Lodz - Jeziorsko Case Study, Poland

Purpose of the case study: The aim of this case study is to estimate water and sewage management in the basin of Jeziorsko reservoir with special reference to conflicts related to spatial management on the area of scattered housing, with an insufficient sewage collection and treatment system. The Jeziorsko Reservoir plays various functions; it is an important element of a flood control system for cities located in the Sieradz Basin, a reservoir of water used for industrial and agricultural purposes, and it supplies tap water to big urban agglomerations. Owing to a biological role of the reservoir and its effect on regional economy, of special importance is the care for a proper ecological state of this reservoir. The area of Jeziorsko reservoir has been chosen for documentation due to the construction of an artificial storage reservoir, which affects the natural environmental and technical infrastructure as well as spatial management and social environment. Optimum use and correct management of water resources in central Poland is being focused on in this study due to the following reasons: 

    1. a significant amount of Poland’s contribution to the Baltic Sea degradation comes form this area,  
    2. water resources of Poland are generally poor, 
    3. area characterized by local water shortages and stepping
    4. bad quality of surface waterbody needs immidiate adressing,   
    5. it is characterized by underdevelopment of technical infrastructure and significant anthropopressure,  
    6. due to requirements for the implementation of WFD regulations  

Geographical description: Jeziorsko reservoir was built on the Warta river, one of the biggest rivers in Poland, in its middle course. The Warta originates in the area of Jura Częstochowska and flows in its upper course across highly industrial and urbanised lands. The Jeziorsko reservoir is located on the border of Lodz and Wielkopolska voivodeships (according to the former administrative division from the period of the reservoir’s construction – Konin and Sieradz voivodeships). As regards the administration, the study comprises Peczniew and Zadzim districts in Poddębice county (Lodz voivodeship), Warta and Goszczanów districts in Sieradz county and Dobra district in Turek county (Wielkopolska voivodeship). The area has well-developed settlement net. Densely built-up villages dominate. Behind the reservoir the Warta flows again on highly industrial and urbanised lands considered as deficient in water resources. It flows near Konin and Turek coal and energy basin. land use: The area described is composed mainly of agriculture land. Arable lands cover approximately 42% of the land’s surface, meadows and pastures approximately 14%. Agriculture on the area described has unfavourable agricultural structure. There are mainly small farms, often of an area up to 5 ha.

Ecological status, main preassures on the watercourse: The sources of pollution in the reservoir basin affecting its condition are: 
 
  1. sewage from towns
    situated in the reservoir basin area 
  2. sewage from farms which have waterworks but without any purification plants
  3. drainage waters of the dam
  4. waters dewatering the fish stocking pond in Peczniew
  5. surface flow
  6. water birds whose droppings feed water mainly with phosphates

The case study report has a review of extensive testing of the ecological balance in the area and the results of these can be seen in the table here. The entire area was tested.

The tools and methods: In this case study, mapping and testing of the area was done. In adition, an assesment of the functional conflicts in the area was conducted, as well as an impact and pressures matrix for the Jerziersko area.

Results and outcomes: Underground waters in the Jerziersko area are still generally unpolluted. Due to a considerable risk of pollution (lack of isolation layer in the geological structure and high abundance), the waters should be under constant monitoring in accordance with European regulations.
In contrast to underground waters, the surface waters of Jeziorsko reservoir and it tributaries are polluted. The level of pollution results from water supply and sewage disposal in the districts where the reservoir is situated and in the areas outside the report. The problem of surface water pollution is beyond the documented area and the competence of local authorities. It is advisable to provide the whole Jeziorsko reservoir basin with the integrated database GIS. This system would identify pollution sources and assess effectiveness of actions undertaken.
In order to solve the problems and conflicts of economic use of the environment and its protection effectively, it is essential to carry on thorough ecological education, which will create new role models full of environmental concern.
At the present moment, Poland finds itself in a situation where the legal system for the management of waters has been substantially restructured and the implementation of this system is directly related to the implementation of EU legislation.
Irrespective of changes which adjust the Polish legal system to WFD requirements, other actions are undertaken to accomplish requirements contained in this directive. Some of the most important tasks in this are the development of River Basin Management Plans, and the support for public participation.
The problems of water supply and sewage disposal as well as sewerage network are not yet solved. Due to lack of finances the problem will not be solved in the next few years.
 
 

 Interactive map

Click to view an interactive SVG map of the case area, MapViewSVG of the Lodz area. 

Lodz- Jeziorsko Reservoir Case areaSVG-viewer is needed. Does not work with Mozilla Firefox.

 

Description and introduction to SVG can be found here         

 

 

Attributes included in the layers on the SVG map
  • Farms
  • Pumpingstations
  • Contours
  • Dam
  • Railway
  • Rivers
  • Roads
  • Built area
    • Name of the town / area
  • Jeziorsko Reservoir
  • Lakes and wide rivers
  • Land cover classification, level 2 is viewed.  
    • Area in square kilometres (AREA) 
    • Level 2 classification (CLC2)
    • Level 3 classification (CLC3)

 

 

 Additional information

Pdf document with more details on the case area can be found here

Contact information:  

 

Integrated River Basin Management
+ EU Water Policy
+ Status of Surface Waters
+ Pressures and Impacts
Environmental Objectives
+ Management Measures
+ River Basin Management Planning

Project part-financed
by the European Union