Hydrogeological Cartography

The Polish Geological Survey - WL is the general contractor of serial hydrogeological maps. We coordinate, supervise and create thematic maps in detailed and overview scales as well as regional hydrogeological syntheses in the form of atlases and monographs.

Hydrogeological Map of Poland
Hydrogeological Map of Poland: First Aquifer – Extent and Hydrodynamics

Hydrogeological Map of Poland

The Polish Geological Institute is the GENERAL CONTRACTOR OF THE 1:50,000 HYDROGEOLOGICAL MAP OF POLAND (MhP). The Map was requested by the Ministry of the Environment and financed from resources of the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management.

THE FIRST EDITION OF THE HYDROGEOLOGICAL MAP OF POLAND was made between 1996 and 2004. The 1069 sheets, covering the area of the whole Poland, were developed in four two-year stages.

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Fig. 1. Example of the 1:50,000 Hydrogeological Map of Poland

The Hydrogeological Map of Poland is a serial map, consisting of a number of sheets, made on a 1:50,000 topographic base map under the 1942 coordinate system. The map is uniform as regards the scope and presentation of information layers. Each map sheet is a separate GIS hydrogeological database using the Intergraph software system (digital representation in MGE/Microstation programs, in the form of digital exports and databases (Oracle)).

The Hydrogeological Map of Poland contains information on useful aquifers of standard groundwaters with a broader interpretation of the main aquifer, which is the most important water supply source.

Information layers of the Hydrogeological Map of Poland – identification of the main useful aquifer and its characteristics as regards:

range and depth, as well as thickness and conductivity,
quality of groundwaters as a source of consumption water for people,
degree to which groundwaters are exposed to the risk of surface contaminants,
discharge possibilities of a typical drilled well,
current level of groundwater tables and the direction of their flow,
renewability of groundwater resources and their acceptable management.

The Hydrogeological Map of Poland provides the location of groundwater intakes and their technical and hydrogeological characteristics, as well as the location and simplified characteristics of facilities that are harmful to groundwaters.ONCE THE 1^ST EDITION OF THE HYDROGEOLOGICAL MAP OF POLAND (THE SHEET VERSION) WAS COMPLETED, the following activities were undertaken:
- the data was combined into one map by transferring the GIS sheet databases to the spatially continuous Hydrogeological Map of Poland using the INTERGRAPH GeoMedia Professional environment, which permits effective work with the Map within freely defined borders (topographic base map, voivodeship, poviat, catchment, water region, landscape park etc.) of varied sets of information (selected elements, combinations with other maps)

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Fig. 2. Example of the spatially continuous GIS Hydrogeological Map of Poland

exchange of information layers of the Hydrogeological Map of Poland connected with the standards introduced (e.g. with the Map of the Hydrographic Division of Poland, classification for presenting water conditions);
systematic update of the Hydrogeological Map of Poland database (e.g. update of layers the parameters of which change in time, supplementation and verification of object-oriented databases),
adding new information layers to the Hydrogeological Map of Poland database (hydrogeological characteristics of the first aquifer)
developing the software for obtaining and mapping information layers

AREAS OF APPLICATION OF THE 1:50,000 HYDROGEOLOGICAL MAP OF POLAND:

delineation, characteristics of parameters and assessment of groundwater bodies,
keeping the list of groundwaters that are the source of water supply for people,
designing groundwater intakes and protection zones,
preparing groundwater protection programmes, environmental protection,
documenting major groundwater reservoirs and their protection areas,
designing and conducting regional and local hydrogeological studies,
preparing opinions on permits required under the Water Law Act for water use,
developing water management plans and water use conditions,
planning water management investments,
spatial planning (land development directions),
issuing decisions connected with the location of enterprises harmful to the environment.

ACCESS TO THE HYDROGEOLOGICAL MAP OF POLAND is provided by the Polish Geological Institute (Central Geological Archive) at the user’s request. The Hydrogeological Map of Poland is available in the following versions:

plotter version – printout of the main chart, documentation map, explanatory text with database tables, thematic maps, cross-sections and charts
electronic (a digital project)

Access to the Hydrogeological Map of Poland – National Geological Archive, Polish Geological Institute National Reasearch Institue in Warsaw, ul. Rakowiecka 4. >>

NOTE: the Hydrogeological Map of Poland database contains both open and confidential content.

Hydrogeological Map of Poland: First Aquifer – Extent and Hydrodynamics

The Polish Geological Institute – the National Research Institute is the General Contractor for GIS database information layers of the 1:50 000 Hydrogeological Map of Poland: First Aquifer – Extent and Hydrodynamics and the First Aquifer – Groundwater Vulnerability and Water Quality. The information layers were requested by the Ministry of the Environment and financed from resources provided by the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management.

THE HYDROGEOLOGICAL MAP OF POLAND: FIRST AQUIFER – EXTENT AND HYDRODYNAMICS (PPW-WH) is a serial map consisting of a number of sheets, made under the 1942 coordinate system – just like the 1:50,000 Hydrogeological Map of Poland.

The map has been under construction since 2004. In the first three stages, carried out in 2005-2006, 2006-2007, 2008-2009 and 2010-2011 684 sheets were made. In 2015-2016 it is planned to perform 86 sheets , and in the years 2017-2018 - 142 sheets.

The GIS database information layers of the 1:50,000 Hydrogeological Map of Poland: First Aquifer – Extent and Hydrodynamics include selected elements of a hydrogeological description of the first aquifer, or group of aquifers, beneath the surface, characterised by good hydraulic connection and thickness of at least 2 m at average groundwater retention. The description includes in particular the elements important for establishing the hydraulic connection of the first aquifer with surface waters, groundwater-dependent ecosystems and land development elements (Instruction of the Polish Institute of Geology, 2004).

The overall map for the First Aquifer – Extent and Hydrodynamics:

identification of the first aquifer (type and stratigraphy of the first aquifer), with division into hydrodynamic and geomorphologic units
hydrodynamics of the first aquifer and the characteristics of the groundwater table
depth of occurrence of the first aquiferareas where the groundwater table of the first aquifer is considerably lowered or raised as a result of anthropogenic activities
the hydraulic connection between groundwaters and surface waters

HYDROGEOLOGICAL MAP OF POLAND: FIRST AQUIFER – GROUNDWATER VULNERABILITY AND WATER QUALITY (PPW-WJ) – a map obtained in stages, consisting of a number of sheets, made under the 1942 coordinate system – just like the 1:50,000 Hydrogeological Map of Poland. So far the Vulnerability and Quality information layers have been prepared, comprising a total of 390 sheets. The pilot stage, involving 85 sheets, was prepared in 2006-2008. As regards the third stage, involving 150 sheets has benn prepared in 2012-2013.

The GIS database information layers of the 1:50,000 Hydrogeological Map of Poland: First Aquifer – Groundwater Vulnerability and Water Quality are a continuation of works concerning the study and characteristics of the first aquifer. It is important to prepare the information layers due to the necessity to assess the vulnerability and quality of shallow groundwaters to surface contaminants for those waters that are the source of supply for the rural population using dug wells and wells directly connected with of surface water ecosystems and surface ecosystems, including the habitats of the NATURA 2000 protected areas.

Overall Hydrogeological Map of Poland: First Aquifer – Groundwater Vulnerability and Water Quality

sensitivity of the waters of the first aquifer to contamination
borders of hydrogeological conditions of occurrence of the first aquifer
anthropogenic facilities and activities that deteriorate the physicochemical condition of the waters of the first aquifer (areas transformed by people, contamination foci)
areas where the groundwater table of the first aquifer is considerably lowered or raised

The overall map for the First Aquifer – Water Quality

contents of nitrogen compounds in the waters of the first aquifer
selected water quality determinants in sampling points (nitrates, nitrites, ammonium, chlorides, pH, electrical conductivity)

POSSIBLE APPLICATIONS OF THE HYDROGEOLOGICAL MAP OF POLAND: FIRST AQUIFER (MHP- PPW)

designing protection areas of groundwater reservoirs and water intake protection zones
spatial planning – determining land development directions
initial assessment of conditions and possible locations of facilities harmful to the environment
analysing and assessing water relations and preparing action programmes for groundwater protection
preparing applications for financial support of activities aiming to improve the quality of groundwaters (construction of wastewater treatment plants, development of the water supply system)
groundwater quality monitoring
keeping records of areas that are contaminated or endangered with contamination with nitrogen compounds
issuing opinions on environmental impact reports for investments
developing environmental protection programmes
developing regional development strategies