Possible way to substantial improvement of early warning system in the International Odra (Oder) River Basin

Abstract

Water ecosystems are threatened by accidental spills of pollution. Rapidity and trueness of information gathering the biological impact of accidental pollution is crucial for the efficiency of the minimisation of possible deterioration of ecosystems and for success in detecting the source of pollution. Due to the randomised occurrence of accidental spills the only way to quickly detect hazardous situations is to perform continuous monitoring of surface water quality. The current situation in the field of early warning in the International Odra (Oder) River basin is not satisfactory. The actual number of monitoring stations and list of routinely continuously monitored parameters are not able to meet the needs of sensitive and rapid detection of biological impact of accidental pollution spills. An effort to change this unfavourable situation was the reason for the offer survey, selection and a model operation of a commercially produced biological monitoring device. This apparatus was located on the border-line profile on the territory of the Czech Republic and represented the first and only one tool of continual biological monitoring of surface water quality in the International Odra (Oder) River Basin. The selected apparatus was the Daphnia Toximeter produced by the firm bbe Moldaenke (Kiel, Germany). This device exploited for rapid detection of changes of biological quality of surface water evaluation of behavioural response of monitoring organisms-daphnids. Five years of model operation proved its suitability for early warning purposes. The apparatus was reliable in function and sensitive enough to detect the deterioration of the biological quality of the river water. The given examples document its applicability not only for detection of accidental spills but also of illegal emissions of pollution, which are very often toxic.