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The work presented the assessment of household wastewater treatment plants with drainage systems on the quality of groundwater in dug wells and deep water wells in the area of 3 selected communes (Drelów, Dębowa Kłoda and Urszulin), located in the Lublin province in south-eastern Poland. The investigations of the physicochemical composition of water from selected 28 dug wells and 2 deep water wells were conducted from June to July 2020, involving 9 measurement series. The microbiological studies consisted in 4 measurement series. The composition of the wastewater from primary settling tanks discharged to soil via drainage systems located in the vicinity of considered wells was also examined on a single occasion. The studies indicate that the water from wells are significantly polluted with ammonia, nitrites, as well as compounds of natural origin: iron and manganese. The presence of microbiological pollution of fecal origin was noted. The studies clearly indicate the possible pollution of the analyzed well waters with domestic sewage discharged to soil via drainage systems. Therefore, it necessary to take the actions aimed at improving the quality of groundwater in the Lublin province, including limitation of drainage systems, especially in the areas with unfavorable subsurface and hydrological conditions as well as low water supply coverage. The need to introduce changes in legal regulations and strategies for the development of technical infrastructure in counties, favoring the most efficient, as well as simple and inexpensive technologies, was indicated.

In this paper, we analysed the pollutant removal efficiency and reliability of a vertical and horizontal flow hybrid constructed wetland (CW) planted with giant miscanthus and Jerusalem artichoke. The wastewater treatment plant, located in south-eastern Poland, treated domestic sewage at an average flow rate of 1.2 m3·d−1. The tests were carried out during. 5-years of operation of the sewage treatment plant (2011–2016). During this period, sewage samples were collected from three stages of wastewater treatment in four seasons (winter – February, spring – May, summer – August, and autumn – November). The following parameters were measured: BOD5, COD, total suspended solids, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus. The average effectiveness of organic pollutant removal expressed by BOD5 and COD was 98.8 and 97.6%, respectively, and the removal efficiency for total suspended solids was 93%. The average values of BOD5, COD, and total suspended solids in wastewater discharged to the receiver were significantly lower than the limit values required in Poland. The efficiency of total nitrogen and total phosphorus removal was 64.1 and 68.1%, respectively, and the average values of these components in the outflow from the treatment plant exceeded the standard levels. A reliability analysis performed using the Weibull probability model showed that the reliability of pollutant removal in the tested CW system was very high for BOD5 and COD (100%). It was also demonstrated that the tested CW did not provide effective elimination of biogenic elements (nitrogen and phosphorus), as evidenced by the low reliability values – 32 and 28%, respectively. The investigated hybrid CW system with giant miscanthus and Jerusalem artichoke removed organic and biogenic pollutants with a similar efficiency as systems using classic plant species such as reed and willow.

This paper is a review of research and experiences related to the application of constructed wetland systems (CWs) in southeastern Poland in 1992–2016. On the basis of literature data, a comparison between pollutant removal efficiencies of one-stage and hybrid CWs was made. Some problems regarding the operation of these treatment plants were also presented. Data from various facilities indicate that one-stage CWs with horizontal or vertical flow were characterised by a quite high (80–89%) efficiency of removal of BOD5, COD and total suspended solids, but were less efficient in removing of biogenic compounds nitrogen and phosphorus – respectively 59 and 66%. Significantly higher removal efficiencies for the basic pollutants (above 92%) were observed in hybrid CWs with a VF–HF bed configuration. Those facilities removed ca. 65% of total nitrogen and 89% of total phosphorus. A statistical analysis revealed that hybrid VF–HF type CWs were characterised by a very high, about 99%, operation reliability. Lower reliabilities were achieved by one-stage CWs, especially those with a VF bed. Twenty five years of research on and experiences in the application of CWs in southeastern Poland indicate that one-stage CWs can be used on a larger scale in Polish conditions in rural areas with a scattered housing structure. Hybrid systems, on the other hand, can be applied successfully in recreational centres or in protected areas, especially in national parks, where a high pollutant removal efficiency is required. It has been shown that the use of hybrid CWs is consistent with the idea of sustainable development.

Hydropower plants in Poland currently use only 19% of the river’s energy potential. Development of hydropower is limited by environmental regulations as well as by economic grounds. From the environmental point of view, it is desirable to build small hydropower plants integrated into the local landscape. This paper presents results of the research aimed at estimating the amount of energy that could be produced in the case of small hydroelectric power plants on weirs existing on the Tyśmienica River. There is also a legal framework that should be adapted at hydropower development. It was calculated that the technical capacity of the small hydropower plants that could be built on 4 existing weirs, is 0.131 MW. These power plants could produce 786 MWh of electricity per year. The economic efficiency of this production is currently difficult to assess, because a new support system for renewable energy sources is currently being implemented, which will be a decisive factor for entrepreneurs. It should be borne in mind that potential investments will be made in protected areas within the Natura 2000 network, which may limit their constructing or impose the obligation to assess their impact on selected environmental elements. Location within the protective area does not eliminate such investments, especially when solutions with the least possible environmental impact are used.

The study investigated the efficiency of removal of iron, manganese and indicator bacteria from potable groundwater by using carbonate-silica rock (opoka). The tests were performed in a laboratory in three filter columns supplied with water containing increased concentrations of iron and manganese. Two of the columns were filled with carbonate-silica rock with particle sizes of 2-5 mm; retention time for water in the columns was set at 1 h and 2 h. A third column was filled with 1-2 mm rock particles, with hydraulic retention time set at 1 h. High removal efficiencies were determined for iron, manganese and coliform bacteria and low removal efficiencies for psychro- and mesophilic bacteria. An increase in the alkalinity of the investigated water was also observed.

tThe aim of the study was to determine the influence of the particle size of carbonate–silica rock (opoka)used in rock filters on the efficiency of phosphorus removal from domestic wastewater. The investigationswere carried out in a laboratory using a model consisting of three vertical flow filters with carbonate–silicarock of different particle sizes (G1= 1–2 mm; G2= 2–5 mm; G3= 5–10 mm). The tested rock was subjectedto decarbonising at 900◦C and consisted primarily of 51.7% SiO2, 23.2% CaO, and 7.6% Al2O3. In the firstthree weeks of the study (1–3), the hydraulic load of each filter was Q1= 0.72 l/day and the hydraulicresidence time was HRT1= 24 h; in the next three weeks (4–6) Q2= 1.08 l/day and HRT2= 16 h, and duringthe last three weeks (7–9) Q3= 1.44 l/day and HRT3= 12 h. A significant influence of the size of rock parti-cles and the hydraulic load (hydraulic residence time) on the efficiency of total phosphorus removal andon phosphorus concentration in the wastewater discharged from the system was observed ( = 0.05).Statistically, the best removal of phosphorus from wastewater – an average of 97%, was found in thesubstrate with the smallest particle size (rock G1, 1–2 mm) at the lowest hydraulic load of 0.72 l/dayand at a hydraulic residence time of 24 h. The lowest phosphorus removal efficiency was observed inthe filter containing rock G3with a particle size of 5–10 mm (mean

In recent years, constructed wetland systems are used widely for the purification of small amounts of wastewater because they provide very high effects of removing impurities. The existing research results show that constructed wetland systems can be used not only for highly efficient wastewater treatment, but at the same time in order to produce biomass for energy purposes. The aim of this paper was to determine the possibilities of energy use of the plants: common reed, willow, Jerusalem artichoke, giant miscanthus, obtained from constructed wetland system. The yield of common reed was the highest compared to the other plant species used in analyzed object and amounted to 13.6 Mg DM ha −1 and then 8.7 Mg DM ha −1 for willow. The lowest dry matter yield was 5.9 Mg DM ha −1 in the case of Jerusalem artichoke. High Heating Value was similar in all analyzed plants (17.9–19.2 MJ kg −1 ), the highest results were obtained from willow. Biomethane production during anaerobic digestion was the highest from common reed (108 m 3 Mg −1 FM) and the lowest from Jerusalem artichoke (66 m 3 Mg −1 FM). The methane concentration in biogas was rather low (50.9–54.9) comparing to other typical substrates for biogas production.

In this paper, the pollutant removal efficiency and the reliability of a vertical and horizontal flow hybrid constructed wetland (CW) planted with common reed, manna grass, and Virginia mallow were analyzed. The wastewater treatment plant, located in south-eastern Poland, treated domestic sewage at an average flow rate of 2.5 m3/d. The tests were carried out during five years of its operation (2014&ndash, 2018). The following parameters were measured: biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus. The results showed that more than 95% of BOD5, COD, and total phosphorus was removed in the tested CW system. The average effectiveness of removal of total suspended solids and total nitrogen exceeded 86%. A reliability analysis performed using the Weibull probability model showed that the removal reliability in the tested CW was very high for BOD5, COD, total suspended solids, and total phosphorus (100%). The probability that the total nitrogen concentration in the treated effluents would reach the limit value (30 mg/L) established for effluents discharged from a treatment plant of less than 2000 PE (population equivalent) to standing waters was 94%. The values of all the pollution indicators in wastewater discharged to the receiver were significantly lower than the limit values required in Poland. The investigated hybrid CW system with common reed, manna grass, and Virginia mallow guaranteed stable low values of BOD5, COD, total suspended solids, and total phosphorus in the treated wastewater, which meant it was highly likely to be positively evaluated in case of an inspection.

Rational use of surface and underground waters leads to a reduction in their consumption, which is currently one of the fundamental tasks in the field of the conservation of waters, in its broad sense. This includes also the utilisation of water from additional sources, such as e.g. precipitation water. The paper presents an analysis of the quality of rainwater outflowing from the roofs of garage buildings of the Park Authority of the Roztocze National Park. The results of analyses presented in the paper indicate a favourable composition of rainwater that meets the norms defined for water for human consumption. In the waters under analysis, exceeded levels were noted for ammonia, manganese and biological factors, but these do not preclude the use of the waters for household purposes. Rainwaters at the Roztocze National Park can be used for car washing, for the irrigation of green areas, or for toilet flushing. Such utilisation of rainwaters can largely contribute to a reduction of the use of high-quality underground waters.

The work evaluates the effect of anthropogenic pollutants on the quality of water in Lake Bialskie (51º32’07” N 23º00’55” E) and its catchment basin. Samples of water were taken from the lake (4 sampling points) and from wells dug within the catchment basin. The quality of water was analysed in May, June, August and November 2015. In the wells only in single cases was the level of chemical pollution found to exceed drinking water standards. However, in all samples the standard content of manganese was exceeded. In waters from the lake the concentrations of total phosphorus, which can contribute to eutrophication were recorded above the standard level. Both in waters from the lake and from the well a large count of meso- and psychrophiles and Coli and faecal coliforms as well as faecal Enterococci was found, which points to a high degree of contamination of the analysed waters with anthropogenic faeces. The phenomenon was observed to intensify in summer months, which can be associated with increased tourist traffic around the lake in this period.

The paper presents the results of research on the effects of removing pollution from domestic wastewater in two beds of constructed wetland systems with vertical flow. Bed I was planted with common reed (Phragmites australis Cav. Trin. Ex Steud.), whereas bed II with Glyceria maxima (Glyceria aquatica L.). The surface of each of the beds amounted to 30 m2, and the hydraulic load of each of them amounted to 0.033 m3·m-2·d-1. The study showed very good results in the removal of most of the analyzed indicators of contamination, which were similar in both analyzed beds. They were, respectively: 91 and 93% – for total suspended solids, 96 and 98% – for BOD5, 96 and 94% – for CODCr, 88 and 86% – for ammonia nitrogen and 87 and 88% – for total phosphorus. Much smaller effects were reported with regard to total nitrogen removal – 55% in bed I with common reed and 54% in bed II with Glyceria maxima. The tested beds also eliminated the number of coliform bacteria and faecal coliform bacteria quite effectively. Average effects of the removal of coliform bacteria in bed I and II were 99.74%, in the case of faecal coliform 98.06% and 97.94% respectively. Values of basic indicators of contamination (total suspended solids, BOD5 and CODCr) in the wastewater discharged from the analyzed beds met the requirements of the Regulation of the Minister of the Environment of 2014. The test results obtained in the first year of operation of the analyzed beds show that neither of the applied plants significantly improves the results of contaminant removal.

Roztocze National Park (RNP) is one of 23 national parks in Poland. It was created in 1974 both to protect the natural and cultural heritage as well as to share the park area for science, education and tourism. In caring for the environment, the park removed asbestos coverage, performs thermo-modernization using renewable energy sources by the installation of solar panels and photovoltaic cells on the roofs of buildings, and pellet stoves are installed in boiler rooms. Part of these actions includes the application of innovative technologies for water and wastewater, related to e.g. recovery of rainwater for washing cars and the construction of wastewater treatment wetlands. RNP has been spreading for many years the knowledge about the methods used to most effectively care for the natural environment. Constructed wetland (CW) technology could be one of such methods. The current research shows that facilities working in CW technology provide high pollutant removal and full guarantee of high ecological impact with low operating cost, so they can be used to protect the aquatic environment in protected areas and valuable landscapes. The paper presents a concept of solving the problems of wastewater treatment by means of using hybrid constructed wetland in three villages in the forest of Roztocze National Park. The advantages of the proposed technology are easy and simple operation, high resistance to irregular supply of water treatment and very low operating costs compared to conventional solutions. The natural look of CWs allows easy incorporation into the existing landscape.

The paper presents an assessment of the impact of sewage treatment plants with drainage system on the quality of groundwater in dug and deep wells in the Kwasówka village in the municipality of Drelów (Lublin Province). In the study area there is no sewerage system and water supply, and the local population benefits from dug or deep wells. The wastewater generated by households goes to septic tanks or sewage treatment plants with drainage system. The study of groundwater quality from wells was performed in 2013. The study was performed 4 series of studies, during which determined: total hardness, pH and conductivity of the electrolyte, as well as the content of NO3, NO2, NH4, Cl, SO4, Fe, Mn and bacteria from coliform and faecal coliform bacteria, mesophilic and psychrophilic. The research shows that water from deep wells are heavily contaminated with iron, and several wells dug reported exceeding the permissible concentrations of ammonia, nitrate, manganese and sulfates. Microbiological studies indicate a significant contamination of the well water analyzed domestic waste. You should immediately take action to improve the quality of the water used by residents of Kwasówka.

Poland is proud of 23 National Parks (NPs) which were established to protect unique European areas. Through cooperation between Life Science University in Lublin and the NPs, highly effective methods for environmental protection were introduced in Roztoczanski and Poleski National Parks. One method is a hybrid treatment wetland (HTW) for wastewater treatment. HTWs, if well designed and maintained, can effectively treat wastewater generated in houses and museum buildings in the area of the NPs. In 2014, three HTWs were constructed in Roztoczanski National Park (RNP) (A – Kosobudy, B – Zwierzyniec, C – Florianka). One of these installations was constructed in the shape of a fir tree (A – Kosobudy). In 2015 another one, in a turtle shape, was built in Poleski National Park (PNP) (D – Stare Zalucze). Similar wastewater treatment technology was applied in all facilities. The technology consisted of three steps: (i) mechanical treatment in three septic tank chambers, (ii) biological treatment in two or three stages of vertical and horizontal beds, and (iii) inactivation of phosphorus in p-filter with calcium-silica rock. Since the very beginning all facilities have been monitored and the results indicate very low concentrations of pollutants in the final effluents. It can be concluded that HTWs working according to the assumed technology fulfill the strict requirements for wastewater treatment in NP areas in Poland.