Renata Brzozowska

The influence of a long-term artificial aeration on the nitrogen compounds exchange between bottom sediments and water in Lake Dlugie

The influence of a long-term artificial aeration on the nitrogen compounds exchange between bottom sediments and water in Lake Długie The study was conducted on a degraded Lake Długie in Olsztyn (surface area 26.8 ha, max depth 17.3 m) restored in 1987 - 2000 with the method of the artificial aeration with destratification. The aim of the study was to determine the influence of the applied method on the exchange of nitrogen compounds between the bottom sediments and overlying water. The results revealed that the applied method caused a decrease of nitrogen release from the bottom sediments and influenced the content of this component in the sediments. The observed changes may have been the effect of the intensification of the coupled nitrification-denitrification processes occurring in the aquatic conditions modified by the restoration.

Influence of restoration methods on the longevity of changes in the thermal and oxygen dynamics of a degraded lake

Abstract The study was conducted on Lake Długie, located in the city of Olsztyn, which for 20 years received raw domestic sewage (400 m3 per day). After preliminary conservation operations, the lake was restored by artificial circulation and phosphorus inactivation methods. During artificial circulation, water temperature in the whole lake volume was equalized. The disconnection of the compressor stimulated the return to typical thermal parameters in the lake. Phosphorus inactivation did not affect the thermal regime in the lake. Artificial circulation caused an increase in the oxygen content in the whole lake, lowered the oxygen-depletion rate during stagnation, and shortened the duration of anaerobic conditions in the near-bottom waters. Phosphorus inactivation did not directly affect the content of oxygen. However, after the coagulant was added to the lake, the oxygenation of the water was further improved owing to the depressed photosynthesis caused by drastically reduced availability of phosphate for primary producers.

Durability of changes in phosphorus compounds in water of an urban lake after application of two reclamation methods.

The study was conducted on Długie Lake (area 26.8 ha, maximum depth 17.3 m), located in the town of Olsztyn, in north-eastern Poland (the Masurian Lake District). For 20 years starting in the 1950s, Długie Lake was used as a receiver of raw domestic and storm sewage in quantities oscillating between 350 and 400 m(3) day(-1). This led to complete degradation of the lake, known as saprotrophy. After some preliminary protective treatments in the catchment, the lake has been renewed by artificial aeration with thermal destratification and the phosphorus inactivation methods. Long-term reclamation of the reservoir has resulted in distinct and durable improvement of water quality. Before the restoration, the average phosphorus concentration in the surface water layer was 0.079 mg P L(-1) and in the over-bottom water it reached 2.277 mg P L(-1). The total phosphorus (TP) level also was very high, i.e. up to 3.5 mg P L(-1). After the restoration, these values have declined to 0.001-0.017 mg P L(-1) in the case of mineral P, and the current TP concentrations do not exceed 0.350 mg P L(-1).

The influence of different recultivation techniques on primary production processes in a degraded urban lake

The study was conducted in Lake Długie located in Olsztyn, the Masurian Lake District. In the 1950s and in the 1960s, Lake Długie was used for 20 years as a collector of raw domestic and storm sewage. This has led to complete degradation of the lake. After preliminary protection measures implemented in the catchment, the lake was restored by artificial aeration and phosphorus inactivation methods. Long-term recultivation of the reservoir resulted in a significant and long-lasting improvement of the water quality. Before restoration, the average concentration of organic phosphorus in the surface water layer amounted to 0.166 mg Porg l−1 and of organic nitrogen — to 3.0 mg Norg l−1. After restoration, these values decreased to 0.058 mg Porg l−1 and 2.0 mg Norg l−1. The results obtained eight years after the recultivation of Lake Długie are extremely interesting. The amounts of chlorophyll a did not exceed 7 μg l−1, water transparency remained at a depth of 2.9 m, and BOD5 did not exceed 2 mg O2 l−1. These observations show that during implementation of recultivation treatments, only chemical parameters of the water significantly changed, while biological elements reacted to the treatments with some delay.

Comparison of coagulation behaviour and floc characteristics of polyaluminium chloride (PAX 18, PAX XL19H, ALCAT) with surface water treatment

Abstract Coagulation behaviour of polyaluminium chloride (PACl) was comparatively investigated in terms of the removal of turbidity and colour with surface water. The growth of flocs was also compared. The results show that the decrease in saturation and values of dissolved oxygen was ca. 20% for ALCAT and PAX 18 at both dosages and 15% for PAX XL 19H, respectively. The floc formation growth indicated that PACl coagulation occurred not only by charge neutralization but also by a form of sweep flocculation. Besides, flocs formed by ALCAT had better sizes than the flocs formed by PAX 18 and PAX XL19H. The rate of sedimentation was stable during coagulation with higher doses, and it was dependent on the substance used.

Sediment phosphorus fractions in an urban lake and its usability for predicting of the internal loading phenomenon

The object of present study was Sukiel Lake (area 20.8 ha, max. depth 25 m), localised in north–eastern Poland (Mazurian Lake District), in Olsztyn city. The aim of this study was to analyse the phosphorus fractions in the sediments of two lake bottom zones - profundal (25 m) and sublittoral (7 m). Observed high P concentrations in the deposits of Sukiel Lake and quantitative domination of hard mobile P fractions (NaOH–TP, HCl–P and res–P) suggest that the sediments of Sukiel Lake are the effective trap for phosphorus and that limits excessive internal loading in this lake.

A proposal of protection techniques in the catchment of a lake in the context of improving its recreational value

Abstract The study was carried out on Lake Rentyńskie (100.8 ha; 9.4 m) situated approximately 20 km to the west of Olsztyn, in the drainage basin of the rivers Giłwa and Pasłęka. The direct catchment area of the lake is 166.2 ha. Forests cover most of the drainage basin area (74%). As revealed in the study, Rentyńskie is a highly eutrophic reservoir. The lake waters were characterized by a high content of nutrients, up to 1.508 mg P dm-3 and 11.7 mg N dm-3. The high fertility of the lake was also evident in the values of chlorophyll a - 75.4 μg dm-3, and low water transparency - average 1 m. The total annual phosphorus and nitrogen load to Lake Rentyńskie, calculated according to Giercuszkiewicz-Bajtlik (1990) equals 759.0 kg of phosphorus and 31869.7 kg of nitrogen, or per unit surface 0.753 g P m-2 yr-1 and 31.611 N m-2 yr-1. Allowable and critical load levels to Lake Rentyńskie calculated according to the hydrological model of Vollenweider (1976) equal (respectively) 0.090 g P m-2 yr-1 and 0.189 g P m-2 yr-1. From a comparison between the actual phosphorus load and the values calculated according to Vollenweider it can be concluded that the loads not only exceed the allowable values by several times but also the critical values responsible for advanced eutrophication. The study showed that the River Giłwa, which flows through the reservoir, posed a major threat to the analysed lake . In order to improve the water quality in Lake Rentyńskie drastic protective measures should be taken in the basin of the River Giłwa, which is intensively used for agriculture, and also, at the point where the river enters the lake a special system to reduce the level of phosphorus compound concentrations should be set up.

The effect of environmental factors on filtration and the oxygen consumption rate of the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis: a primary exploration of red tide control.

The effect of environmental factors on filtration and the oxygen consumption rate of the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis: a primary exploration of red tide control To evaluate the potential to control red tides using the mass-cultured heterotrophic grazer, rotifer Brachionus plicatilis, the effects of environmental factors (water temperature and salinity) on physical activities (filtration and oxygen consumption rate) of B. plicatilis were estimated. Experiments were conducted at different water temperatures (15, 20, 25, 30 and 35°C) and salinities (20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 PSU), in 25 different combinations (5 temperatures × 5 salinities). Results showed that water temperature and salinity had significant effects on the filtration rate of B. plicatilis (F=41.66, P<0.05). The results of multiple regression analysis yielded the following functional dependence of filtration rate (F) on water temperature (T) and salinity (S): F=-1.658+0.917 T+0.63S (R2=0.769, P<0.001). The highest filtration rate (4.23 ±0.74 μl rot-1 h-1) was obtained at 30°C and salinity 35 PSU, and the lowest one (0.869 ±0.13 μl rot-1 h-1) was observed at 15°C and salinity 20 PSU. Both water temperature and salinity had significant effects on the oxygen consumption rate of B. plicatilis (F=34.08, P<0.05). The results of multiple regression analysis yielded the following functional dependence of oxygen consumption rate (O) on water temperature (T) and salinity (S): O=-3.133+0.165T+0.81S (R2=0.938, P<0.001). The highest oxygen consumption rate (5.38 ±0.66 ng rot-1 h-1) was observed at 35°C and salinity 40 PSU, and the lowest one (1.01 ±0.15 ng rot-1 h-1) was observed at 15°C and salinity 20 PSU. Results from this present study indicated that the filtration and oxygen consumption rate of the rotifer were significantly influenced by the water temperature and salinity. The utilization of rotifer for red tide control has to consider the influence of environmental factors.