in water quality improvement has been increasing since creation of biogeochemical barriers became effective tools against the input of pollutants to surface water from diffuse sources. Along meandering river valleys, numerous floodplain lakes often appear as valuable water ecosystems but of advanced eutrophy. Their trophic status depends not only on the hydrological connectivity with the river but also land use in the direct vicinity of the reservoir. Research on water ecosystems in the postglacial river valleys in northern Poland contributed to identification of the role of woodland area in pollutants migration in the valley of the łyna River. The study on the ecosystem concerned seasonal variation in nutrient concentrations (N and P) and bottom sediments properties in relation to hydrological conditions (water level fluctuations). Based on the collected data we attempted prediction of the reservoir lifetime. Depending on hydrological, geological and topographic conditions the origin of water supply of the basin is changing. Annual water level fluctuations in the range of 200 cm cause the basin capacity variation as much as 5 times. Nevertheless, water quality in the lake was conditioned by the riverine supply, the significant share in the lake feeding has groundwater supply from hillslope aquifer and seepage through alluvial aquifer. Contribution of every origin supply depends on river flow rate and valley water level, it depends on alluvial ground formations permeability and relief. Hillslope erosion of the concave bank was responsible for high nitrogen and phosphorus outflows. The research showed that primary and secondary production and freshets contributed to intensive deposition of bottom sediments in oxbow lake. The increase rate of sediment determined on the base of matter balance was 10 times higher than deposition rate of bottom sediments in glacial lakes. The accelerated processes of silting-up and shallowing and terrestialization of the valuable ecosystems indicate the necessity of floodpain lakes protection due to ecological functions they play in forestry landscape. Znaczenie starorzeczy dla ekosystemu zalesionych dolin rzecznych Zainteresowanie funkcjα, jakα pełniα obszary leśne w poprawie jakości wody, wzrastało od kiedy bariery biogeochemiczne stały się efektywnym narzędziem przeciwko zanieczyszczeniom obszarowym, wprowadzanym do wód powierzch-niowych. Wzdłuż dolin rzek meandrujαcych pojawiajα się liczne jeziora równin zalewowych jako cenne ekosystemy wodne, lecz o zaawansowanym stopniu eutrofizacji. Ich poziom troficzny zależy nie tylko od stopnia połαczenia z rzekα, ale również od użytkowania przyległego obszaru. Badania prowadzone nad ekosystemami wodnymi rzek północnej części kraju przyczyniły się do poznania roli, jakα odgrywajα obszary zalesione w migracji zanieczyszczerń w dolinie łyny. Badania dotyczyły sezonowej zmienności koncentracji azotu i fosforu oraz właściwości osadów dennych w odniesieniu do zmiennych warunków hydrologicznych. W kontekście lokalnych warunków hydrologicznych, geologicznych i topograficznych zasilanie starorzecza ma różny charakter. Oscylacje poziomu wody w zbiorniku w cyklu rocznym w zakresie dochodzαcym do ponad 200 cm determinowała ponad 5-krotnα zmiennośc jego objętości i zdolności retencyjnej. Jednakże jakość wody w zbiorniku była uwarunkowana zasilaniem przez wody rzeki, istotny udział w zasilaniu zbiornika miały wody gruntowe zbocza doliny i wody aluwialne przesiαkajαce z koryta rzecznego. Ich udział jest zmienny w czasie i zależy bezpośrednio od wielkości przepływu w rzece i poziomu wód w dolinie, przepuszczalności utworów aluwialnych oraz rzeźby terenu. Erozja stromej skarpy brzegu wklęsłego zbiornika odpowiadała za duży spływ azotu i fosforu do jego wód. Procesami generujαcymi depozycję osadów dennych w starorzeczach były produkcja pierwotna i wtórna oraz wezbrania rzeczne. Bilans materii w zbiorniku odpowiadał za przynajmniej 10-krotnie szybszy przyrost osadów niż w jeziorach glacjalnych. Przyśpieszony proces odcinania, wypłycania i zalαdowienia cennych ekosystemów wymusza konieczność ochrony w odniesieniu do funkcji, jakie pełniα one w krajobrazie leśnym.

CHANGES IN THE MIDDLE SECTION OF THE NAREW RIVER (BETWEEN OSTROŁĘKA AND ŁOMŻA) IN VIEW OF NATURAL FACTORS AND ANTHROPOGENIC PRESSURES

Contemporary and archive cartographic materials illustrating horizontal profile of the middle channel of the Narew River (between Ostrołęka and Łomża) were compared in the GeoMedia application. The results of the analysis revealed that natural and anthropogenic factors had not significantly contributed to changes in the channel profile over a period of two centuries. Narew is a meandering river, and its activity is associated with intensified erosion of right-bank bends and lateral movement along its flat-bed channel. The most noticeable changes include reduced area of oxbow lakes, mainly due to succession, and suburban settlement in floodplains that had been regarded as unfit for development in the 20th century.

Groundwater Contamination with Nitrogen Compounds in Northern Poland and its Implication for Health Risk Assessment

The presence of nitrogen compounds significantly affects the quality of water intended for human consumption. The maximum contaminant level (MCL) of nitrogen in potable water in Poland was set up as follows: NO2 - - 0.5 mg/L and NO3 - - 50 mg/L, NH4 + - 0.50 mg/L. For this reason, the objective of our study was to monitor the chemical composition of water as a priority basis for the water quality information system to provide consumers with water that meets the appropriate health and quality standards.