The conference was opened by prof. Ireneusz Zbiciński – project head, Dea of the Faculty of Process and Environmental Engineering of the Lodz University of Technology, who presented the primary tasks, objectives, assumptions and partners. He also invited all the interested parties to take part in the series of training sessions for the GEMS software, used to streamline the activities and estimate costs of water protection in the reservoir.

The Regional Director of Environmental Protection in Łódź – Kazimierz Perek – called for action in the field of increasing the retention of water in the reservoir and effective use of the collected data as well as the diagnosis of the condition of the ecosystem around the reservoir. Then, the representatives of the local authorities, such as the Mayor of Tomaszów Mazowiecki Marcin Lipka, the Deputy Mayor of Sulejów Dorota Jankowska, the Mayor of Wolbórz Andrzej Jaros and the Head of the Mniszków commune Paweł Werłos had the chance to speak. They pointed out the problems related to the impact of the quality of water in the Sulejów Reservoir on the local economy, and in particular the regress of tourism development – of key importance to the communes by the reservoir. They also presented the chances and directions for potential joint actions. The current and future investments in sanitary infrastructure and municipal services as well as the dredging of the Pilica river bed will surely contribute in a positive way to the condition of the reservoir. The Voivodship Inspector for Environmental Protection in Łódź – Piotr Maks – named the institutions and projects already working towards the improvement of the water ecosystem of the reservoir. He noted that the MONSUL project may have the potential required for a more integrated and multi-faceted approach to the protection of the reservoir’s water resources.

The detailed review of the phenomena detrimental to the Sulejów Reservoir was presented by Joanna Szczepańska from the Environmental Monitoring Department of the Voivodship Inspectorate for Environmental Protection, including eutrophication, ichthyofauna reduction, long retention, increased water temperature, toxic cyanobacteria metabolites, large sources of surface pollution, illegal sewage discharge, pollution generated by animal farming, uncontrolled shore construction, lacks in sanitary infrastructure. One of the problems is also the fact that some of the specialist testing has been limited due to the expiration of the water legal permit. The rivers supplying the reservoir (Pilica and Luciąża) are, respectively, of the 3rd and 4th class of quality. The low class is a result of their biochemical parameters. The physicochemical parameters have been normalized in the last 20 years due to a number of investments in sewage treatment plants. However, taking into account the ever stricter EU standards, there si still much to be done. Dr Mirosław Imbierowicz from the Faculty of Process and Environmental Engineering of the Lodz University of Technology presented the stages of project implementation – from the acquisition of equipment, through measurement data collection and management to the creation of advanced digital models. He emphasised that the most valuable part of the undertaking is the creation of a versatile tool for the management of similar reservoirs and gathering information about the ecological condition of the reservoir.
Dr Magdalena Kempa, the representative of the Norwegian partner to the project – Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) focused on the presentation of the experience of the institution (such as projects related to the monitoring of sea sailing, sediments transport, hydrodynamics studies) and their potential in the planned activities. The Faculty of Geographical Sciences of the University of Łódź was represented by dr Marcin Jaskulski, who talked about the application possibilities of GIS (Geographic Information System). He also presented the unique method of imaging of the reservoir bottom, relief and changes which happened in its shape during the “40 years of the artificial lake” based on the use of archival cartographic resources.

Dr Aleksandra Ziemińska - Stolarska from the Faculty of Process and Environmental Engineering of the Lodz University of Technology pointed out the deficit of water resources in Poland and the whole region. In the Łódź Voivodship, we have a long water network (over 3600 km). However, it mostly consists of small rivers, streams and water courses, which cannot be put to commercial use. Dr Aleksandra Ziemińska - Stolarska presented the experiences of the Faculty from the WATERPRAXIS project, focused on the practical aspects of the management of water resources and the preparation of complex investment plans in this respect. The potential of the application of CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) and the effect of the rate of the flow and terrain relief on the cyanobacterial blooms in the reservoir were discussed.

The discussion during speeches as well as opinions of invited guests, institutions and non-governmental organisations were focused on the propositions related to the most effective tools for the achievement of project objectives, engagement and integration of the activities of all the institutions for the improvement of the local ecosystem condition and presentation of the full, public and easy to access information about the reservoir water condition. There was also a suggestion to use EU funds complementarily in the close future – especially for the infrastructure related to the protection of water resources.

Prof. Ireneusz Zbiciński summed up the conference by declaring openness to any suggestions, offered willingness to cooperate and help in the scope of effective implementation of the tasks within the MONSUL project.
 
Text: Adam Szymański
Photos: Jacek Szabela