Groundwater resources in Poland are located mostly in the Quaternary water-bearing stage (51–65%) which occupies large areas (Table – with information on main water-bearing stages in Poland and groundwater resources associated with them). The Cretaceous, Jurassic, and Triassic stages are also very important with their fissure and fissure-karstic waters (the most exposed to contamination). They contain from 21 to 42% of the resources. The most abundant reservoirs are in the Quaternary stage, are of river valley, proglacial stream valley nature, cone and alluvial plain (outwash) nature. They are open and exposed – consequently, they are susceptible to contamination. Significant resources (about 50%) of the water in the Quaternary stage is associated with river valleys and proglacial stream valleys, thus exposed to contact with highly contaminated water from rivers. In the older stages, most reservoirs are open, exposed and susceptible to contamination because of their fissure-karstic and fissure nature. The water table of the first

level of groundwater often lies at a very shallow depth. About 50% of this water in Poland is less than 5 m from the surface. The average depth of intakes of groundwater from the main reservoirs in the Quaternary stage measures usually from 25 to 50 m (in the Carpathian Mountain river valleys it is 5 to 10 m), but often smaller. In the Cretaceous stage, water is taken in at the depths of 20–150 m, in Jurassic at 100–150 (200) m and in the Triassic at 100 (250) m.

Soils in Poland and the aeration zone rock located underneath them usually do not protect groundwater sufficiently because in Poland there are mostly light soils which developed on sands and weak (medium) clays. These have a low retention.

The main and very difficult to control hazard for groundwater quality is non-point pollution connected with agricultural activities (fertilizers, plant protection chemicals, liquid manure, silage juices, etc.) as well as atmospheric pollutants (sulphur and nitrogen oxides – "acid rains", heavy metals) plus village and city settlements tat have no sewage treatment. In addition, groundwater is highly threatened by dispersed point sources of petrochemicals (petrol stations, engine fuels and lubricates from warehouses) and band sources of pollution from transportation lines such as chemicals used to deice roads – salt, heavy metals, etc. Municipal and industrial waste sites form point sources of pollution that may threaten groundwater because of the leaching of harmful substances.

It is estimated that 25% of available water resources is contaminated, especially in the Silesia, Warsaw, Gdansk and Lodz. The state of groundwater quality is not as thoroughly studied as is surface water. This gap will be filled after results from our newly established monitoring network are obtained.

Groundwater is used on a very large scale to supply inhabitants, especially those of smaller towns that demand stringent quality. Also, groundwater forms a reserve of good drinking water (in short term - water for direct consumption) for future generations. It can be used in many cities as a supplement of the currently used lower quality surface water.

Apart from quality degradation there is a threat to the available quantity of groundwater. This threat is a consequence of excessive local exploitation of some water-bearing stages with mine drainage (about 1.2 km³/year) and construction draining (during the periods of capital expenditures up to 1.0 km³/year), draining of soils, river and stream regulation, liquidation of small retention reservoirs (water-mills), excessive building, making more dense by using soil heavy farm equipment, etc.

Efforts should be made to increase the groundwater resources and to utilize them in concert with surface water. Increasing underground retention can be achieved by hydrotechnical measures together with an artificial increase of the amount of groundwater and by proper agricultural and forestry water-protection policies.

An example of indications for the protection of groundwater can be the selection of 180 so-called Main Groundwater Reservoirs (MGR) throughout the country and defining the areas from which they are supplied. These areas should be under maximum protection or high protection. Areas in which the time of infiltration of the potential pollution from the surface is less than 25 years (and sometimes significantly shorter) are considered to be the areas that require maximum protection. Areas of high protection are those in which the time of infiltration ranges from 25 to 100 years. On the list of the MGRs there are 40 reservoirs which do not meet the basic criteria, but are located within the areas of groundwater deficit (the Carpathian Mountains, the Sudetten Mountains and their forefields) (MAP illustrating underground water protection).

Proper restrictions, bans and notices should be enforced in the areas supplying MGRs. They are to protect 7.35 km³ of the groundwater resources, which is as much as 58.8% of the total. Areas which should be under maximum protection measure 9.6% of the surface of the country, while those under high protection 19.0%. That is why areas which are the most abundant and conveniently located for potential users should be pointed out and protected first.

The protection of groundwater has to be done according to principles of three E's: Education – Economy – Enforcement (of the laws). Activities educating the society consist of spreading information about the state of pollution of groundwater, information about the methods of protection and how they can be applied. The economic principles are concerned with the protection of waters by estabilishing payments for using groundwater and punishing people for wasting and polluting them. The last participles consist of creating laws for protection of water and enforcing them.

It should be emphasised that all protection measures may elicit protests and that there will be conflicts of interest and priorities. Because of economic realities, compromises will have to be reached. Increasing the price of water may compensate the losses stemming from surface utilization restrictions. The protection of groundwater should be considered in junction with protection of the atmosphere, soils, forests and other components of the environment.

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