The Sulejów Reservoir (Figure 1) was constructed in the years 1969-1973 by impounding the Pilica River with a dam at the village of Smardzewice. It is a typical lowland, low-volume artificial lake with large areas emerging when low water levels occur.
The Sulejów Reservoir is defined by the following parameters:- length – 17,1 km
- maximum width – 2,1 km
- average width – 1,5 km
- average depth – 3,3 m
- maximum depth – 11 m
- shoreline length - 58 km
- surface area - about 22 km2
- usable capacity - 61 mln m3
- maximum capacity – 75 mln m3
- drainage basin area – 4 900 km2
The reservoir is located on the territories of four communities: Wolbórz, Sulejów, Tomaszów Mazowiecki and Mniszków. The whole drainage basin of the reservoir is a farm (64%) and forest (30%) area. For nearly 30 years, the main function of the reservoir was to supply the cities of Łódź and Tomaszów Mazowiecki with drinking water; however, problems with water quality (algal blooms) restrict this function nowadays. The main functions of the Sulejów Reservoir today are: retention, recreation, energy production (2,5 – 3 MW) (Figure 2) and fire protection.

The analysis of water quality, threats and conflicts occurring in the area of the Sulejów Reservoir, allows to construct a matrix of interactions and anthropogenic pressure influencing the water quality. The matrix shown in Figure 3 illustrates the relations between the environmental conditions of water in the Sulejów Reservoir and factors causing deterioration of its quality.

- Non-point sources pollution of the Pilica and Luciąża Rivers, resulting from agricultural use of the catchment; high nutrient loads transported by the rivers.
- Point-sources pollution severely impacting the water quality of the river:
- unstable sewage treatment technologies at the sewage treatment plants
- exceeded chemical and biological standards in the sewage released to the river from the treatment plants,
- eutrophication and periodically increased bacteriology in the river
- Toxic algal blooms in the Sulejów Reservoir
- blue-green algae blooms restricting the use of the reservoir as a drinking water supply and recreational area.
More information: Aleksandra Ziemińska-Stolarska tel. +48426313720, email: Den här e-postadressen är skyddad från spamrobotar, du måste ha Javascript aktiverat för att visa den