The effect of anthropogenic pressure shown by microbiological and chemical water quality indicators on the main rivers of Podhale, southern Poland

Anna Wolanin,Anna Lenart-Boroń,Ewelina Jelonkiewicz,Mirosław Żelazny

doi:10.1007/s11356-017-8826-7

Abstract

This study was aimed to determine the spatial variation in anthropogenic pressure exerted on surface water in the Podhale region (southern Poland), which is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Poland. The assessment was based on the dynamics and relationships between microbiological and chemical indicators of water quality throughout the major rivers of this region—Dunajec, Czarny Dunajec, Biały Dunajec, and Białka. Another aim was to assess the effect of land use on the quality of water in the studied rivers. The study was conducted over 1 year at 21 sampling sites distributed from the uppermost sections of rivers in the Tatra National Park through main tourist resorts until mouths of the considered rivers to the Czorsztyńskie Lake. Microbiological analysis comprised the prevalence of total and fecal types of coliforms and Escherichia coli, mesophilic, and psychrophilic bacteria. Chemical assays determined the concentrations of Na+, K+, NH4+, Cl−, NO3−, and PO43−. Temperature, electrical conductivity, and pH were measured onsite. It was demonstrated that there is a significant relationship between the predominant types of land use within individual catchments, which results in evident differences in the pollution of waters between the catchments. The results showed that increased share of built-up areas and arable land results in significant deterioration of water quality. Thus, waters of Czarny Dunajec were the cleanest, while Biały Dunajec was the most heavily contaminated. Also, spatial diversity in water quality was shown—the cleanest waters were sampled in the Tatra National Park and the pollution increased with the course of rivers. Point sources of pollution such as effluents from treatment plants or discharge of untreated sewage from households proved to be more important than non-point sources, such as surface runoff. Moreover, the important role of the Czorsztyńskie Lake in the purification of water was demonstrated.

Highlights

The quality of water is one of the factors affecting health and safety of its consumers, as well as the suitability for its use in various economic aspects, such as plant and animal production, development in both production and non-production sectors and the condition of natural environment
The mean concentrations of fecal E. coli ranged from 158 CFU/100 ml (Czarny Dunajec) to 11,800 CFU/100 ml (Biały Dunajec) and the range was even greater in the case of total coliforms, i.e., from 380 CFU/100 ml in the Czarny Dunajec catchment to 29,800 CFU/100 ml in the catchment of Biały Dunajec
The smallest amounts of most bacterial indicators were recorded in the catchment of Czarny Dunajec, while for physicochemical indicators such situation was observed in the catchment of the Białka river

Summary

Introduction

The quality of water is one of the factors affecting health and safety of its consumers, as well as the suitability for its use in various economic aspects, such as plant and animal production, development in both production and non-production sectors and the condition of natural environment. Water environment is increasingly threatened by people, due to the growth of population size, with its consequences in the form of intensification of agriculture and various forms of industry (Páll et al 2013) This is coupled with a growing number of households located throughout catchments, together with limited numbers and efficiencies of sewerage systems, in rural areas (LenartBoroń et al 2016). Contamination of water can be the result of domestic activity, industry, and tourism These types of anthropogenic pressure are related with the occurrence of point sources, Environ Sci Pollut Res (2017) 24:12938–12948 such as discharge of treated and untreated sewage from treatment plants and households, livestock farms, and non-point sources such as urban and agricultural runoff or water birds (Kirschner et al 2009). The quality of surface water depends on the amount and type of discharged pollutants, as well as the susceptibility of water to degradation and its potential of self-purification (Ostroumov 2006)

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