We discuss a study designed to elucidate the genesis and inflow conditions at riverbank filtration wells located on a mountain river. This article seeks to identify the most important drivers of spatio-temporal dynamics of water flow in the hyporheic exchange zone, in natural conditions and conditions disturbed by the water abstraction. In our study we try to contribute to further understanding the dynamics of groundwater mixing with river water in the hyporheic exchange zone. We focus on understanding river/aquifer interactions at the scale of reach of an intake, especially the unidirectional water flows induced by water abstraction. To understand these issues, a two-day field hydrogeological experiment was conducted based on a pumping test of increasing intensity. At each pumping stage, groundwater and river samples were collected to determine the concentration of noble gases, CFCs, SF6, stable isotope content, and the chemical composition of the water. The study results indicate a short pressure propagation time (of the order of several hours) between the intake and the river, which already results in the inflow of water from the riveraquifer mixing zone at low rates of water abstraction by the intake. As pumping rates increase, the conditions of mixing and inflow of water to individual wells stabilize or approach stabilized conditions in less than 1-2 days. The share of river water in the water flux flowing into the intake does not exceed 12%, whereas the ratio of river water to groundwater in the mixing zone is estimated at 1 to 7 or more. The range of the river-aquifer mixing zone may reach up to 170 m from the river and this range can be identified with a good approximation as coinciding with the range of the zone of hyporheic exchange in the study area.

Recently, an increased interest of various industrial and economy branches in geothermal waters has been observed. In Poland, one of the most famous geothermal systems is the Podhale Basin, which forms an important reservoir of geothermal waters with relatively low mineralization and high temperatures. More and more often geothermal water is used not only for balneological or recreational purposes, but also as a heat source for heating. New areas of application of geothermal waters are also appearing, e.g. the use of cooled geothermal water as a raw material to produce fresh water. Another example of the application of geothermal waters is the cosmetic industry. For instance, a cream based on geothermal water from Podhale was introduced to the cosmetics market in 2013. This paper presents the possibilities of using the geothermal waters of Podhale, with particular emphasis on geothermal waters from Banska PGP-1, Banska IG-1 and Banska PGP-3 boreholes.

The aim of the study was to assess the qualitative status of groundwater and surface water abstracted for the needs of customers in the city of Nowy Targ. The assessment was based on the results of physicochemical analyses of 62 water samples taken from the water intake on the Biały Dunajec stream in Szaflary (emergency water intake) and 280 samples taken from 6 active groundwater intakes in Nowy Targ. The basic descriptive statistics of manganese, iron, magnesium, calcium, chlorides, sulphates, phosphates, phosphates, ammonia, nitrites, nitrites, nitrates, chromium, zinc, indicators such as: dissolved oxygen, BOD 5 , suspension, phenols, PUR, pH, total hardness, alkalinity and number of coli bacteria were determined. The water analyses were performed in the period 2004-2016. Basic descriptive statistics of manganese, iron, magnesium, magnesium, calcium, chlorides, sulphates, phosphates, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, chromium and zinc ions, as well as such indicators as: dissolved oxygen, BOD 5 , suspension, phenols, PEW, pH, total hardness, alkalinity and number of coli bacteria were determined. The quality of the captured waters was classified on the basis of the results obtained, noting that the water from the Biały Dunajec stream corresponds to the A3 purity category due to the microbiological contamination. According to the physicochemical standard, A3 category was also determined on the basis of the phenol concentration, which, however, decreased significantly since 2013, corresponding to category A1. For groundwater, on the other hand, it was established that all analysed indicators corresponded to class I purity grade, i.e. water of a very good quality. The only excess over the values corresponding to this class was recorded for calcium ions, but the classification of water quality has not changed due to the fact that it was caused by natural processes. Taking into account the above-mentioned findings, it was concluded that due to the very good groundwater quality, their intakes should be left as the main source of water for consumers in Nowy Targ, while the surface water intake on the Biały Dunajec stream should be maintained concurrently as an emergency intake.