Abstract
Ten geothermal bathing and recreation centres have been established in Poland from 2006 to 2013. The largest number of geothermal bathing and recreation centres is located in the Podhale region and in the Polish Lowlands. These structural units have the best geothermal conditions. The maximum reservoir’s temperatures in the main aquifer of the Podhale Geothermal System can reach ca. 120–128 °C in the deeper parts of the system. The most prospective and exploited aquifers occur within the Middle Triassic formations and in overlaying Middle Eocene formations at the depth of 1,000–3,700 m. At present, five operating centres are located in the Podhale region. They use geothermal waters with the temperature of 27–82 °C (the lowest and the highest wellhead temperature of water from wells which are connected for recreational purposes) and total dissolved solids (TDS) of 0.4–3 g/dm3. In the Polish Lowlands, the reservoir’s temperatures vary from 20 to 130 °C at depths of 1–4 km. The most prospective geothermal aquifers of the Polish Lowlands occur within the Lower Cretaceous and the Lower Jurassic formations. Five geothermal recreation centres are currently operating. The centres use waters with the temperature of 38–72 °C and a wide range TDS from 0.4 to 79 g/dm3. Geothermal waters of the Polish Lowlands are generally high in Na and Cl concentrations. The new centres will use the waters of Lower Jurassic aquifers, the outflow temperatures of which vary from 27 to 82 °C and a TDS from 6 to 140 g/dm3.
Highlights
Geothermal heat capacity for use in balneotherapy and recreation in Poland is 11.5 MWth and heat production is 36.30 GWhth/year, which is about 10 % of the total capacity and 20 % of the total heat production in geothermal direct use in Poland (Antics et al 2013)
The goal of this paper is to identify parameters of geothermal waters used for recreational purposes in different areas of Poland and provide hydrogeological and some technical background for the current and planned use of geothermal waters in recreation in Poland
The Podhale Trough is located in the south of Poland, surrounded by the Tatra Mountains and the Pieniny Klippen Belt geostructural units, some well-known touristic attractions
Summary
Geothermal heat capacity for use in balneotherapy and recreation in Poland is 11.5 MWth and heat production is 36.30 GWhth/year, which is about 10 % of the total capacity and 20 % of the total heat production in geothermal direct use in Poland (Antics et al 2013). The largest number of geothermal bathing and recreation centres in Poland is located in the Podhale Trough and the Polish Lowlands. These are two structural units, which have the best geothermal conditions—a high water temperature, low total dissolved solids (TDS) levels, great porosity and permeability of the aquifer’s rock, etc. Plans for establishing some new geothermal centres in these units are being made
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