Such monitoring, to a very similar extent, was successfully implemented as part of a social pilot on the Olszanicki Stream. After its implementation, automatic sensors were not used - residents came every few hours and measured the physicochemical parameters of water in the Olszanicki stream every day - admits Dr. Hab. engineer Mariusz Czop, professor at AGH, employee of the Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection.
It was possible to detect such peaks, i.e. increases in electrolytic conductivity and decreases in oxygen content, which were related to contamination. Then it was more reasonable to call the Provincial Inspectorate for Environmental Protection to intervene. Due to the implementation of this system, cases of contamination of the Olszanicki Stream were detected much more often - he adds.
Initially, the idea of monitoring also appeared in the Citizens' Budget. It was submitted both as a district and city-wide project. In both cases, the projects were rejected because watercourses are not owned by the commune and participatory budget projects can only be implemented in urban areas. Watercourses are managed by the Regional Water Management Board in Krakow, unit of Polish Waters.
Therefore, officials of the Water Infrastructure Board in Krakow, apart from announcing a tender for the installation of such sensors, are also conducting talks with Polish Waters. Their effect is to be an agreement between the Municipality of Kraków and RZGW in Kraków.
I'm very happy that this project is starting. This has been an idea of naturalists and activists for several years, and it was also the subject of Łukasz Gibała's election programs. The fight against polluted rivers was also declared by the dismissed mayor of Krakow, Aleksander Miszalski (KO) and MP Daria Gosek-Popiołek (Left), which shows that this is an important and supra-political issue - explains a scientist from AGH.
The idea is to install sensors in 10 locations on 6 watercourses in Krakow. What will they measure?
Water level, pH, electrolytic conductivity, suspended solids and turbidity, and the amount of dissolved oxygen.
Additionally, they will also measure atmospheric parameters, air temperature and relative humidity - admits Grzegorz Mróz from the Water Infrastructure Board.
Two sensors will appear on Dłubnia, two on Prądnik, one on Rudawa, and one on its tributary - the Olszanicki stream. Additionally, two meters will be placed on Wilga, including one at the mouth of the Olszynka stream. The devices will also be installed on Serafa and Malinówka.
Information from the sensors will be publicly available
This data will be publicly available and will be published on a website to which residents will have access. In addition, we will archive data and process it in order to make the best possible decisions, says Grzegorz Mróz. He adds that the devices will allow for faster and more precise responses to emerging pollutants. We've all heard about pollutants that we don't know where they come from. This will help us respond faster and more accurately, he argues.
This is indicator monitoring that allows us to detect anomalous water quality parameters. If we see such disturbing indications, we can send services there to intervene or take a water sample - admits the AGH expert.
The problem, however, is that the tender specifications do not clearly indicate that the sensors should also measure water temperature.
During monitoring measurements and in general when examining all water samples, it is always necessary to measure the water temperature because other important physicochemical parameters of water depend on it, e.g. conductivity. There is a big difference in the readings of data parameters when the water temperature is 20 degrees and, for example, when it is 5 degrees and this must be taken into account appropriately. That is why temperature is a very important water quality parameter and must always be measured, admits Czop.
The map from the tender documentation also indicates that officials are well aware of other problematic locations in Krakow.
It marked river pollution hazard zones related to known and unprotected pollution hotspots - including the "White Seas", i.e. the excavated landfills of the "Solvay" plant, and the vicinity of the Kujawy and Płaszów sewage treatment plants.
It also includes the Kanar (Suchy Jar), into which leachate from the metallurgical waste heap in Płaszów flows, and the Port Canal at the Przewóz Water Stop, adjacent to settling tanks and other waste landfills of the steelworks.
Sensors will not be installed in these locations for now. However, the contract with the contractor is to allow for 20 changes in their location per year.
