Hydrological characteristics of the Kosarzewka river

Abstract

The paper presents conditions of groundwater occurrence and their role in the Kosarzewka river alimentation, based on hydrographic materials collected in the Department of Hydrology, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, since the fifties of the 20th century. The catchment of 209.3 km2 area, is located 12 km south of Lublin, in the Bystrzyca River basin. Water resources of the analyzed area, their quantity and quality, determine the water provision for Lublin. Groundwaters in the Kosarzewka river catchment occur in fissure-porous, carbonate rocks of the Upper Cretaceous and Paleocene. Hydrogeological conditions depend on tectonics of the rock mass and lithologically diversified Upper Cretaceous rocks, influencing the existence of a couple of groundwater aquifers. Those conditions determine the lack of continuity of the first groundwater table, occurrence of stepped-changed location of the groundwater table and occurrence of springs on various heights, in the river valleys and in the higher located denudation plains in the catchment. Direction of groundwaters flow takes place from south-east to north-west, in accordance with the pattern of the main valleys. In the regional drainage of groundwaters, there are stated possibilities of underground water flow from the left part of the Kosarzewka river catchment to the Bystrzyca river valley, which is deeper incised in the bedrock. In the outflow structure of the Kosarzewka river, groundwater alimentation dominates, from which comes 87% of river water. Groundwaters reach the rivers through the direct channel drainage and springs, recharged from the main aquifer in the Upper Cretaceous rocks. In the research period synchronic changes of groundwater table, yield of springs and the Kosarzewka river discharges were observed. The river responds very weakly to atmospheric alimentation, and precipitation waters are retained in the bedrock. Surface runoff is observed sporadically, more often in the ground freezing period than in the summer season.