Hydrogeological warning covers 15 voivodeships in Poland — RMF24

Poland’s state geological service has declared a hydrogeological threat status that will be in effect from October 1 to 31 in 15 voivodeships. The reason is a prolonged precipitation deficit, which may cause a further decline in shallow groundwater levels and complicate access to water from shallow intakes, RMF24 reports.

Regions under warning

The warning covers the Lower Silesian, Kuyavian-Pomeranian, Lublin, Lubusz, Łódź, Lesser Poland, Masovian, Opole, Subcarpathian, Podlaskie, Pomeranian, Silesian, Świętokrzyskie, Greater Poland and West Pomeranian voivodeships. Local problems are also possible in the central part of the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship.

The State Geological Institute noted that October forecasts indicate that unfavorable weather conditions, primarily a lack of precipitation, will persist. In recent months, shallow groundwater levels in many Polish regions have fallen significantly, and at a number of observation points they have dropped below the lowest long-term values.

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Risks for shallow wells

According to forecasts, in October, shallow groundwater levels may fall below the low warning threshold across a significant part of the country. This may create serious difficulties with water supply from shallow intakes, including wells.

The first aquifer is the most vulnerable because it responds quickly to changing weather conditions. Deeper intakes used by centralized water supply systems are less sensitive to short-term precipitation shortages. Poland’s hydrogeological threat status has remained in place since spring: in May it covered seven voivodeships, in June and July — 14, and since August — 15 regions.