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UNESCO IHP Demosites

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SULEJÓW RESERVOIR (photo: I. Wagner)

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PILICA RIVER (photo: M. Koch)

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DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ECOHYDROLOGY CONCEPT FOR REDUCTION CYANOBACTERIAL BLOOMS IN A MAN-MADE RESERVOIR

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DESCRIPTION

  • The Sulejów Reservoir is a shallow and eutrophic artificial reservoir built in 1974, situated in the middle course of the Pilica River in central Poland

  • The Sulejów Reservoir was used as a drinking water reservoir for the Łódź agglomeration until 2004, and currently, it mitigates flood and drought. It is also an important recreational site

  • The Pilica River is the LTSER Platform of the European Long-Term Ecosystem Research Network (LTER-Eu). LIFE+ EKOROB project ‘‘Ecotones for the reduction of diffuse pollution’’ (LIFE08 ENV/PL/000519) are located in the catchment of the Sulejow Reservoir

MAJOR ISSUES

Eutrophication and toxic cyanobacterial blooms due to heavy pollution (P and N) from point and non-point sources of pollution

ACTIVITIES

  • Evaluation and monitoring of the health risks due to toxic algal blooms

  •  Evaluation and monitoring the nutrient retention function of riparian vegetation

  •  Construction and monitoring of diversified ecotones

  •  Academic research (ERCE) and academic training course (Master and PhD in University of Łódź, Erasmus Mundus Master of Science in Ecohydrology)

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

Reduction of cyanobacterial blooms and pollution due to the nutrient loads

RESULTS

  • The mean reduction in phosphate and nitrate concentrations achieved as a result of water flow through the barrier reached respectively 58% and 85% (K. Izydorczyk et al, 2013)

  • The biological potential of the demonstration floodplain vegetation for the summer P retention amounted to 255 kg P y-1 on cultivated meadows (Wagner et al, 2009)

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MORE INFO: http://ecohydrology-ihp.org/demosites/view/64

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NER RIVER (photo: Z.Kaczkowski)

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Blue-green Network (ERCE concept, Zalewski et al. 2011)

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Willow energy production plantation

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ECOHYDROLOGY BASED URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT AND CITY PLANNING FOR HUMAN HEALTH AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (CITY OF LODZ, POLAND) - NER RIVER

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DESCRIPTION

  • Łódź is the second biggest city in Poland with 768,755 inhabitants. There are 18 small streams flowing through Łódź. The Ner River is a tributary of the Warta River (fig.1); The Ner River receives treated wastewater from Łódź and its surroundings. Water purification and production of raw materials are two main ecosystem services of the demosite

  • At Łódź , there are two completed projects: EU SWITCH project (GOCE 018530), EHREK (LIFE08 ENV/PL/000517)

MAJOR ISSUES

  • Low water quality and presence of heavy metals in sewage sludge

  • Channelisation of the 18 small streams

  • Small vegetation cover

ACTIVITIES

  • Estimation of the potential for enhanced biomass production and bioenergy generation

  •  Production of biomass which is being used by neighbouring counties for heating schools and public buildings

  •  Elaboration and legalization of the Blue-Green Network Concept

  •  Academic research (ERCE) and academic training course (Erasmus Mundus Master of Science in Ecohydrology)

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

Model for decision-support system for the operation of the energy-production plantation

RESULTS

  • Development of guidelines for practitioners on the sludge application to energetic plantations, dissemination of technology to two other WWPTs

  •  Research shows the ability of the developed method to immobilize heavy metals up to 30%

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MORE INFO: http://ecohydrology-ihp.org/demosites/view/70

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Water retention pond (Staw Teresy) on Sokołówka River (ERCE concept, SWITCH project, photo I. Wagner)

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Sequentional Stormwater Purification System on Sokołówka River - sedimentation and biogeochemical zone (ERCE concept, SWITCH project, photo S. Szklarek)

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Sequentional Stormwater Purification System on Sokołówka River -  biogeochemical and plant biofiltration zone (ERCE concept, SWITCH project, photo S. Szklarek)

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ECOHYDROLOGY BASED URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT AND CITY PLANNING FOR HUMAN HEALTH AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (CITY OF LODZ, POLAND) - SOKOLOWKA RIVER

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DESCRIPTION

  • Łódź is the second biggest city in Poland with 768,755 inhabitants. There are 18 small streams flowing through Łódź

  • The Sokolowka River flows across the northern part of Łódź and is supplied with about 50 stormwater outlets. The middle and lower section of the river valley has maintained patches of meadows, wetlands and forests (semi­natural environment)

  • The ecohydrological river rehabilitation took part in three projects: EU SWITCH project (GOCE 018530), EHREK (LIFE08 ENV/PL/000517), Blue-Green Network (City of Łódź)

MAJOR ISSUES

  • Low water quality and ecological status (presence of persistent organic pollutants, POPs)

  • Channelization of the Sokolowka River

  • Urban floods and droughts

ACTIVITIES

  • Rehabilitation of Sokolowka river and its valley

  •  Triggering of bottom-up initiatives such as implementation of best management practices (BMPs) by developers in stormwater management

  •  Elaboration and legalization of the Blue-Green Network Concept

  •  Academic research (ERCE) and academic training course (Erasmus Mundus Master of Science in Ecohydrology)

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

Revitalization of aquatic ecosystems and improvement of water quality

RESULTS

The Sequentional Stormwater Purification System (SSPS) reduced the concentrations of total nitrogen and phosphorus by up to 60%, the technology was transfered to another river system in Lódz (Arturuwek, EH-REK project), (Wagner and Breil, 2013)

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MORE INFO: http://ecohydrology-ihp.org/demosites/view/57

LODZ CITY, Central Poland (photo: I. Wagner)

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