Chemical composition of spring water in the Polonina Wetlinska massif

The aim of the study was to determine chemical composition of spring water in the Polonina Wetlinska massif (High Bieszczady Mountains) and to identify the natural factors controlling spatial variability of groundwater chemistry. Thirty five spring water samples were collected in September 2017. The spring water was characterized by similar, weak alkaline pH (6.8-8.1) and a relatively wide range of ions concentration (57-208 mg·dm^{-3}). Strong, positive correlation was showed between specific conductivity (SC) and main ions: {HCO_{3}}^{-}, Ca^{2+}, {SO_{4}}^{2}, Mg^{2+}, which shaped the water chemistry most likely due to dissolution of bedrock. K^{+}, Cl^{-}, {NO_{3}}^{-} showed weak or no correlation with SC. The origin of nutrients in the groundwater might have been connected with organic matter conversion into inorganic substance. Two groups of springs were distinguished: 1^{st} group with lower SC and lower concentration of main ions and 2^{nd} group with relatively higher SC. Springs with the lower SC are located on the NE slope of the Polonina Wetlinska, where flysch layers dip towards the same direction as the slope. These conditions promote relatively fast water flow and short residence time within aquifer. On the contrary, discordance of flysch layers dip and slope exposure may cause the relatively longer contact of groundwater with a bedrock and enrichment water with the geogenic ions

Groundwater runoff in elementary catchments in the Bieszczady Mountains

Groundwater recharge is crucial for river flow during dry periods. However, due to low retention capacity of rocks and quick surface flow, groundwater resources in flysch areas such as the Bieszczady Mountains are considered to be quite low. The aim of the study was (1) to identify spatial distribution of specific runoff during dry periods in small catchments in the Bieszczady Mountains and (2) to define relations between catchment characteristics and runoff. Four datasets consisting of specific runoff during low flow periods in selected catchments of the Bieszczady Mountains were used in this study. Data collected during dry periods allowed to identify total river flow with groundwater recharge. Specific runoff varied substantially in the studied catchments (from 0.9 to 7.7 dm^{3}·s^{-1}·km^{-2}). The highest specific runoff values were obtained in catchments with steep slopes, a high altitude range and prevalence of sandstone formations. However, there is no correlation between specific runoff and catchment area and mean catchment elevation

The influence of sewage discharges from mountain hostel on the Polana Chochołowska into the Potok Chochołowski water quality

Celem badań było rozpoznanie ilości i jakości ścieków, wprowadzanych do Potoku Chochołowskiego z oczyszczalni działającej przy schronisku na Polanie Chochołowskiej oraz ich oddziaływania na jakość wód potoku. Podjęto także próbę określenia wpływu modernizacji oczyszczalni na parametry ścieków. Dostarczane do Potoku Chochołowskiego ścieki cechowały się wysokim stężeniem związków biogennych(NH4+, NO3-, NO2-, PO43-). Przed modernizacją oczyszczalni występowało bardzo wysokie stężenie jonu amonowego, natomiast po modernizacji — jonu azotanowego. Dostawa ścieków powodowała wzrost stężeń związków biogennych w wodach potoku. W związku z zachodzeniem procesu nitryfikacji, udział poszczególnych form rozpuszczonego azotu mineralnego (NH4+, NO3-, NO2-) na odcinku poniżej zrzutu był bardzo zmienny. Wpływ zrzutu ścieków zanikał jednak na krótkim odcinku, w związku z występowaniem w potoku korzystnych warunków dla przebiegu procesu samooczyszczania.The aim of the study was to recognize the quality and quantity of the sewage discharge into the Potok Chochołowski from the sewage treatment plant working at the mountain hostel on the Polana Chochołowska and their influence on the quality of the stream water. There has also been made an attempt to determine the influence of the modernization of the sewage treatment plant on the sewage parameters. The sewage discharged into the Potok Chochołowski was determined by a high concentration of the biogenic compounds (NH4+, NO3-, NO2-, PO43-). Before the sewage treatment plant modernization, the sewage was characterized by a very high concentration of the ammonium, and after the modernization – the nitrate. The sewage discharge caused the increase of the biogenic compounds in the stream water. In accordance with the process of nitrification, the share of the particular forms of the dissolved mineral azote (NH4+, NO3-, NO2-) on the part below the drop was really variable. However, the influence of the sewage drop was vanishing in the short part in connection with the occurrence of the proper conditions for the self purification process in the stream

The influence of artificial snowing on export of dissolved matter from small catchments of Pogórze Przedtatrzańskie

Celem pracy było określenie wpływu sztucznego śnieżenia na czasowo-przestrzenne zróżnicowanie odprowadzania materiału rozpuszczonego z małych zlewni Pogórza Przedtatrzańskiego. Podjęto także próbę oszacowania wartości denudacji chemicznej. Jako masę substancji rozpuszczonych uznano wynoszoną sumę oznaczonych jonów (14). Badania przeprowadzono w ciągu jednego roku, w czterech zlewniach głównych: seminaturalnej zlewni Sołtysiego Potoku i w trzech zlewniach śnieżonych - Bryjowego Potoku, Czerwonki i Remiaszowego Potoku. Zlewnie śnieżone różniły się pod względem czasu śnieżenia (odpowiednio: 16, 10, 2 lata). Na podstawie jednoczynnikowej analizy wariancji ANOVA, współzależności dwuwymiarowych i wielowymiarowej analizy składowych głównych (PCA) stwierdzono, że najistotniejszą rolę w kształtowaniu zróżnicowania czasowo-przestrzennego odgrywa proces rozcieńczania, drugorzędną rolę stanowi zmienność biologiczna w zlewni, którą w zlewniach śnieżonych intensyfikuje sztuczne śnieżenie.The purpose of this paper was to describe the influence of artificial snowing on spatiotemporal differentiation of export of dissolved matter from small catchments of Pogórze Przedtatrzańskie. There has also been made an attempt to estimate chemical denudation. As a dissolved matter was considered the sum of separated ions (14). Four main catchments was selected for one research year: seminatural catchement of Sołtysi Potok, and three artificial snowed catchments of Bryjowy Potok, Czerwonka and Remiaszowy Potok. Snowed catchments was vary in period of artificial snowing (16, 10, 2 years respectively). Research was based on one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), two-dimensional interdependencies and principal component analysis (PCA). It was found that the dilution process was the most important factor determining spatiotemporal distribution of dissloved matter. Secondary factor was the biological variability in the catchments. This factor was intensified by artificial snowing

Spatial and temporal distribution of illegal dumping sites in the nature protected area : the Ojców National Park, Poland

The existence of illegal dumping continues to be a worldwide problem, even in nature protected areas, and its distribution is not random. An understanding of the distribution of illegal dumping sites is crucial for the enhancement of effective waste management systems. Therefore, this study aims at a better understanding of spatial and temporal changes to illegal dumping sites in a nature protected area (the Ojców National Park) from 1994 to 2016. The most important spatial factors that control the distribution of illegal dumping sites were the distance from roads and from the field-forest edge. In the last two decades, the number of small dumping sites has increased, whereas the number of large illegal dumping sites has decreased. Moreover, this study presents a model of the potential occurrence of illegal dumping sites, which indicates places that should be under the control of the national park and of local authorities

COVID-19 lockdown shows how much natural mountain regions are affected by heavy tourism

Mountain areas in Poland are among the most frequented tourist destinations and such intensive tourism negatively affects the natural environment. The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting lockdown restricted travel for a few months in 2020, providing a unique opportunity to observe the studied mountain environment without the impact of typical tourist traffic. This study is based on the determination of antibiotic content, hydrochemical parameters, enumeration of culturable bacterial water quality indicators, antimicrobial susceptibility tests together with extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) gene detection in waterborne E. coli and NGS-based bacterial community composition at six sites along the Białka river valley (one of the most popular touristic regions in Poland) in three periods: in summer and winter tourist seasons and during the COVID-19 lockdown. The results of individual measurements showed decreased numbers of bacterial indicators of water contamination (e.g. numbers of E. coli dropped from 99 × 10(4) CFU/100 ml to 12 CFU/100 ml at the most contaminated site) and the share of antimicrobial resistant E. coli (total resistance dropped from 21% in summer to 9% during lockdown, share of multidrug resistant strains from 100 to 44%, and ESBL from 20% in summer to none during lockdown). Antibiotic concentrations were the highest during lockdown. The use of multivariate analysis (principal component analysis – PCA and heatmaps) revealed a clear pattern of tourism-related anthropogenic pressure on the water environment and positive impact of COVID-19 lockdown on water quality. PCA distinguished three major factors determining water quality: F1 shows strong effect of anthropogenic pressure; F2 describes the lockdown-related quality restoration processes; F3 is semi-natural and describes the differences between the most pristine and most anthropogenically-impacted waters