Conditions of outfl ow formation in the Czechówka River catchment

Abstract

Hydrologic characteristics of the Czechówka River, which catchment (80.1 km2) is located in eastern part of the Nałęczów Plateau, subregion of the Lublin Upland, has been presented in the paper. This is the area of the vivid loessial relief, with typical ravines, steep slopes and fl at plateaus. In the middle part of the catchment, in the bottom of the Czechówka River valley, deep wells of the groundwater intake “Sławinek” have been exploited since the March, 1961. In the fi rst years of its functioning, decay of the river discharge was observed in the zone of intake impact. Since the beginning of the 21st century, the Czechówka River discharge has been persisted in the whole course of the river, which resulted from lower exploitation of the groundwater resources and occurrence of years of higher precipitation. The main purpose of the paper is hydrological description of the Czechówka River, especially in the aspect of discharge changes as the result of strong human impact. Data concerning hydrogeological and hydrological situation of the Czechówka River, collected since the half of the 20th century were the basis for the research. In 2002 observations started in water gauge close to the UMCS Botanical Garden in Lublin (the catchment of 61 km2 area). Mean discharge of the Czechówka River in 2003–2017 was 0.088 m3·s–1, and specifi c runoff was only 1.44 dm3·s–1·km2. Water resources of the Czechówka River are signifi cant for municipal water provision. Exploitation of groundwater resources determines the character of hydrodynamic balance, feeding of river valleys and channels by groundwaters, seepage of river waters into the ground, and spring occurrence and discharge of the Czechówka River.