Brines, curative and thermal water

2022

Due to the specific physical and chemical properties of certain groundwaters, the article number 5 of the Act of 9^th June 2011 Geological and Mining Law (Journal of Laws 2023, Item 633, unified text) classifies brines, curative or thermal waters, as opposed to fresh groundwaters, as minerals.

Before the Act of 9^th June 2011 Geological and Mining Law was implemented, the number of brines, curative and thermal waters was specified in the Ordinance of 14 February 2006 of the Council of Ministers about groundwater deposits classified as brines, curative and thermal waters and others curative minerals and also about classifying some deposits of common minerals to basic minerals (Journal of Laws 2006, No. 32, Item 220, with subsequent amendments). Now after outlawing this ordinance only those brines, curative and thermal waters are minerals which meet the requirements of Geological and Mining Law, wherein according to the Act (article 203 paragraph 1) brines, curative and thermal waters considered as minerals in the light of the previous regulations keep their status.

Curative waters

Curative water: groundwater with no chemical and microbiological contamination, with natural diversity of physical and chemical properties, meeting at least one of the following requirements:

• total solid dissolved mineral content at least 1,000 mg/dm³,
• ferrous ion content – at least 10 mg/dm³ (ferruginous waters),
• fluoride ion content – at least 2 mg/dm³ (fluoride waters),
• iodine ion content – at least 1 mg/dm³ (iodide waters),
• bivalent sulphur ion content – at least 1 mg/dm³ (sulphide waters),
• meta-silicic acid content – at least 70 mg/dm³ (silicic waters),
• radon content – at least 74 Bq (radon waters),
• carbon dioxide content – at least 250 mg/dm³ (250-1,000 mg/dm³ carbonic acid waters, ≥1,000 mg/dm³ carbonated water).

Most of curative waters occur in towns of southern Poland, in Sudetes and Carpathian region (together with Carpathian Depression). Over 70% of hearth resorts and towns with curative waters are located in this area. The rest of deposits occur in Western Pomerania and in Polish Lowlands. Curative waters are used mainly for balneotherpy in over 40 health resorts and other towns (i.e. Dobrowoda, Latoszyn-Zdrój, Las Winiarski, Marusza, Krzeszowice, Szczawa, Wełnin) and bottling purposes in about 20 water bottling plants i.e. Krynica-Zdrój, Muszyna, Piwniczna-Zdrój, Milik, Powroźnik, Zubrzyk, Szczawa, Tylicz, Wysowa-Zdrój, Polanica-Zdrój, Ciechocinek, Rymanów-Zdrój, Szczawnica, Szczawno-Zdrój, Gorzanów, Jeleniów (Kudowa deposit), but also for salt (i.e. Ciechocinek, Dębowiec, Goczałkowice-Zdrój, Lubatówka – Iwonicz-Zdrój deposit, Kamień Pomorski, Kołobrzeg, Rabka-Zdrój, Ustroń, Zabłocie) and pharmaceutic preparations or cosmetics (i.e. Busko-Zdrój, Ciechocinek, Goczałkowice-Zdrój, Inowrocław, Iwonicz-Zdrój, Kołobrzeg, Krynica-Zdrój, Las Winiarski, Lądek-Zdrój, Połczyn-Zdrój, Rabka-Zdrój, Rymanów-Zdrój, Solec-Zdrój, Świnoujście, Ustroń, Wełnin, Wieliczka). In Krynica-Zdroj and Duszniki-Zdroj natural carbon dioxide is obtained from curative waters.

Potentially curative waters, i.e. mineralised (with total solid dissolved minerals over 1,000 mg/dm³) and specific groundwaters, not considered as curative, occur commonly in Poland at various depths, more often deeper than ordinary waters. The variety of chemical composition of these waters (Figure 1) is caused by a diversity of geological and hydrogeological conditions. The following types are distinguished:

• strongly mineralised chloride waters, mainly of Cl-Na, often J type, thermal
• medium mineralised, bicarbonate waters, mainly of HCO₃-Ca-(Mg), sometimes with Fe and saturated with CO₂
• medium or low mineralised sulphate and sulphide waters,
• specific waters waters of various mineralization (Fe, F, J, S, H₂SiO₃, Rn, CO₂, thermal).

Fig. 1 Occurrence of curative water deposits in Poland

Thermal waters

Thermal water: groundwater having the temperature of 20 °C at the outflow. Taking the purpose of exploitation into consideration, the waters for heating and recreation purposes are considered as thermal waters.

Thermal waters in Poland occur in the area of Polish Lowlands within the large reservoirs of regional importance, also in Carpathians where the deposits are mainly small basins (Podhale) and in Sudetes where they are limited to tectonic zones (Figure 2).

Fig. 2 Occurrence of thermal waters in Poland

In the area of Polish Lowlands, thermal waters from Lower Cretaceous and Lower Jurassic formations are the most perspective for use. They occur in widespread hydrogeological basins. In Carpathians, thermal waters occur mainly in the Triassic formations of the Podhale Trough – a mid-mountain basin, characterized by a small area and high tectonic involvement. High-temperature waters occur locally in Cretaceous, Paleogene, Neogene formations and also in Devonian deposits. In the Carpathians Forehead, thermal waters occur in Cambrian, Devonian, Carboniferous, Jurassic, Cretaceous and Miocene formations. In Sudetes the most perspective formation is Carboniferous aquifer in the vicinity of Jelenia Góra. Strong tectonically involved Carboniferous magmatic and metamorphic rocks are her thermal water collector. Thermal waters are used for municipal heating (Podhale 2, Mszczonów, Uniejów I, Pyrzyce, Stargard, Poddębice), for local-scale heating (Bukowina, Cieplice, Kleszczów GT-1, Cudzynowice, Karpniki), relaxation (over a dozen aquaparks in Zakopane, Bańska Niżna, Bukowina Tatrzańska, Białka Tatrzańska, Witów, Uniejów, Mszczonów, Poddębice, Poznań, Tarnowo Podgórne and Lidzbark Warmiński), fish farming (Trzęsacz), food industry (Uniejów, Pyrzyce) and municipal purposes (Mszczonów, Uniejów).

Waters from mine dewatering are not considered as brines or thermal and curative waters.

Brines, curative and thermal waters resources and output

The presented balance for the year 2022 includes the data about disposable resources and reserves, the amount of brines, curative and thermal waters output. The balance sheet comprises these deposits which are registered in MIDAS and Bank Wód Podziemnych Zaliczonych do kopalin MINERALNE databases. The balance was worked out on the basis of users’ reports collected by Polish Geological Institute-National Research Institute in Warsaw. The data was divided not only according to Paczyński and Płochniewski hydrogegological units division (1996; Table 1) but also according to Polish districts division (Table 2).

In 2022 reserves of groundwaters classified as minerals were calculated as 7,577.05 m³/h (increase by 367.83 m³/h compared to the previous year) in 147 deposits (111 deposits of curative water, 35 deposits of thermal water and 1 brine deposit). In the analyzed period appropriate marshals of voivodeships approved the following hydrogeological and geological reports for reserves determination/update of curative and thermal waters or conditions determination of water injection into the rocks or liquidation undeveloped curative water intakes:

Curative waters:

• “Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters by Krzeszowice Zdrój I intake in Krzeszowice for the designed swimming pool complex”.
• “Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters by Krzeszowice Zdrój II intake in Krzeszowice for the designed swimming pool complex”.
• “Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters intakes within Szczawiczne II mining area in Powroźnik and Krynica-Zdrój for the INEX company”.
• “Geological documentation from liquidation of P-I and G-1 curative waters intakes in Powroźnik”.
• “Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters from Paleogene deposits by P-27 intake in Krynica-Zdrój”.
• “Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters by SL-7 intake in Złockie for Sopel Company bottling plant”.

Thermal waters:

• “Annex No. 2 to hydrogeological documentation from 2011 for presentation the construction and parameters of Toruń TG-2A injection borehole in Toruń”.
• “Hydrogeological documentation for hydrogeological conditions determination due to thermal waters injection by Toruń TG-2A borehole”.
• “Annex No. 2 to hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of thermal waters from Lower Jurassic deposits in Stargard with determination of injection conditions”.
• “Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of thermal waters from the Podhale Basin by Białka Tatrzańska GT-2 intake in Białka Tatrzańska”.

In the analyzed period no documentation considering brines was approved, as well as no hydrogeological documentation for disposable resources determination was approved by the Ministry of the Environment.

The amount of brines, curative and thermal waters intake in 2022 was calculated on 15,540,239.72 m³/year. In comparison to the previous year it has increased of about 2,000,278.31 m³. In 2022 intake was carried out from 83 deposits, including 63 curative water deposits, 19 thermal water deposits and 1 brine deposit. The volume of production of water types was as follows: curative water – 2,110,883.54 m³; thermal water – 13,427,809.88 m³ and brines – 1,546.3 m³.

Notice: in case of springs and artesian flows, only amount of used waters is given, not total amount of outflowing water.

Table 1. The list of brines, curative and thermal waters in particular regions – thousand m³, m³/h, m³/year (as of 31 December 2022)

Table 2. The list of brines, curative and thermal waters in particular voivodeships – thousand m³, m³/h, m³/year (as of 31 December 2022)

The prospective resources of curative water that can be used, calculated as the difference between the value of disposable resources and reserves, are 38,351.17 m³/h. In the case of brines static resources in the Łapczyca deposit should be considered as prospective resources in the amount of 32,136.45 m³/h. In the case of thermal water only their energy resources are specified. The prospective exploitation resources of thermal water energy are approximately 9.0-9.1 × 1018 J per year*.

Prepared by: Jakub Sokołowski, Lesław Skrzypczyk

* Socha M., Skrzypczyk L., 2020 – ‘Wody termalne (thermal water, geothermal water)’. In: ‘Bilans perspektywicznych zasobów kopalin Polski wg stanu na 31.12.2018 r.’ (eds. Szamałek K., Szuflicki M., Mizerski W.): 405-409. PIG-PIB, Warszawa [in Polish].

2021

Due to the specific physical and chemical properties of certain groundwaters, the article number 5 of the Act of 9^th June 2011 Geological and Mining Law (Journal of Laws 2022, Item 1072, unified text) classifies brines, curative or thermal waters, as opposed to fresh groundwaters, as minerals.

Before the Act of 9^th June 2011 Geological and Mining Law was implemented, the number of brines, curative and thermal waters was specified in the Ordinance of 14 February 2006 of the Council of Ministers about groundwater deposits classified as brines, curative and thermal waters and others curative minerals and also about classifying some deposits of common minerals to basic minerals (Journal of Laws 2006, No. 32, Item 220, with subsequent amendments). Now after outlawing this ordinance only those brines, curative and thermal waters are minerals which meet the requirements of Geological and Mining Law, wherein according to the Act (article 203 paragraph 1) brines, curative and thermal waters considered as minerals in the light of the previous regulations keep their status.

Curative waters

Curative water: groundwater with no chemical and microbiological contamination, with natural diversity of physical and chemical properties, meeting at least one of the following requirements:

• total solid dissolved mineral content at least 1,000 mg/dm³,
• ferrous ion content – at least 10 mg/dm³ (ferruginous waters),
• fluoride ion content – at least 2 mg/dm³ (fluoride waters),
• iodine ion content – at least 1 mg/dm³ (iodide waters),
• bivalent sulphur ion content – at least 1 mg/dm³ (sulphide waters),
• meta-silicic acid content – at least 70 mg/dm³ (silicic waters),
• radon content – at least 74 Bq (radon waters),
• carbon dioxide content – at least 250 mg/dm³ (250-1,000 mg/dm³ carbonic acid waters, ≥1,000 mg/dm³ carbonated water).

Most of curative waters occur in towns of southern Poland, in Sudetes and Carpathian region (together with Carpathian Depression). Over 70% of hearth resorts and towns with curative waters are located in this area. The rest of deposits occur in Western Pomerania and in Polish Lowlands. Curative waters are used mainly for balneotherpy in over 40 health resorts and other towns (i.e. Dobrowoda, Latoszyn-Zdrój, Las Winiarski, Marusza, Krzeszowice, Szczawa, Wełnin) and bottling purposes in about 20 water bottling plants in Krynica-Zdrój, Muszyna, Piwniczna-Zdrój, Milik, Powroźnik, Zubrzyk, Szczawa, Tylicz, Wysowa-Zdrój, Polanica-Zdrój, Ciechocinek, Rymanów-Zdrój, Szczawnica, Szczawno-Zdrój, Gorzanów, Jeleniów (Kudowa deposit), but also for salt (i.e. Ciechocinek, Dębowiec, Goczałkowice-Zdrój, Lubatówka – Iwonicz-Zdrój deposit, Kamień Pomorski, Kołobrzeg, Rabka-Zdrój, Ustroń, Zabłocie) and pharmaceutic preparations or cosmetics (i.e. Busko-Zdrój, Ciechocinek, Goczałkowice-Zdrój, Inowrocław, Iwonicz-Zdrój, Kołobrzeg, Krynica-Zdrój, Las Winiarski, Lądek-Zdrój, Połczyn-Zdrój, Rabka-Zdrój, Rymanów-Zdrój, Solec-Zdrój, Świnoujście, Ustroń, Wełnin, Wieliczka). In Krynica-Zdroj and Duszniki-Zdroj natural carbon dioxide is obtained from curative waters.

Potentially curative waters, i.e. mineralised (with total solid dissolved minerals over 1,000 mg/dm³) and specific groundwaters, not considered as curative, occur commonly in Poland at various depths, more often deeper than ordinary waters. The variety of chemical composition of these waters (Figure 1) is caused by a diversity of geological and hydrogeological conditions. The following types are distinguished:

• strongly mineralised chloride waters, mainly of Cl-Na, often J type, thermal
• medium mineralised, bicarbonate waters, mainly of HCO₃-Ca-(Mg), sometimes with Fe and saturated with CO₂
• medium or low mineralised sulphate and sulphide waters,
• specific waters waters of various mineralization (Fe, F, J, S, H₂SiO₃, Rn, CO₂, thermal).

Fig. 1 Occurrence of particular chemical types of curative and mineralized waters

Thermal waters

Thermal water: groundwater having the temperature of 20 °C at the outflow. Taking the purpose of exploitation into consideration, the waters for heating and recreation purposes are considered as thermal waters.

Thermal waters in Poland occur in the area of Polish Lowlands within the large reservoirs of regional importance, also in Carpathians where the deposits are mainly small basins (Podhale) and in Sudetes where they are limited to tectonic zones (Figure 2).

Fig. 2 Occurrence of thermal waters in Poland

In the area of Polish Lowlands, thermal waters from Lower Cretaceous and Lower Jurassic formations are the most perspective for use. They occur in widespread hydrogeological basins. In Carpathians, thermal waters occur mainly in the Triassic formations of the Podhale Trough – a mid-mountain basin, characterized by a small area and high tectonic involvement. High-temperature waters occur locally in Cretaceous, Paleogene, Neogene formations and also in Devonian deposits. In the Carpathians Forehead, thermal waters occur in Cambrian, Devonian, Carboniferous, Jurassic, Cretaceous and Miocene formations. In Sudetes the most perspective formation is Carboniferous aquifer in the vicinity of Jelenia Góra. Strong tectonically involved Carboniferous magmatic and metamorphic rocks are her thermal water collector. Thermal waters are used for municipal heating (Podhale 2, Mszczonów, Uniejów I, Pyrzyce, Stargard Szczeciński I, Poddębice), for local-scale heating (Bukowina, Cieplice, Kleszczów GT-1, Cudzynowice, Karpniki), relaxation (over a dozen aquaparks in Zakopane, Bańska Niżna, Bukowina Tatrzańska, Białka Tatrzańska, Witów, Uniejów, Mszczonów, Poddębice, Poznań, Tarnowo Podgórne and Lidzbark Warmiński), fish farming (Trzęsacz), food industry (Uniejów) and municipal purposes (Mszczonów, Uniejów).

Waters from mine dewatering are not considered as brines or thermal and curative waters.

Brines, curative and thermal waters resources and output

The presented balance for the year 2021 includes the data about disposable resources and reserves, the amount of brines, curative and thermal waters output. The balance sheet comprises these deposits which are registered in MIDAS and Bank Wód Podziemnych Zaliczonych do kopalin MINERALNE databases. The balance was worked out on the basis of users’ reports collected by Polish Geological Institute-National Research Institute in Warsaw. The data was divided in the form of a general summary for water types (table presented further in the text), as well as according to Paczyński and Płochniewski hydrogegological units division (1996; Table 1) and also according to Polish districts division (Table 2).

In 2021 the number of water deposits classified as minerals was 148, including: 111 curative waters deposits, 36 thermal waters deposits and 1 deposit of brines. In 2021 reserves of groundwaters classified as minerals were calculated as 7,209.22 m³/h (loss by 13.30 m³/h compared to the previous year) in 148 deposits. In the analyzed period appropriate marshals of voivodeships approved the following hydrogeological and geological reports for reserves determination/update of curative waters or liquidation undeveloped thermal water intakes:

Curative waters:

• “Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters from Paleogene deposits by K-2 intake in Milik”.
• “Annex No. 1 to hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge curative waters from P-21 and P-24 intakes in Piwniczna-Zdrój and Kokuszka”.
• “Annex No. 1 to hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge curative waters from Paleogene deposits by P-17 and P-18 intakes in Piwniczna-Zdrój”.
• “Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters by Klaudia intake in Żegiestów”.
• “Annex No. 1 to hydrogeological documentation of curative waters in Solec-Zdrój – Solec-4 intake”. 6. ‘Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters from Paleogene deposits by P-23, P-24 and OB-2 intakes with exploitation discharge update by OB-1 intake in Muszyna’.
• “Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters from Paleogene deposits by P-Ibis and G-1bis intakes in Powroźnik”.
• “Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters by Rudawka Rymanowska IG-1 intake in Tarnawatka for Grupa Alta Sp. z o.o. Sp. Kom.”.
• “Annex No. 3 to hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge curative waters in the Krynica Dolna, Muszyna, Powroźnik and Jastrzębik region prepared due to deepening P-16 intake in Powroźnik”.
• “Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters by B-1 intake in Krzeszowice for the Center for the Rehabilitation of the Locomotor System”.
• “Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters by Z-14 intake in Zubrzyk”.
• “Annex No. 1 to hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge curative waters from Tertiary deposits by O-1 intake in Milik prepared due to exploitation discharge and chemical composition of waters update and modernization of the intake”.
• “Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters by Rafał intake with exploitation discharge determination by Karolina intake after reconstruction and exploitation discharge update by Damian, Józef and Stanisław intakes in Muszyna”.
• “Annex No. 2 to hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge curative waters from Tertiary deposits by M-4, M-6 and M-9 intakes in Milik prepared due to operating parameters and chemical composition of waters update by M-4 intake”.

Thermal waters:

• “Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of thermal waters from Lower Jurassic deposits by Tomaszów Mazowiecki GT-1 intake” (documentation approved in 2020, entered the National Geological Archive in 2021).
• “Geological documentation from liquidation of Toruń TG-2 thermal waters intake within Toruń mining area in Toruń”.

In the analyzed period no documentation considering brines was approved, as well as no hydrogeological documentation for disposable resources determination was approved by the Ministry of the Environment.

In 2021, 81 deposits were used, including: 61 deposits of curative waters, 19 deposits of thermal waters and 1 deposit of brines. The amount of brines, curative and thermal waters intake in 2021 was calculated on 13,539,961.41 m³/year, including: 2,075,929.95 m³/year curative waters, 11,462,425,96 m³/year thermal waters and 1,605,5 m³/year brines. In comparison to the previous year it has increased of about 568,425.71 m³.

Water type	Number of deposits	Number of deposits with a license to exploitation	Number of deposits in operation	Reserves (m3/h)	Intake (m3 per year)
Curative waters	111	75	61	1,944.22	2,075,929.95
Thermal waters	36	24	19	5,261.30	11,462,425.96
Brines	1	1	1	3.70	1,605.50
Total	148	100	81	7,209.22	13,539,961.41

Notice: in case of springs and artesian flows, only amount of used waters is given, not total amount of outflowing water.

Table 1. The list of brines, curative and thermal waters in particular regions – thousand m³, m³/h, m³/year (as of 31 December 2021)

Table 2. The list of brines, curative and thermal waters in particular voivodeships – thousand m³, m³/h, m³/year (as of 31 December 2021)

The prospective resources of curative water that can be used, calculated as the difference between the value of disposable resources and reserves, are 38,348.50 m³/h. In the case of brines static resources in the Łapczyca deposit should be considered as prospective resources in the amount of 32,138.00 m³/h. So far, no prospective resources of thermal waters have been defined, but only the energy stored in them, which for the area of Poland is approx. 9.01-9.1 × 1018 J per year*.

Prepared by: Jakub Sokołowski, Lesław Skrzypczyk

* Socha M., Skrzypczyk L., 2020 – ‘Wody termalne (thermal water, geothermal water)’. In: ‘Bilans perspektywicznych zasobów kopalin Polski wg stanu na 31.12.2018 r.’ (eds. Szamałek K., Szuflicki M., Mizerski W.): 405-409. PIG-PIB, Warszawa [in Polish].

2020

Due to the specific physical and chemical properties of certain groundwaters, the article number 5 of the Act of 9^th June 2011 Geological and Mining Law (Official Journal 2020, item 1064, uniform text) classifies brines, curative or thermal waters, as opposed to fresh groundwaters, as minerals.

Before the Act of 9^th June 2011 Geological and Mining Law was implemented, the number of brines, curative and thermal waters was specified in the Ordinance of 14 February 2006 of the Council of Ministers about groundwater deposits classified as brines, curative and thermal waters and others curative minerals and also about classifying some deposits of common minerals to basic minerals (Official Journal No. 32, item 220, with subsequent amendments). Now after outlawing this ordinance only those brines, curative and thermal waters are minerals which meet the requirements of Geological and Mining Law, wherein according to the Act (article 203 paragraph 1) brines, curative and thermal waters considered as minerals in the light of the previous regulations keep their status.

Curative waters

Curative water: groundwater with no chemical and microbiological contamination, with natural diversity of physical and chemical properties, meeting at least one of the following requirements:

• total solid dissolved mineral content at least 1,000 mg/dm³,
• ferrous ion content – at least 10 mg/dm³ (ferruginous waters),
• fluoride ion content – at least 2 mg/dm³ (fluoride waters),
• iodine ion content – at least 1 mg/dm³ (iodide waters),
• bivalent sulphur ion content – at least 1 mg/dm³ (sulphide waters),
• meta-silicic acid content – at least 70 mg/dm³ (silicic waters),
• radon content – at least 74 Bq (radon waters),
• carbon dioxide content – at least 250 mg/dm³ (250-1,000 mg/dm³ carbonic acid waters, ≥1,000 mg/dm³ carbonated water).

Most of curative waters occur in towns of southern Poland, in Sudetes and Carpathian region (together with Carpathian Depression). Over 70% of hearth resorts and towns with curative waters are located in this area. The rest of deposits occur in Western Pomerania and in Polish Lowlands. Curative waters are used mainly for balneotherpy in over 40 health resorts and other towns (i.e. Dobrowoda, Las Winiarski, Marusza, Krzeszowice, Wełnin) and bottling purposes in about 20 water bottling plants in Krynica-Zdrój, Muszyna, Piwniczna-Zdrój, Milik, Powroźnik, Zubrzyk, Szczawa, Tylicz, Wysowa-Zdrój, Polanica-Zdrój, Ciechocinek, Rymanów-Zdrój, Szczawnica, Szczawno-Zdrój, Gorzanów, Jeleniów (Kudowa deposit), but also for salt (i.e. Ciechocinek, Dębowiec, Goczałkowice-Zdrój, Lubatówka – Iwonicz-Zdrój deposit, Kołobrzeg, Rabka-Zdrój, Zabłocie) and pharmaceutic preparations or cosmetics (i.e. Busko-Zdrój, Ciechocinek, Goczałkowice-Zdrój, Inowrocław, Iwonicz-Zdrój, Kołobrzeg, Lądek-Zdrój, Latoszyn-Zdrój, Nałęczów, Połczyn-Zdrój, Rabka-Zdrój, Rymanów-Zdrój, Solec-Zdrój, Świnoujście, Uniejów, Ustroń, Wełnin, Wieliczka). In Krynica-Zdroj and Duszniki-Zdroj natural carbon dioxide is obtained from curative waters.

Potentially curative waters, i.e. mineralised (with total solid dissolved minerals over 1,000 mg/dm³) and specific groundwaters, not considered as curative, occur commonly in Poland at various depths, more often deeper than ordinary waters. The variety of chemical composition of these waters (Figure 1) is caused by a diversity of geological and hydrogeological conditions. The following types are distinguished:

• strongly mineralised chloride waters, mainly of Cl-Na, often J type, thermal
• medium mineralised, bicarbonate waters, mainly of HCO₃-Ca-(Mg), sometimes with Fe and saturated with CO₂
• medium or low mineralised sulphate and sulphide waters,
• specific waters waters of various mineralization (Fe, F, J, S, H₂SiO₃, Rn, CO₂, thermal).

Fig. 1 Occurrence of particular chemical types of curative and mineralized waters

Thermal waters

Thermal water: groundwater having the temperature of 20 °C at the outflow. Taking the purpose of exploitation into consideration, the waters for heating and recreation purposes are considered as thermal waters.

Thermal waters in Poland occur in the area of Polish Lowlands within the large reservoirs of regional importance, also in Carpathians where the deposits are mainly small basins (Podhale) and in Sudetes where they are limited to tectonic zones (Figure 2).

Fig. 2 Occurrence of thermal waters in Poland

In the area of Polish Lowlands, thermal waters from Lower Cretaceous and Lower Jurassic formations are the most perspective for use. They occur in widespread hydrogeological basins. In Carpathians thermal waters occur especially in Cretaceous, Paleogene and Neogene formations and also in Devonian and Triassic deposits of Podhale Trough, which is characterized by small area and strong tectonic influence. In the Carpathians Forehead, thermal waters occur in Cambrian, Devonian, Carboniferous, Jurassic, Cretaceous and Miocene formations. In Sudetes the most perspective formation is Carboniferous aquifer in the vicinity of Jelenia Góra. Strong tectonically involved Carboniferous magmatic and metamorphic rocks are her thermal water collector. Thermal waters are also in Lądek-Zdrój, Duszniki-Zdrój and Grabin in the vicinity of Niemodlin. Thermal waters are used for heating (Podhale 2, Mszczonów, Uniejów I, Pyrzyce, Stargard Szczeciński I, Poddębice, Kleszczów GT-1, Cudzynowice, Karpniki), relaxation (over a dozen aquaparks in Zakopane, Bańska Niżna, Bukowina Tatrzańska, Białka Tatrzańska, Witów, Uniejów, Mszczonów, Poddębice, Poznań, Tarnowo Podgórne, Cieplice Śląskie-Zdrój and Lidzbark Warmiński), fish farming (Trzęsacz), food industry (Uniejów) and municipal purposes (Mszczonów, Uniejów).

Waters from mine dewatering are not considered as brines or thermal and curative waters.

Brines, curative and thermal waters resources and output

The presented balance for the year 2020 includes the data about disposable resources and reserves, the amount of brines, curative and thermal waters output. The balance sheet comprises these deposits which are registered in MIDAS and Bank Wód Podziemnych Zaliczonych do kopalin MINERALNE databases. The balance was worked out on the basis of users’ reports collected by Polish Geological Institute-National Research Institute in Warsaw. The data was divided not only according to Paczyński and Płochniewski hydrogegological units division (1996; Table 1) but also according to Polish districts division (Table 2).

In 2020 reserves of groundwaters classified as minerals were calculated as 7,222.52 m³/h in 146 deposits. In the analyzed period appropriate marshals of voivodeships approved the following hydrogeological and geological reports for reserves determination of curative and thermal waters or liquidation undeveloped curative water intakes:

Curative waters:

• “Annex No. 3 to hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge curative waters from IN-1, IN-2 and IN-3 intakes in Muszyna made because of building IN-3bis intake and correction exploitation discharge of IN-3 and IN-2bis intake”.
• “Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters by P-21 and P-24 intakes in Piwniczna-Zdrój”.
• “Annex No. 1 to hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters by P-18 intake and post-completion documentation of P-3 intake in the Krynica Dolna region made because of exploitation discharge update by P-18 intake in Krynica-Zdrój”.
• “Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters from Paleogene deposits by A-13 intake in Andrzejówka, P-19 and P-20 intakes in Powroźnik and P-21 intake in Krynica-Zdrój with exploitation discharge update by P-9, P-10, P-III, P-IV intakes in Powroźnik and P-12, P-13, P-14 and P-18 intakes in Krynica-Zdrój”.
• “Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters by Wielka Pieniawa, Pieniawa Józefa 1, Pieniawa Józefa 2, PL-1 and PL-2 intakes in Polanica-Zdrój”.
• “Annex No. 1 to hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters by P-IV intake together with depression update by P-III intake in Powroźnik made because of exploitation discharge update by P-III and P-IV intakes in Powroźnik”.
• “Annex No. 2 to hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters in Krynica Dolna, Muszyna, Powroźnik and Jastrzębik region made because of exploitation discharge update by P-9 and P-10 intakes in Powroźnik and P-12, P-13, P-14 intakes in Krynica-Zdrój”.
• “Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters in Stara Łomnica (Hanna 1, Hanna 2, Hanna 3, Hanna 4, Kazimierz 1 and Kazimierz 2 intakes)”.
• “Hydrogeological documentation of curative waters intake Miriam from Paleogene deposits, Sól S-1 Miriam intake”.
• “Geological documentation from liquidation of Solec-2B curative waters intake”.
• “Geological documentation from liquidation of K-1 curative waters intake in Milik”.
• “Annex No. 1 to hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters from Paleogene deposits by Grunwald-1 intake in Muszyna made because of exploitation discharge update by Grunwald-1 intake”.

Thermal waters:

• “Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of thermal waters by Koło GT-1 intake in Chojny village”.
• “Annex No. 1 to hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination by thermal waters intake in Toruń together with determination of used waters injection conditions (Toruń TG-1 and Toruń TG-2 intakes)”.
• “Annex No. 2 to hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of thermal waters by Białka Tatrzańska GT-1 intake in Białka Tatrzańska”.
• “Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of thermal waters from Lower Jurassic deposits in Jachranka (Jachranka GT-1 and Jachranka GT-2K intakes)”.

In the analyzed period no documentation considering brines was approved, as well as no hydrogeological documentation for disposable resources determination was approved by the Ministry of the Environment.

The amount of brines, curative and thermal waters intake in 2020 was calculated on 12,971,535.60 m³/year. In comparison to the previous year it has decreased of about 618,056.34 m³.

Notice: in case of springs and artesian flows, only amount of used waters is given, not total amount of outflowing water.

Table 1. The list of brines, curative and thermal waters in particular regions – thousand m³, m³/h, m³/year (as of 31 December 2020)

Table 2. The list of brines, curative and thermal waters in particular voivodeships – thousand m³, m³/h, m³/year (as of 31 December 2020)

The prospective resources of curative water that can be used, calculated as the difference between the value of disposable resources and reserves, are 38,455.37 m³/h and increased by over 70 times compared to 2009*. In the case of brines static resources in the Łapczyca deposit should be considered as prospective resources in the amount of 32,141.19 m³/h**. In the case of thermal water only their energy resources are specified. The prospective exploitation resources of thermal water energy are approximately 9.0-9.1  ×  10¹⁸ J per year***).

Prepared by: Jakub Sokołowski, Lesław Skrzypczyk

* Sokołowski J., Skrzypczyk L., 2020 – ‘Wody lecznicze (therapeutic water, medicinal water)’. In: ‘Bilans perspektywicznych zasobów kopalin Polski wg stanu na 31.12.2018 r.’ (eds. Szamałek K., Szuflicki M., Mizerski W.): 400-404. PIG-PIB, Warszawa [in Polish].

** Felter A., 2020 – ‘Solanki (brine)’. In: ‘Bilans perspektywicznych zasobów kopalin Polski wg stanu na 31.12.2018 r.’ (eds. Szamałek K., Szuflicki M., Mizerski W.): 395-399. PIG-PIB, Warszawa [in Polish].

*** Socha M., Skrzypczyk L., 2020 – ‘Wody termalne (thermal water, geothermal water)’. In: ‘Bilans perspektywicznych zasobów kopalin Polski wg stanu na 31.12.2018 r.’ (eds. Szamałek K., Szuflicki M., Mizerski W.): 405-409. PIG-PIB, Warszawa [in Polish].

2019

Due to the specific physical and chemical properties of certain groundwaters, the article number 5 of the Act of 9 June 2011 Geological and Mining Law (Official Journal 2019, item 868, uniform text) classifies brines, curative or thermal waters, as opposed to fresh groundwaters, as minerals.

Before the Act of 9 June 2011 Geological and Mining Law was implemented, the number of brines, curative and thermal waters was specified in the Ordinance of 14 February 2006 of the Council of Ministers about groundwater deposits classified as brines, curative and thermal waters and others curative minerals and also about classifying some deposits of common minerals to basic minerals (Official Journal No. 32, item 220, with subsequent amendments). Now after outlawing this ordinance only those brines, curative and thermal waters are minerals which meet the requirements of Geological and Mining Law, wherein according to the Act (article 203 paragraph 1) brines, curative and thermal waters considered as minerals in the light of the previous regulations keep their status.

Curative waters

Curative water: groundwater with no chemical and microbiological contamination, with natural diversity of physical and chemical properties, meeting at least one of the following requirements:

• total solid dissolved mineral content at least 1,000 mg/dm³,
• ferrous ion content – at least 10 mg/dm³ (ferruginous waters),
• fluoride ion content – at least 2 mg/dm³ (fluoride waters),
• iodine ion content – at least 1 mg/dm³ (iodide waters),
• bivalent sulphur ion content – at least 1 mg/dm³ (sulphide waters),
• meta-silicic acid content – at least 70 mg/dm³ (silicic waters),
• radon content – at least 74 Bq (radon waters),
• carbon dioxide content – at least 250 mg/dm³ (250-1,000 mg/dm³ carbonic acid waters, ≥1,000 mg/dm³ carbonated water).

Most of curative waters occur in towns of southern Poland, in Sudetes and Carpathian region (together with Carpathian Depression). Over 70% of hearth resorts and towns with curative waters are located in this area. The rest of deposits occur in Western Pomerania and in Polish Lowlands. Curative waters are used mainly for balneotherpy in 41 health resorts and other towns (i.e. Dobrowoda, Las Winiarski, Marusza, Krzeszowice, Wełnin, Latoszyn, Rzeszów, Wieliczka) from 46 deposits and bottling purposes in 22 water bottling plants in Krynica-Zdrój, Muszyna, Piwniczna-Zdrój, Milik, Powroźnik, Zubrzyk, Szczawa, Tylicz, Wysowa-Zdrój, Polanica-Zdrój, Ciechocinek, Rymanów-Zdrój, Szczawnica, Szczawno-Zdrój, Gorzanów, Jeleniów (Kudowa deposit), but also for salt, lye and mud production (i.e. Ciechocinek, Dębowiec, Goczałkowice-Zdrój, Iwonicz-Zdrój, Kołobrzeg, Rabka-Zdrój, Zabłocie) and pharmaceutic preparations (i.e. Busko-Zdrój, Ciechocinek, Goczałkowice-Zdrój, Inowrocław, Iwonicz-Zdrój, Kołobrzeg, Lądek-Zdrój, Latoszyn, Nałęczów, Połczyn-Zdrój, Rabka-Zdrój, Rymanów-Zdrój, Solec-Zdrój, Świnoujście, Uniejów, Ustroń, Wełnin, Wieliczka). In Krynica-Zdroj and Duszniki-Zdroj natural carbon dioxide is obtained from curative waters.

Potentially curative waters, i.e. mineralised (with total solid dissolved minerals over 1,000 mg/dm³) and specific groundwaters, not considered as curative, occur commonly in Poland at various depths, more often deeper than ordinary waters. The variety of chemical composition of these waters (fig. 1) is caused by a diversity of geological and hydrogeological conditions. The following types are distinguished:

• strongly mineralised chloride waters, mainly of Cl-Na, often J type, thermal
• medium mineralised, bicarbonate waters, mainly of HCO₃-Ca-(Mg), sometimes with Fe and saturated with CO₂
• medium or low mineralised sulphate and sulphide waters,
• specific waters waters of various mineralization (Fe, F, J, S, H₂SiO₃, Rn, CO₂, thermal).

Fig. 1 Occurrence of particular chemical types of curative and mineralized waters

Thermal waters

Thermal water: groundwater having the temperature of 20 °C at the outflow. Taking the purpose of exploitation into consideration, the waters for heating and recreation purposes are considered as thermal waters.

Thermal waters in Poland occur in the area of Polish Lowlands within the large reservoirs of regional importance, also in Carpathians and Sudetes where the deposits are mainly small basins (Podhale) or are limited to tectonic zones. (fig. 2).

Fig. 2 Occurrence of thermal waters in Poland

In the area of Polish Lowlands, thermal waters from Lower Cretaceous and Lower Jurassic formations are the most perspective for use. They occur in widespread hydrogeological basins. In Carpathians thermal waters occur especially in Cretaceous, Paleogene and Neogene formations and also in Devonian and Triassic deposits of Podhale Trough, which is characterized by small area and strong tectonic influence. In the Carpathians Forehead, thermal waters occur in Cambrian, Devonian, Carboniferous, Jurassic, Cretaceous and Miocene formations. In Sudetes the most perspective formation is Carboniferous aquifer in the vicinity of Jelenia Góra. Strong tectonically involved Carboniferous magmatic and metamorphic rocks are her thermal water collector. Thermal waters are also in Lądek-Zdrój, Duszniki-Zdrój and Grabin in the vicinity of Niemodlin. Thermal waters are used for heating (Podhale 2, Mszczonów, Uniejów I, Pyrzyce, Stargard Szczeciński I, Poddębice, Kleszczów GT-1, Cudzynowice, Karpniki), relaxation (15 aquaparks in Zakopane – 2, Bańska Niżna – 2, Bukowina Tatrzańska, Białka Tatrzańska, Witów, Uniejów – 2, Mszczonów, Poddębice, Poznań, Tarnowo Podgórne, Cieplice Śląskie-Zdrój and Lidzbark Warmiński) and fish farming (Trzęsacz).

Waters from mine dewatering are not considered as brines or thermal waters.

Brines, curative and thermal waters resources and output

The presented balance for the year 2019 includes the data on disposable resources and reserves, the amount of brines, curative and thermal waters output. The balance sheet comprises these deposits which are registered in MIDAS and Bank Wód Podziemnych Zaliczonych do kopalin MINERALNE databases. The balance was worked out on the basis of users’ reports collected by the Polish Geological Institute-National Research Institute in Warsaw. The data was divided not only according to Paczyński and Płochniewski hydrogegological units division (1996; Table 1) but also according to Polish districts division (Table 2).

In 2019 reserves of groundwaters classified as minerals were calculated as 6,625.80 m³/h in 142 deposits. In the analyzed period appropriate marshals of voivodeships approved the following hydrogeological and geological reports for reserves determination of curative and thermal waters or liquidation undeveloped curative water intakes:

• ”Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters by Filip intake in Muszyna”, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination for a new intake within the Szczawnik-Cechini deposit.
• ”Annex No. 3 to hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of sulphide water from Cretaceous deposits in Busko-Zdrój (B-17a intake)”, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination for a new intake.
• ”Annex No. 4 to hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of sulphide water from Cretaceous deposits in Busko-Zdrój (B-16b intake)”, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination for a new intake.
• ”Annex No. 1 to hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters in Jelenia Góra-Cieplice”, prepared due the update of mining area borders.
• ”Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of thermal waters from Lower Cretaceous deposits by Wręcza GT-1 intake”, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination within the new deposit.
• ”Annex No. 1 to hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters from Tertiary deposits in Piwniczna-Zdrój”, prepared due the update of exploitation discharge and exploitation parameters (change of exploitation water level).
• ”Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of thermal waters from Lower Cretaceous deposits by Sochaczew GT-1 intake”, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination within the new deposit.
• ”Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters by OB-1 intake in Kraków-Opatkowice”, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination within the new deposit.
• ”Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters by Lusina intake”, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination within the new deposit.
• ”Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters from Cretaceous-Paleogene deposits by SW-2 intake in Sól”, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination within the new deposit.
• ”Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters from Paleogene deposits by Plebania SWR-1 intake in Rajcza”, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination within the new deposit.
• ”Annex No. 1 to hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative water by Anna and Anna II intakes due to new borehole Tadeusz drilled ”, prepared due to exploitation discharge update for existing intakes.
• ”Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters by W-1, W-2 and W-3 intakes in Wierchomla Wielka”, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination for a new intakes within the new deposit.
• ”Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters from Paleogene deposits by No. 1 intake in Wierchomla Wielka”, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination for a new intakes within the new deposit.
• ”Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of thermal waters by Turek GT-1 intake in Turek”, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination within the new deposit.

In the analyzed period only one documentation considering brines was approved, as well as no hydrogeological documentation for disposable resources determination was approved by the Ministry of the Environment:

• ”Hydrogeological documentation for disposable resources determination of curative waters in Busko-Zdrój and Solec-Zdrój area”.

The amount of brines, curative and thermal waters intake in 2019 was calculated on 13,589,591.94 m³/year. In comparison to the previous year it has increased of about 264,074.05 m³.

Notice: in case of springs and artesian flows, only amount of used waters is given, not total amount of outflowing water.

Table 1. The list of brines, curative and thermal waters in particular regions – thousand m³, m³/h, m³/year (as of 31 December 2019)

Table 2. The list of brines, curative and thermal waters in particular voivodeships – thousand m³, m³/h, m³/year (as of 31 December 2019)

The prospective resources of curative water that can be used, calculated as the difference between the value of disposable resources and reserves, are 38,455.37 m³/h and increased by over 70 times compared to 2009*. In the case of brines static resources in the Łapczyca deposit should be considered as prospective resources in the amount of 32,141.19 m³/h**. In the case of thermal water only their energy resources are specified. The prospective exploitation resources of thermal water energy are approximately 9.0-9.1 × 1,018 J per year***).

Prepared by: Jakub Sokołowski, Lesław Skrzypczyk

* Sokołowski J., Skrzypczyk L., 2020 – ‘Wody lecznicze (therapeutic water, medicinal water)’. In: ‘Bilans perspektywicznych zasobów kopalin Polski wg stanu na 31.12.2018 r.’ (eds. Szamałek K., Szuflicki M., Mizerski W.): 400-404. PIG-PIB, Warszawa.

** Felter A., 2020 – ‘Solanki (brine)’. In: ‘Bilans perspektywicznych zasobów kopalin Polski wg stanu na 31.12.2018 r.’ (eds. Szamałek K., Szuflicki M., Mizerski W.): 395-399. PIG-PIB, Warszawa.

*** Socha M., Skrzypczyk L., 2020 – ‘Wody termalne (thermal water, geothermal water)’. In: ‘Bilans perspektywicznych zasobów kopalin Polski wg stanu na 31.12.2018 r.’ (eds. Szamałek K., Szuflicki M., Mizerski W.): 405-409. PIG-PIB, Warszawa.

2018

Due to the specific physical and chemical properties of certain groundwaters, the article number 5 of the Act of 9 June 2011 Geological and Mining Law (Official Journal 2019, item 868, uniform text) classifies brines, curative or thermal waters, as opposed to fresh groundwaters, as minerals.

Before the Act of 9 June 2011 Geological and Mining Law was implemented, the number of brines, curative and thermal waters was specified in the Ordinance of 14 February 2006 of the Council of Ministers about groundwater deposits classified as brines, curative and thermal waters and others curative minerals and also about classifying some deposits of common minerals to basic minerals (Official Journal No. 32, item 220, with subsequent amendments). Now after outlawing this ordinance only those brines, curative and thermal waters are minerals which meet the requirements of Geological and Mining Law, wherein according to the Act (article 203 paragraph 1) brines, curative and thermal waters considered as minerals in the light of the previous regulations keep their status.

Brine: groundwater with total solid dissolved minerals at least 35 g/dm³. According to the Ordinance of the Council of Ministers only the deposit in Łapczyca in Małopolskie voivodeship is classified as brine. This brine, occurring in Miocene sandstone formation, is used for therapeutic and bath salt production. Groundwater with similar composition (strongly mineralized waters of Cl-Na or Cl-Na-Ca type) are common in the area of Polish Lowlands. They occur in very deep formations, at depth of some thousand meters.

Curative water: Agroundwater with no chemical and microbiological contamination, with natural diversity of physical and chemical properties, meeting at least one of the following requirements:

• total solid dissolved mineral content at least 1,000 mg/dm³,
• ferrous ion content – at least 10 mg/dm³ (ferruginous waters),
• fluoride ion content – at least 2 mg/dm³ (fluoride waters),
• iodine ion content – at least 1 mg/dm³ (iodide waters),
• bivalent sulphur ion content – at least 1 mg/dm³ (sulphide waters),
• meta-silicic acid content – at least 70 mg/dm³ (silicic waters),
• radon content – at least 74 Bq (radon waters),
• carbon dioxide content – at least 250 mg/dm³ (250-1,000 mg/dm³ carbonic acid waters, ≥1,000 mg/dm³ carbonated water).

Most of curative waters occur in towns of southern Poland, in Sudetes and Carpathian region (together with Carpathian Depression). Over 70% of hearth resorts and towns with curative waters are located in this area. The rest of deposits occur in Western Pomerania and in Polish Lowlands. Curative waters are used mainly for balneotherpy in 41 health resorts and other towns (Dobrowoda, Las Winiarski, Marusza, Krzeszowice, Rzeszów, Wełnin) and bottling purposes in 21 water bottling plants in Krynica-Zdrój, Muszyna, Piwniczna-Zdrój, Milik, Powroźnik, Zubrzyk, Szczawa, Tylicz, Wysowa, Polanica-Zdrój, Ciechocinek, Rymanów-Zdrój, Szczawnica, Szczawno-Zdrój, Gorzanów, Jeleniów (Kudowa deposit) and from deposits Andrzejówka, Jastrzębik, Wojkowa, Złockie, Szczawnik, which curative waters is supplied to plants in neighboring places, but also for salt, lye and mud production and pharmaceutic preparations, i.e. Busko-Zdrój, Ciechocinek, Lubatówka (Iwonicz-Zdrój deposit), Rabka-Zdrój, Goczałkowice-Zdrój, Kołobrzeg, Lądek-Zdrój, Rymanów-Zdrój, Dębowiec, Zabłocie). In Krynica-Zdroj and Duszniki-Zdroj natural carbon dioxide is obtained from curative waters.

Potentially curative waters, i.e. mineralised (with total solid dissolved minerals over 1,000 mg/dm³) and specific groundwaters, not considered as curative, occur commonly in Poland at various depths, more often deeper than ordinary waters. The variety of chemical composition of these waters (fig. 1) is caused by a diversity of geological and hydrogeological conditions. The following types are distinguished:

• strongly mineralised chloride waters, mainly of Cl-Na, often J type, thermal
• medium mineralised, bicarbonate waters, mainly of HCO₃-Ca-(Mg), sometimes with Fe and saturated with CO₂
• medium or low mineralised sulphate and sulphide waters,
• specific waters waters of various mineralization (Fe, F, J, S, H₂SiO₃, Rn, CO₂, thermal).

Fig. 1 Occurrence of particular chemical types of curative and mineralized waters

Thermal water: groundwater having the temperature of 20 °C at the outflow. Taking the purpose of exploitation into consideration, the waters for heating and recreation purposes are considered as thermal waters.

Thermal waters in Poland occur in the area of Polish Lowlands within the large reservoirs of regional importance, also in Carpathians and Sudetes where the deposits are mainly small basins (Podhale) or are limited to tectonic zones. (fig. 2).

Fig. 2 Occurrence of thermal waters in Poland

In the area of Polish Lowlands, thermal waters from Lower Cretaceous and Lower Jurassic formations are the most perspective for use. They occur in widespread hydrogeological basins. In Carpathians thermal waters occur especially in Cretaceous, Paleogene and Neogene formations and also in Devonian and Triassic deposits of Podhale Trough, which is characterized by small area and strong tectonic influence. In the Carpathians Forehead, thermal waters occur in Cambrian, Devonian, Carboniferous, Jurassic, Cretaceous and Miocene formations. In Sudetes the most perspective formation is Carboniferous aquifer in the vicinity of Jelenia Góra. Strong tectonically involved Carboniferous magmatic and metamorphic rocks are her thermal water collector. Thermal waters are also in Lądek-Zdrój, Duszniki-Zdrój and Grabin in the vicinity of Niemodlin. Thermal waters are used for heating (Podhale, Mszczonów, Uniejów, Pyrzyce, Stargard, Poddębice, Kleszczów, Cudzynowice, Karpniki), relaxation (19 aquaparks in Zakopane – 2, Ustka, Konstancin-Jeziorna, Wełnin, Bańska Niżna – 2, Inowrocław, Grudziądz-Marusza, Bukowina Tatrzańska, Białka Tatrzańska, Witów, Uniejów, Mszczonów, Poddębice, Poznań, Tarnowo Podgórne, Cieplice Śląskie-Zdrój and Lidzbark Warmiński), balneologic purposes (Uniejów) and fish farming (Trzęsacz).

Waters from mine dewatering are not considered as brines or thermal waters.

The presented balance for the year 2018 includes the data on disposable resources and reserves, the amount of brines, curative and thermal waters output. The balance sheet comprises these deposits which are registered in MIDAS and Bank Wód Podziemnych Zaliczonych do kopalin MINERALNE databases. The balance was worked out on the basis of users’ reports collected by the Polish Geological Institute-National Research Institute in Warsaw. The data was divided not only according to Paczyński and Płochniewski hydrogegological units division (1996; Table 1) but also according to Polish districts division (Table 2).

In 2018 reserves of groundwaters classified as minerals were calculated as 6,239.73 m³/h in 135 deposits. In the analyzed period appropriate marshals of voivodeships approved the following hydrogeological and geological reports for reserves determination of curative and thermal waters or liquidation undeveloped curative water intakes:

• "Geological documentation for liquidation of 17E intake in Ciechocinek”, presenting the results of liquidation undeveloped curative water intake.
• "Geological documentation for liquidation of 17a and 17b intakes in Ciechocinek”, presenting the results of liquidation undeveloped curative water intakes.
• "Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters by Damian intake in Muszyna”, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination for a new intake within the Szczawnik-Cechini deposit.
• "Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters by Misericordia intake in Cracow”, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination within the new deposit.
• "Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters by No. 29 intake, initially planned as vicarious intake Słotwinka-1 for Słotwinka Spring in Krynica-Zdrój”, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination for a new intake within the Krynica-Zdrój I deposit.
• "Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters by IN-5 intake in Muszyna”, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination for a new intake within the Muszyna INEX deposit.
• "Annex to hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of K-11 intake in Powroźnik”, prepared due the update of exploitation parameters (change of exploitation water level).
• "Annex No. 1 to hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of thermal water intake Chochołów PIG-1”, prepared due the update of exploitation discharge.
• "Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters from Paleogene deposits by A-9, A-12 intakes in Andrzejówka with the update of exploitation discharge by A-1, A-5, M-3 curative waters intakes in Andrzejówka and M-2 curative waters intake in Milik ”, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination for a new intakes within the Muszynianka III deposit and other intakes being in hydraulic contact.
• "Annex No. 1 to hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of thermal water from Eocene and Trias deposits by Bańska PGP-3 intake”, prepared due the update of exploitation discharge.
• "Annex No. 1 to hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of K-10 curative waters intake in Krynica-Zdrój”, prepared due the update of exploitation parameters (change of exploitation water level).
• "Annex No. 1 to hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of W-1, W-2 and W-3 curative waters intakes in Muszyna”, prepared due the update of exploitation discharge listed intakes.
• "Geological documentation for liquidation of P-16 curative waters intake in Piwniczna-Zdrój and Pł-10 curative waters intake in Łomnica-Zdrój”, presenting the results of liquidation unused curative water intakes.
• "Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of thermal waters by Sieradz GT-1 intake in Sieradz”, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination within the new deposit.

In the analyzed period no documentation considering brines and thermal waters was approved.

In the analyzed period no documentation considering brines was approved, as well as no hydrogeological documentation for disposable resources determination was approved by the Ministry of the Environment.

The amount of brines, curative and thermal waters intake in 2018 was calculated on 13,325,517.89 m³/year. In comparison to the previous year it has increased of about 409,292.62 m³.

Notice: in case of springs and artesian flows, only amount of used waters is given, not total amount of outflowing water.

Table 1. The list of brines, curative and thermal waters in particular regions – thousand m³, m³/h, m³/year (as of 31 December 2018)

Table 2. The list of brines, curative and thermal waters in particular voivodeships – thousand m³, m³/h, m³/year (as of 31 December 2018)

Prepared by: Jakub Sokołowski, Lesław Skrzypczyk

2017

Due to the specific physical and chemical properties of certain groundwaters, the article number 5 of the Act of 9 June 2011 Geological and Mining Law (Official Journal 2017, item 2126, uniform text) classifies brines, curative or thermal waters, as opposed to fresh groundwaters, as minerals.

Before the Act of 9 June 2011 Geological and Mining Law was implemented, the number of brines, curative and thermal waters was specified in the Ordinance of 14 February 2006 of the Council of Ministers about groundwater deposits classified as brines, curative and thermal waters and others curative minerals and also about classifying some deposits of common minerals to basic minerals (Official Journal No. 32, item 220, with subsequent amendments). Now after outlawing this ordinance only those brines, curative and thermal waters are minerals which meet the requirements of Geological and Mining Law, wherein according to the Act (article 203 paragraph 1) brines, curative and thermal waters considered as minerals in the light of the previous regulations keep their status.

Brine: groundwater with total solid dissolved minerals at least 35 g/dm³. According to the Ordinance of the Council of Ministers only the deposit in Łapczyca in Małopolskie voivodeship is classified as brine. This brine, occurring in Miocene sandstone formation, is used for therapeutic and bath salt production. Groundwater with similar composition (strongly mineralized waters of Cl-Na or Cl-Na-Ca type) are common in the area of Polish Lowlands. They occur in very deep formations, at depth of some thousand meters.

Curative water: Agroundwater with no chemical and microbiological contamination, with natural diversity of physical and chemical properties, meeting at least one of the following requirements:

• total solid dissolved mineral content at least 1,000 mg/dm³,
• ferrous ion content – at least 10 mg/dm³ (ferruginous waters),
• fluoride ion content – at least 2 mg/dm³ (fluoride waters),
• iodine ion content – at least 1 mg/dm³ (iodide waters),
• bivalent sulphur ion content – at least 1 mg/dm³ (sulphide waters),
• meta-silicic acid content – at least 70 mg/dm³ (silicic waters),
• radon content – at least 74 Bq (radon waters),
• carbon dioxide content – at least 250 mg/dm³ (250-1,000 mg/dm³ carbonic acid waters, ≥1,000 mg/dm³ carbonated water).

Most of curative waters occur in towns of southern Poland, in Sudetes and Carpathian region (together with Carpathian Depression). Over 70% of health resorts and towns with curative waters are located in this area. The rest of deposits occur in Western Pomerania and in Polish Lowlands. Curative waters are used mainly for balneotherpy in 42 health resorts and other towns (Dobrowoda, Las Winiarski, Marusza, Krzeszowice, Szczawa, Wełnin) and bottling purposes (i.e. Krynica-Zdrój, Muszyna, Piwniczna-Zdrój, Andrzejówka, Jastrzębik, Milik, Powroźnik, Wojkowa, Złockie, Zubrzyk, Szczawa, Szczawnik, Tylicz, Wysowa, Polanica-Zdrój, Busko-Zdrój, Ciechocinek, Inowrocław, Kołobrzeg, Rymanów-Zdrój, Kraków-Swoszowice, Szczawnica, Szczawno-Zdrój, Gorzanów) but also for salt, lye and mud production and pharmaceutic preparations (i.e. Busko-Zdrój, Ciechocinek, Iwonicz-Zdrój, Rabka-Zdrój, Goczałkowice-Zdrój, Kołobrzeg, Lądek-Zdrój, Połczyn-Zdrój, Rymanów-Zdrój, Dębowiec, Zabłocie). In Krynica-Zdroj and Duszniki-Zdroj natural carbon dioxide is obtained from curative waters.

Potentially curative waters, i.e. mineralised (with total solid dissolved minerals over 1,000 mg/dm³) and specific groundwaters, not considered as curative, occur commonly in Poland at various depths, more often deeper than ordinary waters. The variety of chemical composition of these waters (fig. 1) is caused by a diversity of geological and hydrogeological conditions. The following types are distinguished:

• strongly mineralised chloride waters, mainly of Cl-Na, often J type, thermal
• medium mineralised, bicarbonate waters, mainly of HCO₃-Ca-(Mg), sometimes with Fe and saturated with CO₂
• medium or low mineralised sulphate and sulphide waters,
• specific waters waters of various mineralization (Fe, F, J, S, H₂SiO₃, Rn, CO₂, thermal).

Fig. 1 Occurrence of particular chemical types of curative and mineralised waters

Thermal water: groundwater having the temperature of 20 °C at the outflow. Taking the purpose of exploitation into consideration, the waters for heating and recreation purposes are considered as thermal waters.

Thermal waters in Poland occur in the area of Polish Lowlands within the large reservoirs of regional importance, also in Carpathians and Sudetes where the deposits are mainly small basins (Podhale) or are limited to tectonic zones. (fig. 2).

Fig. 2 Occurrence of thermal waters in Poland

In the area of Polish Lowlands, thermal waters from Lower Cretaceous and Lower Jurassic formations are the most perspective for use. They occur in widespread hydrogeological basins. In Carpathians thermal waters occur especially in Cretaceous, Paleogene and Neogene formations and also in Devonian and Triassic deposits of Podhale Trough, which is characterized by small area and strong tectonic influence. In the Carpathians Forehead, thermal waters occur in Cambrian, Devonian, Carboniferous, Jurassic, Cretaceous and Miocene formations. In Sudetes the most perspective formation is Carboniferous aquifer in the vicinity of Jelenia Góra. Strong tectonically involved Carboniferous magmatic and metamorphic rocks are her thermal water collector. Thermal waters are also in Lądek-Zdrój, Duszniki-Zdrój and Grabin in the vicinity of Niemodlin. Thermal waters are used for heating (Podhale, Mszczonów, Uniejów, Pyrzyce, Stargard, Poddębice), relaxation (i.e. Zakopane, Szaflary, Bukowina Tatrzańska, Białka Tatrzańska, Uniejów, Mszczonów, Poznań, Cieplice Śląskie-Zdrój) and balneologic purposes (Uniejów).

Waters from mine dewatering are not considered as brines or thermal waters.

The presented balance for the year 2017 includes the data about disposable resources and reserves, the amount of brines, curative and thermal waters output. The balance sheet comprises these deposits which are registered in MIDAS and Bank Wód Podziemnych Zaliczonych do kopalin MINERALNE databases. The balance was worked out on the basis of users’ reports collected by the Polish Geological Institute-National Research Institute in Warsaw. The data was divided not only according to Paczyński and Płochniewski hydrogegological units division (1996; Table 1) but also according to Polish districts division (Table 2).

In 2017 reserves of groundwaters classified as minerals were calculated as 5,952.56 m³/h in 135 deposits. In the analyzed period appropriate marshals of voivodeships approved the following hydrogeological reports for reserves determination of curative waters and others – connected with curative waters intakes:

• "Annex No. 2 to hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of Wełnin curative waters", prepared due the implementation of an additional Wełnin exploitation well No. 4 within the Wełnin deposit.
• "Hydrogeological documentation for liquidation of P-11A intake in Muszyna", showing the results of execution and liquidation of curative water intake (negative borehole).
• "Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters from Paleogene deposits by P-17 intake in Powroźnik", prepared due to exploitation discharge determination for a new intake within the Muszynianka III deposit.
• "Annex No. 3 to hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of Dobrowoda G-1 curative waters intake in Dobrowoda", prepared due the implementation of an additional exploitation well execution and due to new results of geological survey obtained during documentation the area of Busko-Zdrój and Solec-Zdrój.
• "Annex No. 2 to geological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of Tadeusz and Korona in Zabłocie wells", prepared due the actualization of exploitation discharge of both intakes.
• "Hydrogeological documentation for liquidation of P-4 intake in Piwniczna-Zdrój", showing the results of liquidation of curative water intake. The cause of liquidation was small exploitation discharge, no water request and no exploitation since 1997.
• "Annex No. 1 to hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of Cretaceous curative waters in Świnoujście", prepared due the reconstruction of 4a intake (The 30th century).
• "Hydrogeological documentation for liquidation of Misericordia curative waters intake in Cracow", prepared due to exploitation discharge determination within the new deposit.
• "Annex to hydrogeological documentation of mineral groundwater intake from upper Cretaceous deposits, J-150 intake", prepared due to emergency intake preparation.
• "Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative water from Paleogene deposits from the following boreholes: G-9 in Jastrzębik and G-14 in Powrośnik", prepared due to exploitation discharge determination for a new intakes within Galicjalnka deposit III – Field 1 and 2.
• "ydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative water from K-2 intake in Powroźnik, Muszyna district for ZPHU INEX Ltd", prepared due to deepening the freshwater intake and exploitation discharge determination for curative waters.
• “Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters from IN-4 intake in Muszyna for ZPHU INEX Ltd.”, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination for a new intake within existing deposit.

In the analyzed period no documentation considering brines and thermal waters was approved.

In 2017 the Ministry of the Environment approved 1 hydrogeological documentation for disposable resources determination:

• "Hydrogeological documentation for disposable resources determination of curative waters in Wilga catchment area – Mateczny region".

The amount of brines, curative and thermal waters intake in 2017 was calculated on 12,916,225.27 m³/year. In comparison to the previous year it has increased of about 428,426.27 m³.

Notice: in case of springs and artesian flows, only amount of used waters is given, not total amount of outflowing water.

Table 1. The list of brines, curative and thermal waters in particular regions – thousand m³, m³/h, m³/year (as of 31 December 2017)

Table 2. The list of brines, curative and thermal waters in particular voivodeships – thousand m³, m³/h, m³/year (as of 31 December 2017)

Prepared by: Jakub Sokołowski, Lesław Skrzypczyk

2016

According to the Act of 9 June 2011 Geological and Mining Law (Official Journal 2016, item 1131, uniform text with subsequent amendments) brines, curative or thermal waters as opposed to fresh groundwaters are considered as minerals on the basis of their specific physical and chemical properties.

Before the Act of 9 June 2011 Geological and Mining Law was implemented, the number of brines, curative and thermal waters was specified in the Ordinance of 14 February 2006 of the Council of Ministers about groundwater deposits classified as brines, curative and thermal waters and others curative minerals and also about classifying some deposits of common minerals to basic minerals (Official Journal No. 32, item 220, with subsequent amendments). Now after outlawing this ordinance only those brines, curative and thermal waters are minerals which meet the requirements of Geological and Mining Law, wherein according to the Act (article 203 paragraph 1) brines, curative and thermal waters considered as minerals in the light of the previous regulations keep their status.

Brine: groundwater with total solid dissolved minerals at least 35 g/dm³. According to the Ordinance of the Council of Ministers only the deposit in Łapczyca in Małopolskie voivodeship is classified as brine. This brine, occurring in Miocene sandstone formation, is used for therapeutic and bath salt production. Groundwater with similar composition (strongly mineralized waters of Cl-Na or Cl-Na-Ca type) are common in the area of Polish Lowlands. They occur in very deep formations, at depth of some thousand meters.

Curative water: Agroundwater with no chemical and microbiological contamination, with natural diversity of physical and chemical properties, meeting at least one of the following requirements:

• total solid dissolved mineral content at least 1,000 mg/dm³,
• ferrous ion content – at least 10 mg/dm³ (ferruginous waters),
• fluoride ion content – at least 2 mg/dm³ (fluoride waters),
• iodine ion content – at least 1 mg/dm³ (iodide waters),
• bivalent sulphur ion content – at least 1 mg/dm³ (sulphide waters),
• meta-silicic acid content – at least 70 mg/dm³ (silicic waters),
• radon content – at least 74 Bq (radon waters),
• carbon dioxide content – at least 250 mg/dm³ (250-1,000 mg/dm³ carbonic acid waters, > 1,000 mg/dm³ carbonated water),

Most of curative waters occur in towns of southern Poland, in Sudetes and Carpathian region (together with Carpathian Depression). Over 70% of health resorts and towns with curative waters are located in this area. The rest of deposits occur in Western Pomerania and in Polish Lowlands. Curative waters are used mainly for balneotherpy in 42 health resorts and other towns (Dobrowoda, Las Winiarski, Marusza, Krzeszowice, Szczawa, Wełnin) and bottling purposes (i.e. Krynica-Zdrój, Muszyna, Piwniczna-Zdrój, Andrzejówka, Jastrzębik, Milik, Powroźnik, Wojkowa, Złockie, Zubrzyk, Szczawa, Szczawnik, Tylicz, Wysowa, Polanica-Zdrój, Busko-Zdrój, Ciechocinek, Inowrocław, Kołobrzeg, Rymanów-Zdrój, Kraków-Swoszowice, Szczawnica, Szczawno-Zdrój, Gorzanów) but also for salt, lye and mud production and pharmaceutic preparations (i.e. Busko-Zdrój, Ciechocinek, Iwonicz-Zdrój, Rabka-Zdrój, Goczałkowice-Zdrój, Kołobrzeg, Lądek-Zdrój, Połczyn-Zdrój, Rymanów-Zdrój, Dębowiec, Zabłocie). In Krynica-Zdroj and Duszniki-Zdroj natural carbon dioxide is obtained from curative waters.

Potentially curative waters, i.e. mineralised (with total solid dissolved minerals over 1,000 mg/dm³) and specific groundwaters, not considered as curative, occur commonly in Poland at various depths, more often deeper than ordinary waters. The variety of chemical composition of these waters (fig. 1) is caused by diversity of geological and hydrogeological conditions. The following types are distinguished:

• strongly mineralised chloride waters, mainly of Cl-Na, often J type, thermal
• medium mineralised, bicarbonate waters, mainly of HCO₃-Ca-(Mg), sometimes with Fe and saturated with CO₂
• medium or low mineralised sulphate and sulphide waters,
• specific waters waters of various mineralization (Fe, F, J, S, H₂SiO₃, Rn, CO₂, thermal).

Fig. 1 Occurrence of particular chemical types of curative and mineralised waters

Thermal water: groundwater having the temperature of 20 °C at the outflow. Taking the purpose of exploitation into consideration, the waters for heating and recreation purposes are considered as thermal waters.

Thermal waters in Poland occur in the area of Polish Lowlands within the large reservoirs of regional importance, also in Carpathians and Sudetes where the deposits are mainly small basins (Podhale) or are limited to tectonic zones. (fig. 2).

Fig. 2 Occurrence of thermal waters in Poland

In the area of Polish Lowlands, thermal waters from Lower Cretaceous and Lower Jurassic formations are the most perspective for use. They occur in widespread hydrogeological basins. In Carpathians thermal waters occur especially in Cretaceous, Paleogene and Neogene formations and also in Devonian and Triassic deposits of Podhale Trough, which is characterized by small area and strong tectonic influence. In the Carpathians Forehead, thermal waters occur in Cambrian, Devonian, Carboniferous, Jurassic, Cretaceous and Miocene formations. In Sudetes the most perspective formation is Carboniferous aquifer in the vicinity of Jelenia Góra. Strong tectonically involved Carboniferous magmatic and metamorphic rocks are her thermal water collector. Thermal waters are also in Lądek-Zdrój, Duszniki-Zdrój and Grabin in the vicinity of Niemodlin. Thermal waters are used for heating (Podhale, Mszczonów, Uniejów, Pyrzyce, Stargard, Poddębice), relaxation (i.e. Zakopane, Szaflary, Bukowina Tatrzańska, Białka Tatrzańska, Uniejów, Mszczonów, Poznań, Cieplice Śląskie-Zdrój) and balneologic purposes (Uniejów).

Waters from mine dewatering are not considered as brines or thermal waters.

The presented balance for the year 2016 includes the data about disposable resources and reserves, the amount of brines, curative and thermal waters output. The balance sheet comprises these deposits which are registered in MIDAS and Bank Wód Podziemnych Zaliczonych do Kopalin MINERALNE databases. The balance was worked out on the basis of users’ reports collected by Polish Geological Institute-National Research Institute in Warsaw. The data was divided not only according to Paczyński and Płochniewski hydrogegological units division (1996) (table 1) but also according to Polish districts division (table 2).

In 2016 reserves of groundwaters classified as minerals were calculated as 5,995.80 m³/h in 135 deposits. In comparison to previous year the resources has increased of about 166.42 m³/h. In the analyzed period appropriate marshals of voivodeships (item 1-7 and 9-17) and the Minister of the Environment (item. 8) approved/accepted the following hydrogeological reports for reserves determination of thermal and curative waters:

• 1. ‘Annex No. 5 to hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters in Goczałkowice’, prepared due to change in exploitation parameters of the intakes (change of the intake drawdown).
• 2. ‘Hydrogeological documentation for liquidation of Grunwald spring in Muszyna’, showing the results of liquidation curative water intake.
• 3. ‘Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters from Marcin II intake in Złockie’, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination for a new intake.
• 4. ‘Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative water from Paleogene deposits from P-6 and P-7 intakes together with actualization of exploitation discharge for WK-1, P-1A and P-2 intakes in Muszyna’, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination for a new intakes with change in exploitation discharge of the existing intakes within deposit.
• 5. ‘Annex No. 1 to hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of mineral waters from Permian deposits used for curative purposes in Ustka (Ustka IGH-1 intake)’, prepared due to starting exploitation not-used intake and change in exploitation discharge.
• 6. ‘Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of thermal waters from lower Jurassic deposits from Konin GT-1 intake in Konin (Pociejewo Island)’, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination of an intake within new deposit of thermal waters.
• 7. ‘Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters from Paleogene deposits from OB-1 intake in Muszyna’, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination for a new curative water intake.
• 8. ‘Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters from Wiktor intake in Żegiestów’, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination for a new curative water intake.
• 9. ‘Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters from K-7 intake together with actualization of exploitation level in K-8 intake in Krynica-Zdrój for ZPHU INEX Ltd.’, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination for a not-used intake within existing deposit and verification of exploitation parameters of one of existing curative waters intake.
• 10. ‘Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters from K-11 intake in Powroźnik for ZPHU INEX Ltd.’, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination for a new intake.
• 11. ‘Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters from 9M and 10M intakes in Gorzanów’, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination for a not-used intakes within the existing deposit.
• 12. ‘Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters from IN-4 intake in Muszyna for ZPHU INEX Ltd.’, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination for a new intake within existing deposit.
• 13. ‘Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters from PK-1 (St. Martin) intake in Krzeszowice for Rehabilitation Centre’, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination for a new intake within existing deposit.
• 14. ‘Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters from Anna and Anna II intakes in Muszyna’, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination for a new intake within existing deposit together with actualization exploitation discharge of another intake.
• 15. ‘Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters from Paleogene deposits from P-8 intake in Muszyna’, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination for a new intake within existing deposit.
• 16. ‘Geological documentation of a liquidated P-20 borehole in Piwniczna-Zdrój’, presenting the results of executed works of liquidation recognition borehole for curative water intake.
• 17. ‘Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters from Z-2 intake in Żegiestów and Z-3 intake in Zubrzyk for ZPHU INEX Ltd.’, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination for non-documented intakes within a new curative waters deposit.

In 2016 the Ministry of the Environment approved 2 hydrogeological documentation for disposable resources determination:

• 1. ‘Hydrogeological documentation for disposable resources determination of curative waters in Iwonicz Zdrój-Rudawka Rymanowska antycline’.
• 2. ‘Hydrogeological documentation for disposable resources determination of curative waters in Wilga river catchment – Swoszowice area’.

The amount of brines, curative and thermal waters intake in 2016 was calculated on 12,487,639.00 m³/year. In comparison to the previous year it has increased of about 298,567.81 m³.

Notice: in case of springs and artesian flows, only amount of used waters is given, not total amount of outflowing water.

Table 1. The list of brines, curative and thermal waters in particular regions – thousand m³, m³/h, m³/year (as at 31 December 2016)

Table 2. The list of brines, curative and thermal waters in particular voivodeships – thousand m³, m³/h, m³/year (as at 31 December 2016)

Prepared by: L. Skrzypczyk, J. Sokołowski

2015

According to the Act of 9 June 2011 Geological and Mining Law (Official Journal 2015, item 196, uniform text with subsequent amendments) brines, curative or thermal waters as opposed to fresh groundwaters are considered as minerals on the basis of their specific physical and chemical properties.

Before the Act of 9 June 2011 Geological and Mining Law was implemented, the number of brines, curative and thermal waters was specified in the Ordinance of 14 February 2006 of the Council of Ministers about groundwater deposits classified as brines, curative and thermal waters and others curative minerals and also about classifying some deposits of common minerals to basic minerals (Official Journal No. 32, item 220, with subsequent amendments). Now after outlawing this ordinance only those brines, curative and thermal waters are minerals which meet the requirements of Geological and Mining Law, wherein according to the Act (article 203 paragraph 1) brines, curative and thermal waters considered as minerals in the light of the previous regulations keep their status.

Brine: groundwater with total solid dissolved minerals at least 35 g/dm³. According to the Ordinance of the Council of Ministers only the deposit in Łapczyca in Małopolskie voivodeship is classified as brine. This brine, occurring in Miocene sandstone formation, is used for therapeutic and bath salt production. Groundwater with similar composition (strongly mineralized waters of Cl-Na or Cl-Na-Ca type) are common in the area of Polish Lowlands. They occur in very deep formations, at depth of some thousand meters.

Curative water: According to the Ordinance of the Council of Ministers dated on 14 February 2006 curative water was considered as groundwater with no chemical and microbiological contamination, with natural diversity of physical and chemical properties, meeting at least one of the following requirements:

• total solid dissolved mineral content at least 1,000 mg/dm³,
• ferrous ion content – at least 10 mg/dm³ (ferruginous waters),
• fluoride ion content – at least 2 mg/dm³ (fluoride waters),
• iodine ion content – at least 1 mg/dm³ (iodide waters),
• bivalent sulphur ion content – at least 1 mg/dm³ (sulphide waters),
• meta-silicic acid content – at least 70 mg/dm³ (silicic waters),
• radon content – at least 74 Bq (radon waters),
• carbon dioxide content – at least 250 mg/dm³ (250-1,000 mg/dm³ carbonic acid waters, > 1,000 mg/dm³ carbonated water),

Most of curative waters occur in towns of southern Poland, in Sudetes and Carpathian region (together with Carpathian Depression). Over 70% of hearth resorts and towns with curative waters are located in this area. The rest of deposits occur in Western Pomerania and in Polish Lowlands. Curative waters are used mainly for balneotherapy (baths, inhalations, drinking treatment) and bottling purposes (i.e. Krynica-Zdrój, Muszyna, Piwniczna-Zdrój, Wysowa, Polanica-Zdrój, Busko-Zdrój) but also for salt, lye and mud production and pharmaceutic preparations (i.e. Ciechocinek, Dębowiec, Iwonicz-Zdrój, Rabka-Zdrój).

Potentially curative waters, i.e. mineralised (with total solid dissolved minerals over 1,000 mg/dm³) and specific groundwaters, not considered as curative, occur commonly in Poland at various depths, more often deeper than ordinary waters. The variety of chemical composition of these waters (fig. 1) is caused by diversity of geological and hydrogeological conditions. The following types are distinguished:

• strongly mineralised chloride waters, mainly of Cl-Na, often J type, thermal
• medium mineralised, bicarbonate waters, mainly of HCO₃-Ca-(Mg), sometimes with Fe and saturated with CO₂
• medium or low mineralised sulphate and sulphide waters,
• specific waters waters of various mineralization (Fe, F, J, S, H₂SiO₃, Rn, CO₂, thermal).

Fig. 1 Occurrence of particular chemical types of curative and mineralised waters

Thermal water: groundwater having the temperature of 20 °C at the outflow. Taking the purpose of exploitation into consideration, the waters for heating and recreation purposes are considered as thermal waters.

Thermal waters in Poland occur in the area of Polish Lowlands within the large reservoirs of regional importance, also in Carpathians and Sudetes where the deposits are mainly small basins (Podhale) or are limited to tectonic zones. (fig. 2).

Fig. 2 Occurrence of thermal waters in Poland

In the area of Polish Lowlands, thermal waters from Lower Cretaceous and Lower Jurassic formations are the most perspective for use. They occur in widespread hydrogeological basins. In Carpathians thermal waters occur especially in Cretaceous, Paleogene and Neogene formations and also in Devonian and Triassic deposits of Podhale Trough, which is characterized by small area and strong tectonic influence. In the Carpathians Forehead, thermal waters occur in Cambrian, Devonian, Carboniferous, Jurassic, Cretaceous and Miocene formations. In Sudetes the most perspective formation is Carboniferous aquifer in the vicinity of Jelenia Góra. Strong tectonically involved Carboniferous magmatic and metamorphic rocks are her thermal water collector. Thermal waters are also in Lądek-Zdrój, Duszniki-Zdrój and Grabin in the vicinity of Niemodlin. Thermal waters are used for heating (Podhale, Mszczonów, Uniejów, Pyrzyce, Stargard, Poddębice), relaxation (Zakopane, Szaflary, Bukowina Tatrzańska, Białka Tatrzańska, Uniejów, Mszczonów, Poznań, Cieplice Śląskie-Zdrój) and balneologic purposes (Uniejów).

Waters from mine dewatering are not considered as brines or thermal waters.

The presented balance for the year 2015 includes the data about disposable resources and reserves, the amount of brines, curative and thermal waters output. The balance sheet comprises these deposits which are registered in MIDAS and Bank Wód Podziemnych Zaliczonych do Kopalin MINERALNE databases. The balance was worked out on the basis of users’ reports collected by Polish Geological Institute-National Research Institute up to the date of 31 March 2016. The data was divided not only according to Paczyński and Płochniewski hydrogegological units division (1996) (table 1) but also according to Polish districts division (table 2).

In 2015 reserves of groundwaters classified as minerals were calculated as 5,829.38 m³/h in 132 deposits. In the analyzed period the Minister of the Environment and appropriate marshals of voivodeships approved/accepted the following hydrogeological reports for reserves determination of thermal and curative waters:

• 1. ‘Annex No. 1 to hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of thermal waters intake Poddębice GT-2 from Lower Cretaceous deposits in Poddębice’, prepared due to change in exploitation discharge of the intake.
• 2. ‘Hydrogeological documentation for Marcin curative waters intake in Złockie, together with its liquidation project’, not ending with the determination of exploitation discharge of a new, later liquidated intake.
• 3. ‘Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters from Paleogene deposits of A-8 intake in Andrzejówka and M-11 and M-13 in Milik, together with an update of exploitation discharge determination of M-6 and M-9 intakes in Milik’, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination for a new intake within existing deposit.
• 4. ‘Annex to hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative water from Tertiary deposits of Z-2 and Z-3a intakes in Zubrzyk’, prepared due to change in exploitation discharge of the intake.
• 5. ‘Hydrogeological documentation of hydrogeological conditions due to injection of waters to the formation by Biały Dunajec PAN-1 borehole in Biały Dunajec’, prepared due to an update of injection parameters of absorbing borehole.
• 6. ‘Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of thermal waters Wołczyn VIIA intake in Wołczyn deposit in Wołczyn’, prepared due to an update of exploitation discharge determination of an intake.
• 7. “Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters of OB-1 intake in Opatkowice deposit in Kraków-Opatkowice, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination for a not-used intake and later annulled until the formal and legal issues are solved.
• 8. ‘Annex No. 2 to hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative water in Doborowoda G-1 intake in Dobrowoda’, prepared due to an update of previous documentation.
• 9. ‘Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters from Paleogene deposits of P-17 and P-18 intakes in Piwniczna-Zdrój’, prepared due to prepared due to exploitation discharge determination for a new intake within existing deposit.
• 10. ‘Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of theramal waters from Upper and Middle Jurassic deposits in Celejów’, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination for a new intake within existing deposit.
• 11. ‘Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters from P-IV intake together with an update of exploitation level of P-III intake in Powroźnik for PW Mineral Complex Ltd’, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination for a new intake and for an update of adjacent intake within the existing deposit.
• 12. ‘Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters from Z-8 intake in Zubrzyk’, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination for a new intake within existing deposit.
• 13. ‘Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters from Paleogene deposits in Grunwald-1 intake in Muszyna’, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination for a new intake within existing deposit.
• 14. ‘Hydrogeological documentation for Karolina curative waters intake in Muszyna’, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination for a new intake within existing deposit.
• 15. ‘Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of thermal and curative waters in Cudzynowice GT-1 from Upper Cretaceous deposits’, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination for a new intake within a new, not documented deposit.
• 16. ‘Hydrogeological documentation of a liquidated P-5 borehole in Muszyna (recognition borehole for curative water intake)’, presenting the results of executed works.

In 2015 in the Ministry of the Environment no hydrogeological documentation for disposable resources determination was approved.

The amount of brines, curative and thermal waters intake in 2015 was calculated on 12,189,071.19 m³. In comparison to the previous year it has increased of about 1,059,491.76 m³.

Notice: in case of springs and artesian flows, only amount of used waters is given, not total amount of outflowing water.

Table 1. The list of brines, curative and thermal waters in particular regions – thousand m³, m³/h, m³/year (as at 31 December 2015)

Table 2. The list of brines, curative and thermal waters in particular voivodeships – thousand m³, m³/h, m³/year (as at 31 December 2015)

Prepared by: L. Skrzypczyk, J. Sokołowski

2014

According to the Act of 9 June 2011 Geological and Mining Law (Official Journal 2015, No. 196, uniform text) brines, curative or thermal waters as opposed to fresh groundwater are considered as minerals on the basis of their specific physical and chemical properties.

Before the Act of 9 June 2011 Geological and Mining Law was implemented, the number of brines, curative and thermal waters was specified in the Ordinance of 14 February 2006 of the Council of Ministers about groundwater deposits classified as brines, curative and thermal waters and others curative minerals and also about classifying some deposits of common minerals to basic minerals (Official Journal No. 32, item 220, with subsequent amendments). Now after outlawing this ordinance only those brines, curative and thermal waters are minerals which meet the requirements of Geological and Mining Law, wherein according to the Act (article 203 paragraph 1) brines, curative and thermal waters considered as minerals in the light of the previous regulations keep their status.

Brine: groundwater with total solid dissolved minerals at least 35 g/dm³. According to the Ordinance of the Council of Ministers only the deposit in Łapczyca in Małopolskie voivodeship is classified as brine. This brine, occurring in Miocene sandstone formation, is used for therapeutic and bath salt production. Groundwater with similar composition (strongly mineralized waters of Cl-Na or Cl-Na-Ca type) are common in the area of Polish Lowlands. They occur in very deep formations, at depth of some thousand meters.

Curative water: According to the Ordinance of the Council of Ministers dated on 14 February 2006 curative water was considered as groundwater with no chemical and microbiological contamination, with natural diversity of physical and chemical properties, meeting at least one of the following requirements:

• total solid dissolved mineral content at least 1,000 mg/dm³,
• ferrous ion content – at least 10 mg/dm³ (ferruginous waters),
• fluoride ion content – at least 2 mg/dm³ (fluoride waters),
• iodine ion content – at least 1 mg/dm³ (iodide waters),
• bivalent sulphur ion content – at least 1 mg/dm³ (sulphide waters),
• meta-silicic acid content – at least 70 mg/dm³ (silicic waters),
• radon content – at least 74 Bq (radon waters),
• carbon dioxide content – at least 250 mg/dm³ (250-1,000 mg/dm³ carbonic acid waters, > 1,000 mg/dm³ carbonated water),

Most of curative waters occur in towns of southern Poland, in Sudetes and Carpathian region (together with Carpathian Depression). Over 70% of hearth resorts and towns with curative waters are located in this area. The rest of deposits occur in Western Pomerania and in Polish Lowlands. Curative waters are used mainly for balneotherapy (baths, inhalations, drinking treatment) and bottling purposes (i.e. Krynica-Zdrój, Muszyna, Piwniczna-Zdrój, Wysowa, Polanica-Zdrój, Busko-Zdrój) but also for salt, lye and mud production and pharmaceutic preparations (i.e. Ciechocinek, Dębowiec, Iwonicz-Zdrój, Rabka-Zdrój).

Potentially curative waters, i.e. mineralised (with total solid dissolved minerals over 1,000 mg/dm³) and specific groundwaters, not considered as curative, occur commonly in Poland at various depths, more often deeper than ordinary waters. The variety of chemical composition of these waters (fig. 1) is caused by diversity of geological and hydrogeological conditions. The following types are distinguished:

• strongly mineralised chloride waters, mainly of Cl-Na, often J type, thermal
• medium mineralised, bicarbonate waters, mainly of HCO₃-Ca-(Mg), sometimes with Fe and saturated with CO₂
• medium or low mineralised sulphate and sulphide waters,
• specific waters waters of various mineralization (Fe, F, J, S, H₂SiO₃, Rn, CO₂, thermal).

Fig. 1 Occurrence of particular chemical types of curative and mineralised waters

Thermal water: groundwater having the temperature of 20 °C at the outflow. Taking the purpose of exploitation into consideration, the waters for heating and recreation purposes are considered as thermal waters.

Thermal waters in Poland occur in the area of Polish Lowlands within the large reservoirs of regional importance, also in Carpathians and Sudetes where the deposits are mainly small basins (Podhale) or are limited to tectonic zones. (fig. 2).

Fig. 2 Occurrence of thermal waters in Poland

In the area of Polish Lowlands, thermal waters from Lower Cretaceous and Lower Jurassic formations are the most perspective for use. They occur in widespread hydrogeological basins. In Carpathians thermal waters occur in Cretaceous, Paleogene and Neogene formations and also in Triassic deposits of Podhale Trough, which is characterized by small area and strong tectonic influence. In the Carpathians Forehead, thermal waters occur in Cambrian, Devonian, Carboniferous, Jurassic, Cretaceous and Miocene formations. In Sudetes the most perspective formation is Carboniferous aquifer in the vicinity of Jelenia Góra. Strong tectonically involved Carboniferous magmatic and metamorphic rocks are her thermal water collector. Thermal waters are also in Lądek-Zdrój, Duszniki-Zdrój and Grabin in the vicinity of Niemodlin. Thermal waters are used for heating (Podhale, Mszczonów, Uniejów, Pyrzyce, Stargard Szczeciński), relaxation (Podhale, Uniejów, Mszczonów, Poznań) and balneologic purposes (Uniejów).

Waters from mine dewatering are not considered as brines or thermal waters.

The presented balance for the year 2014 includes the data about disposable resources and reserves, the amount of brines, curative and thermal waters output. The balance sheet comprises these deposits which are registered in MIDAS Bank Wód Podziemnych Zaliczonych do kopalin MINERALNE databases. The balance was worked out on the basis of users’ reports collected by Polish Geological Institute-National Research Institute up to the date of 31 March 2015. The data was divided not only according to Paczyński and Płochniewski hydrogegological units division (1996) (tab. 1) but also according to Polish districts division (tab. 2).

In 2014 reserves of groundwater classified as minerals were calculated as 5,344.98 m³/h in 129 deposits. In the analyzed period the Minister of the Environment and appropriate marshals of voivodeships approved/accepted the following hydrogeological reports for reserves determination of thermal and curative waters:

• “Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters intakes WK-1 from Paleogene deposits in Muszyna” prepared due to exploitation discharge determination of not used intake within the existing deposit.
• “Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of Lipa-Zdrój-1curative waters intake from Tertiary (Tortonian) deposits in Lipa”, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination for a new deposit with no previous record.
• “Annex No. 2 to hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters intakes IN-1, IN-2 and IN-3 I Muszyna”, prepared due to replacement intake IN-2bis preparation in a place of liquidated borehole, which has not been used for years.
• “Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters intake Gustaw from Jurrasic deposits in Kołobrzeg”, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination for a new intake within existing deposit.
• “Annex No. 1 to hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters intakes M-4, M-6, M-9 in Milik”, prepared due to update necessity of exploitation parameters of M-4 intake.
• “Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters intake K-1 from Paleogene deposits in Milik”, prepared due to update necessity of original reports.
• “Annex No. 1 to hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters intake Busko C-1 from Cretaceous deposits in Busko-Zdrój”, prepared due to update necessity of original reports.
• “Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters intake Dar Natury from Neogene and Upper Cretaceous deposits in Piestrzec”, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination for a new intake within existing deposit.
• “Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of thermal waters intake Bańska PGP-3 from Eocene and Triassic deposits in Bańska Niżna”, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination for a new intake within existing deposit of thermal waters.
• “Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of curative waters outflow W-VI-32 (Z-32 Chamber) located at level VI and W-VII-16 (Layer Chamber, previously Fornalska 2) located at level VII in Wieliczka Salt Mine”, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination of the outflows with no previous record.
• “Annex No. 1 to hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of thermal waters intake from Lower Jurrasic deposits in Skierniewice”, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination of GT-1 intake in Skierniewice and the conditions for groundwater injection into geological formation, where the exploitation discharge deposits were determined for GT-1 intake, previously considered as absorbent intake.
• “Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of thermal waters intake KT-1 in Karpniki in the vicinity of Jelenia Góra”, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination for a new intake within existing deposit of thermal waters.
• “Hydrogeological documentation for exploitation discharge determination of thermal waters intake ST-1 in Staniszów in the vicinity of Jelenia Góra”, prepared due to exploitation discharge determination for a new intake within existing deposit of thermal waters.

In 2014 in the Ministry of the Environment no hydrogeological documentation for disposable resources determination was approved.

The amount of brines, curative and thermal waters intake in 2014 was calculated on 11,129,579.43 m³/year. In comparison to the previous year it has increased by about 1,252,745.70 m³.

Notice: in case of springs and artesian flows, only amount of used waters is given, not total amount of outflowing water.

Table 1. The list of brines, curative and thermal waters in particular regions – thousand m³, m³/h (as at 31 December 2014)

Table 2. The list of brines, curative and thermal waters in particular voivodeships – thousand m³, m³/h (as at 31 December 2014)

Prepared by: L. Skrzypczyk, J. Sokołowski

2013

According to the Act of 9 June 2011 Geological and Mining Law (Official Journal 2011, No. 163, item 981, art. 5, with subsequent amendments) brines, curative or thermal waters as opposed to fresh groundwater are considered as minerals on the basis of their specific physical and chemical properties.

In previous years, the number of brines, curative and thermal waters was specified in the Ordinance of 14 February 2006 of the Council of Ministers about groundwater deposits classified as brines, curative and thermal waters and others curative minerals and also about classifying some deposits of common minerals to basic minerals (Official Journal No. 32, item 220, with subsequent amendments). Now after outlawing this ordinance only those brines, curative and thermal waters are minerals which meet the requirements of Geological and Mining Law, wherein according to the Act (article 203 paragraph 1) brines, curative and thermal waters considered as minerals in the light of the previous regulations keep their status.

Brine: groundwater with total solid dissolved minerals at least 35 g/dm³. According to the Ordinance of the Council of Ministers only the deposit in Łapczyca in Małopolskie voivodeship is classified as brine. This brine, occurring in Miocene sandstone formation, is used for therapeutic and bath salt production. Groundwater with similar composition (strongly mineralized waters of Cl-Na or Cl-Na-Ca type) are common in the area of Polish Lowlands. They occur in very deep formations, at depth of some thousand meters.

Curative water: According to the Ordinance of the Council of Ministers dated on 14 February 2006 curative water was considered as groundwater with no chemical and microbiological contamination, with natural diversity of physical and chemical properties, meeting at least one of the following requirements:

• total solid dissolved mineral content at least 1,000 mg/dm³,
• ferrous ion content – at least 10 mg/dm³ (ferruginous waters),
• fluoride ion content – at least 2 mg/dm³ (fluoride waters),
• iodine ion content – at least 1 mg/dm³ (iodide waters),
• bivalent sulphur ion content – at least 1 mg/dm³ (sulphide waters),
• meta-silicic acid content – at least 70 mg/dm³ (silicic waters),
• radon content – at least 74 Bq (radon waters),
• carbon dioxide content – at least 250 mg/dm³ (250-999 mg/dm³ carbonic acid waters, ≥ 1,000 mg/dm³ carbonated water),

Most of curative waters occur in health resorts and towns of southern Poland, in Sudetes and Carpathian region (together with Carpathian Depression). Over 70% of hearth resorts and towns with curative waters are located in this area. The rest of deposits occur in Western Pomerania and in Polish Lowlands. Curative waters are used mainly for balneologic (baths, inhalations, drinking treatment) and bottling purposes (i.e. Krynica-Zdrój, Muszyna, Piwniczna-Zdrój, Wysowa, Polanica-Zdrój, Busko-Zdrój) but also for salt, lye and mud production and pharmaceutic preparations (i.e. Ciechocinek, Dębowiec, Iwonicz-Zdrój, Rabka-Zdrój).

Mineralised and specific groundwater (with total solid dissolved minerals over 1,000 mg/dm³, Hydrogeological Dictionary, 2002), not considered as curative, occur commonly in Poland at various depths, more often deeper than ordinary waters. The variety of chemical composition of these waters (fig. 1) is caused by diversity of geological and hydrogeological conditions. The following types are distinguished:

• strongly mineralised chloride waters, mainly of Cl-Na, (J) type,
• bicarbonate waters, mainly of HCO₃-Ca-(Mg), (Fe) type
• specific waters waters of various mineralization: Fe, F, J, S, H₂SiO₃, Rn, CO₂ , thermal.

Fig. 1 Occurrence of particular chemical types of curative and mineralised waters (Paczyński, 2002; simplified)

Thermal water: groundwater in all geological units having the temperature of 20 °C at the outflow, excluding drainage waters from mining areas.

Thermal waters in Poland occur in the area of Polish Lowlands, in Carpathians and Sudetes (fig. 2).

Fig. 2 Occurrence of thermal waters in Poland (Płochniewski, 1994; simplified with additions)

In the area of Polish Lowlands, thermal waters from Lower Cretaceous and Lower Jurassic formations are the most perspective for use. They occur in widespread hydrogeological basins (covered structures). In Carpathians thermal waters occur in Cretaceous, Paleogene and Neogene formations and also in Triassic deposits of Podhale Trough, which is characterized by small area and strong tectonic influence (i.e. Bańska, Biały Dunajec, Białka Tatrzańska, Bukowina Tatrzańska). In the Carpathians Forehead, thermal waters occur in Cambrian, Devonian, Carboniferous, Jurassic, Cretaceous and Miocene formations. In Sudetes the most perspective formation is Carboniferous aquifer in the vicinity of Jelenia Góra (Cieplice Śląskie-Zdrój). Thermal waters are also in Lądek-Zdrój, Duszniki-Zdrój and Grabin in the vicinity of Niemodlin. Thermal waters are used for heating, relaxation and balneologic purposes.

Waters from mine dewatering are not considered as brines or thermal waters.

The presented balance for the year 2013 includes the data about disposable resources and reserves, the amount of brines, curative and thermal waters output. The balance sheet comprises these deposits which are registered in MIDAS Bank HYDRO MINERALNE databases. The balance was worked out on the basis of users’ reports collected by Polish Geological Institute-National Research Institute up to the date of 31 March 2014. The data was divided not only according to Paczyński and Płochniewski hydrogegological units division (1996) (table 1) but also according to Polish districts division (table 2).

In 2013 reserves of groundwater classified as minerals were calculated as 5,241.78 m³/h in 123 deposits. In the analyzed period the Minister of the Environment and appropriate marshals of voivodeships approved/accepted the following hydrogeological reports for reserves determination of thermal and curative waters:

• “Hydrogeological documentation for reserves determination of curative waters intakes GZ-1and GZ-2 from Jurassic and Cretaceous deposits, respectively in Gołdap” prepared due to reserves determination for two intakes within the curative water deposits with no previous record.
• “Hydrogeological documentation for reserves determination of curative waters intake P-4 from Paleogene deposits in Muszyna”, prepared due to the development of the intake with a new exploitation well P-4.
• “Hydrogeological documentation for reserves determination of curative waters intakes Wielka Pieniawa, Pieniawa Józefa 1 i 2 in Polanica-Zdrój”, prepared due to update necessity of original reports.
• “Hydrogeological documentation for reserves determination of thermal waters intake Trzęsacz GT-1 from Lower Jurassic deposits” prepared due to reserves determination for GT-1 intake within the thermal water deposits with no previous record.
• “Annex No. 1 to hydrogeological documentation of mineral groundwaters of Paleogene age – Rabka IG-1 intake – and Cretaceous – Paleogene intake – Poreba Wielka IG-1 due to new reserves determination of thermal waters in Poreba Wielka IG-1 in Poreba Wielka” prepared due to preparation for exploitation of the existing, not used hydrogeological borehole.
• “Annex No. 1 to hydrogeological documentation for reserves determination of thermal waters intake Szymoszkowa GT-1” in Zakopane”, prepared due to update of reserves determination of the existsing intake.
• “Hydrogeological documentation for reserves determination of curative waters intakes from Lower Cretaceous deposits in Świnoujście”, prepared due to update necessity of original reports.
• “Annex No. 1 to hydrogeological documentation for reserves determination of curative waters in the vicinity of Krynica Dolna, Muszyna, Powroźnik and Jastrzębik due to P-15 borehole of curative waters liquidation”, prepared due to liquidation of the boreholes, which has not been used for years.
• “Annex No. 3 to hydrogeological documentation of iodine-bromine brines from Tertiary deposits for Lapczyca mining area, prepared due to update necessity of original reports.

In 2013 the Ministry of the Environment one hydrogeological documentation for disposable resources determination was approved/accepted:

The amount of brines, curative and thermal waters intake in 2013 was calculated on 9,876,833.73 m³/year. In comparison to the previous year it has increased of about 742,803.74 m³.

Notice: in case of springs and artesian flows, only amount of used waters is given, not total amount of outflowing water.

Table 1. The list of brines, curative and thermal waters in particular regions – thousand m³, m³/h (as at 31 December 2013)

Table 2. The list of brines, curative and thermal waters in particular voivodeships – thousand m³, m³/h (as at 31 December 2013)

Prepared by: L. Skrzypczyk, J. Sokołowski

2012

According to the Act of 9 June 2011 Geological and Mining Law (Official Journal 2011, No. 163, item 981, art. 5) brines, curative or thermal waters as opposed to fresh groundwater are considered as minerals on the basis of their specific physical and chemical properties.

In previous years, the number of brines, curative and thermal waters was specified in the Ordinance of 14 February 2006 of the Council of Ministers about groundwater deposits classified as brines, curative and thermal waters and others curative minerals and also about classifying some deposits of common minerals to basic minerals (Official Journal No. 32, item 220, with subsequent amendments). Now after outlawing this ordinance only those brines, curative and thermal waters are minerals which meet the requirements of Geological and Mining Law, wherein according to the Act (article 203 paragraph 1) brines, curative and thermal waters considered as minerals in the light of the previous regulations keep their status.

Brine: groundwater with total solid dissolved minerals at least 35 g/dm³. According to the Ordinance of the Council of Ministers only the deposit in Łapczyca in Małopolskie voivodeship is classified as brine. This brine, occurring in Miocene sandstone formation, is used for therapeutic and bath salt production. Groundwater with similar composition (strongly mineralized waters of Cl-Na or Cl-Na-Ca type) are common in the area of Polish Lowlands. They occur in very deep formations, at depth of some thousand meters.

Curative water: According to the Ordinance of the Council of Ministers dated on 14 February 2006 curative water was considered as groundwater with no chemical and microbiological contamination, with natural diversity of physical and chemical properties, meeting at least one of the following requirements:

• total solid dissolved mineral content at least 1,000 mg/dm³,
• ferrous ion content – at least 10 mg/dm³ (ferruginous waters),
• fluoride ion content – at least 2 mg/dm³ (fluoride waters),
• iodine ion content – at least 1 mg/dm³ (iodide waters),
• bivalent sulphur ion content – at least 1 mg/dm³ (sulphide waters),
• meta-silicic acid content – at least 70 mg/dm³ (silicic waters),
• radon content – at least 74 Bq (radon waters),
• carbon dioxide content – at least 250 mg/dm³ (250-999 mg/dm³ carbonic acid waters, ≥ 1,000 mg/dm³ carbonated water),

Most of curative waters occur in health resorts and towns of southern Poland, in Sudetes and Carpathian region (together with Carpathian Depression). Over 70% of hearth resorts and towns with curative waters are located in this area. The rest of deposits occur in Western Pomerania and in Polish Lowlands. Curative waters are used mainly for balneologic (baths, inhalations, drinking treatment) and bottling purposes (i.e. Krynica-Zdrój, Muszyna, Piwniczna-Zdrój, Wysowa, Polanica-Zdrój, Busko-Zdrój) but also for salt, lye and mud production and pharmaceutic preparations (i.e. Ciechocinek, Dębowiec, Iwonicz-Zdrój, Rabka-Zdrój).

Mineralised and specific groundwater (with total solid dissolved minerals over 1,000 mg/dm³, Hydrogeological Dictionary, 2002), not considered as curative, occur commonly in Poland at various depths, more often deeper than ordinary waters. The variety of chemical composition of these waters (fig. 1) is caused by diversity of geological and hydrogeological conditions. The following types are distinguished:

• strongly mineralised chloride waters, mainly of Cl-Na, (J) type,
• bicarbonate waters, mainly of HCO₃-Ca-(Mg), (Fe) type
• specific waters waters of various mineralization: Fe, F, J, S, H₂SiO₃, Rn, CO₂ , thermal.

Fig. 1 Occurrence of particular chemical types of curative and mineralised waters (Paczyński, 2002; simplified)

Thermal water: groundwater in all geological units having the temperature of 20 °C at the outflow, excluding drainage waters from mining areas.

Thermal waters in Poland occur in the area of Polish Lowlands, in Carpathians and Sudetes (fig. 2).

Fig. 2 Occurrence of thermal waters in Poland (Płochniewski, 1994; simplified with additions)

In the area of Polish Lowlands, thermal waters from Lower Cretaceous and Lower Jurassic formations are the most perspective for use. They occur in widespread hydrogeological basins (covered structures). In Carpathians thermal waters occur in Cretaceous, Paleogene and Neogene formations and also in Triassic deposits of Podhale Trough, which is characterized by small area and strong tectonic influence (i.e. Bańska, Biały Dunajec, Białka Tatrzańska, Bukowina Tatrzańska). In the Carpathians Forehead, thermal waters occur in Cambrian, Devonian, Carboniferous, Jurassic, Cretaceous and Miocene formations. In Sudetes the most perspective formation is Carboniferous aquifer in the vicinity of Jelenia Góra (Cieplice Śląskie-Zdrój). Thermal waters are also in Lądek-Zdrój, Duszniki-Zdrój and Grabin in the vicinity of Niemodlin. Thermal waters are used for heating, relaxation and balneologic purposes.

Waters from mine dewatering are not considered as brines or thermal waters.

The presented balance for the year 2012 includes the data about disposable resources and reserves, the amount of brines, curative and thermal waters output. The balance sheet comprises these deposits which are registered in MIDAS Bank HYDRO MINERALNE databases. The balance was worked out on the basis of users’ reports collected by Polish Geological Institute-National Research Institute up to the date of 31 March 2013. The data was divided not only according to Paczyński and Płochniewski hydrogegological units division (1996) (table 1) but also according to Polish districts division (table 2).

In 2012 reserves of groundwater classified as minerals were calculated as 5,346.57 m³/h in 121 deposits. In the analyzed period the Minister of the Environment and appropriate marshals of voivodeships approved/accepted the following hydrogeological reports for reserves determination of thermal and curative waters:

• “Annex No. 1 to hydrogeological documentation for reserves determination of thermal waters in Bukowina Tatrzańska PIG/PNIG-1 intake” prepared due to discrepancies in extracting parameters in comparison to original report.
• “Annex No. 1 to hydrogeological documentation for reserves determination of thermal waters in Białka Tatrzańska GT-1 intake” prepared due to discrepancies in extracting parameters in comparison to original report.
• “Annex No. 1 to hydrogeological documentation for reserves determination of curative waters in Dobrowoda G-1 intake” prepared due to changes in dynamic groundwater level ordinate and a type of mineralization of curative water
• “Annex No. 2 to hydrogeological documentation for curative waters resources for Róża III and Róża IV intakes in Horyniec-Zdrój” prepared due to the update necessity of original reports.
• “Hydrogeological documentation for reserves determination of curative waters intakes No. 11, 14, 16, 19a from Jurassic deposits in Ciechocinek” prepared due to the update necessity of reserves determination for the existing intakes.
• “Annex No. 1 to hydrogeological documentation for reserves determination of curative waters in Las Winiarski I intake from upper Cretaceous deposits in Las Winiarski” prepared due to intake development by the new intake LW-2.
• “Annex No. 1 to hydrogeological documentation for reserves determination of Nałęczów curative waters (ferruginous) taken from Barbara well and Żelaziste-Celiński spring” prepared due to the update necessity of original reports.
• “Hydrogeological documentation for reserves determination of curative waters intake from Tertiary deposits of Piwniczanka ZBNWM Sp. Pracy in Piwniczna-Zdrój” prepared due to the update necessity of determined reserves of P-1, P-2, P-5, P-6, P-7, P-8, P-9, P-11 and P-14 intakes.
• “Hydrogeological documentation for liquidation Jakub intake of curative waters in Piwniczna-Zdrój” prepared due to liquidation of not in use intake of curative waters.
• “Hydrogeological documentation for reserves determination of curative waters intake RZ-7 from Tertiary deposits (Eocene) in Rymanów-Zdrój” prepared due to reserves determination for a new intake within the previously recorded intake.
• “Hydrogeological documentation for reserves determination of thermal waters intake Tarnowo Podgórne GT-1 from Lower Jurassic deposits” prepared due to reserves determination for a GT-1 intake with no previous record of thermal deposits.
• “Hydrogeological documentation for reserves determination of curative waters intakes W-1 and W-2 as well as Kamila and Marta springs in Wapienne Health Resort” prepared due to the update necessity of original reports.
• “Hydrogeological documentation for reserves determination of curative waters intake No. 3 – spring of Jadwiga Queen from Upper Jurassic deposits in Inowrocław” prepared due to reserves determination for two intakes within the curative water deposits with no previous record.
• “Hydrogeological documentation for reserves determination of curative waters IL-1 brine intake from Upper Jurassic deposits in Inowrocław” prepared due to reserves determination for two intakes within the curative water deposits with no previous record.
• “Hydrogeological documentation for reserves determination of thermal waters in Kleszczów with the determination of injection conditions” prepared due to reserves determination for GT-1 intake within the thermal water deposits with no previous record and for injection conditions determination of waters used by GT-2 absorbing well.
• “Hydrogeological documentation for reserves determination of thermal waters in Lidzbark Warmiński from Lower Jurassic deposits” prepared due to reserves determination for GT-1 intake within the thermal water deposits with no previous record.
• “Annex to hydrogeological documentation for thermal water intake from Lower Jurassic deposits in Swarzędz IGH-1 intake in Poznań” prepared due to adjustment necessity of not used observation hydrogeological borehole to exploitation.
• “Hydrogeological documentation for reserves determination of thermal waters Toruń with the determination of injection conditions” prepared due to reserves determination for TG-1 intake within the thermal water deposits with no previous record and for injection conditions determination of waters used by TG-2 absorbing well.
• “Hydrogeological documentation for reserves determination of curative waters intakes GZ-1and GZ-2 from Jurassic and Cretaceous deposits, respectively in Gołdap” prepared due to reserves determination for two intakes within the curative water deposits with no previous record.
• “Annex to hydrogeological documentation for reserves determination of curative waters intakes IN-1, IN-2, IN-3 in Muszyna” prepared due to new IN-1bis borehole drilling in a place of liquidation of IN-1 intake.

In 2012 the Ministry of the Environment one hydrogeological documentation for disposable resources determination was approved/accepted:

• “Annex to hydrogeological documentation for reserves determination of thermal waters in Podhale Basin including transboundary groundwater flow” prepared to verify reserves determination of thermal waters in this region.

The amount of brines, curative and thermal waters intake in 2012 was calculated on 9,134,029.99 m³/year. In comparison to the previous year it has decreased of about 1,071,192.73 m³.

Notice: in case of springs and artesian flows, only amount of used waters is given, not total amount of outflowing water.

Table 1. The list of brines, curative and thermal waters in particular regions – thousand m³, m³/h (as at 31 December 2012)

Table 2. The list of brines, curative and thermal waters in particular voivodeships – thousand m³, m³/h (as at 31 December 2012)

Prepared by: L. Skrzypczyk, J. Sokołowski

2011

The information given in the following chapter about brines, curative and thermal waters refers to the obligatory regulations in 2011. Since 1 January 2012 the new Act of 9 June 2011 Geological and Mining Law (Official Journal 2011, No. 163, item 981) has been legislated. According to this Act, groundwater are considered as brines, curative or thermal waters only on the basis of their specific physical and chemical properties. There is no authorization for the Council of Ministers to specify in the separate ordinance, the particular (named) deposits of groundwater classified as brines, curative and thermal waters.

In the terms of the Act of 4 February 1994 Geological and Mining Law (Official Journal 2005, No. 228, item 1947, with subsequent amendments), according to article 5 section 4, brines curative and thermal waters were minerals. This was due to their special advantages: their mineralization, physical and chemical properties, quantity and conditions of occurrence. In article 5, section 5 and 6, the Council of Ministers were authorized to specify by way of an ordinance the groundwater deposits classified as brines, curative and thermal waters.

According to the Ordinance of 14 February 2006 of the Council of Ministers about groundwater deposits classified as brines, curative and thermal waters and others curative minerals and also about classifying some deposits of common minerals to basic minerals (Official Journal No. 32, item 220, with subsequent amendments) only one deposit is classified as brine and 72 deposits are classified as curative waters. All waters of any geological unit, having the temperature of 20 °C at the outflow, are classified as thermal waters, excluding drainage waters from mining areas.

Brine: groundwater with total solid dissolved minerals at least 35 g/dm³. According to the Ordinance of the Council of Ministers only the deposit in Łapczyca in Małopolskie voivodeship is classified as brine. This brine, occurring in Miocene sandstone formation, is used for therapeutic and bath salt production. Groundwater with similar composition (strongly mineralized waters of Cl-Na or Cl-Na-Ca type) are common in the area of Polish Lowlands. They occur in very deep formations, at depth of some thousand meters.

Curative water. According to the Ordinance of the Council of Ministers dated on 14 February 2006 r. curative water was considered as groundwater with no chemical and microbiological contamination, with natural diversity of physical and chemical properties, meeting at least one of the following requirements:

• total solid dissolved mineral content at least 1,000 mg/dm³,
• ferrous ion content – at least 10 mg/dm³ (ferruginous waters),
• fluoride ion content – at least 2 mg/dm³ (fluoride waters),
• iodine ion content – at least 1 mg/dm³ (iodide waters),
• bivalent sulphur ion content – at least 1 mg/dm³ (sulphide waters),
• meta-silicic acid content – at least 70 mg/dm³ (silicic waters),
• radon content – at least 74 Bq (radon waters),
• carbon dioxide content – at least 250 mg/dm³ (250-999 mg/dm³ carbonic acid waters, ≥ 1,000 mg/dm³ carbonated water),

and occurring as deposits in the area of 72 health resorts and towns, mentioned in the Ordinance of the Council of Ministers. Curative waters were also all carbonic acid waters and carbonated waters of other deposits not mentioned in the above mentioned ordinance.

Most of curative waters occur in health resorts and towns of southern Poland, in Sudetes and Carpathian region (together with Carpathian Depression). Over 70 % of hearth resorts and towns with curative waters are located in this area. The rest of deposits occur in Western Pomerania and in Polish Lowlands. Curative waters are used mainly for balneologic and bottling purposes (i.e. Krynica-Zdrój, Muszyna, Piwniczna-Zdrój, Wysowa, Polanica-Zdrój, Busko-Zdrój) but also for salt, lye and mud production (i.e. Ciechocinek, Dębowiec, Iwonicz-Zdrój).

Mineralised and specific groundwater (with total solid dissolved minerals over 1,000 mg/dm³, Hydrogeological Dictionary, 2002), not considered as curative, occur commonly in Poland at various depths, more often deeper than ordinary waters. The variety of chemical composition of these waters (fig. 1) is caused by diversity of geological and hydrogeological conditions. The following types are distinguished:

• strongly mineralised chloride waters, mainly of Cl-Na, (J) type,
• bicarbonate waters, mainly of HCO₃-Ca-(Mg), (Fe) type
• specific waters waters of various mineralization: Fe, F, J, S, H₂SiO₃, Rn, CO₂ , thermal.

Fig. 1 Occurrence of particular chemical types of curative and mineralised waters (Paczyński, 2002; simplified)

Thermal water: groundwater in all geological units having the temperature of 20 °C at the outflow, excluding drainage waters from mining areas.

Thermal waters in Poland occur in the area of Polish Lowlands, in Carpathians and Sudetes (fig. 2).

Fig. 2 Occurrence of thermal waters in Poland (Płochniewski, 1994; simplified with additions)

In the area of Polish Lowlands, thermal waters from Lower Cretaceous and Lower Jurrasic formations are the most perspective for use. They occur in widespread hydrogeological basins (covered structures). In Carpathians thermal waters occur in Cretaceous, Paleogene and Neogene formations and also in Triassic deposits of Podhale Trough, which is characterized by small area and strong tectonic influence (i.e. Bańska, Biały Dunajec, Białka Tatrzańska, Bukowina Tatrzańska). In the Carpathians Forehead, thermal waters occur in Cambrian, Devonian, Carboniferous, Jurassic, Cretaceous and Miocene formations. In Sudetes the most perspective formation is Carboniferous aquifer in the vicinity of Jelenia Góra (Cieplice Śląskie-Zdrój). Thermal waters are also in Lądek-Zdrój, Duszniki-Zdrój and Grabin in the vicinity of Niemodlin. Thermal waters are used for heating, relaxation and balneologic purposes.

The presented balance for the year 2011 includes the data about disposable resources and reserves, the amount of brines, curative and thermal waters output. The balance sheet comprises these deposits which are registered in MIDAS Bank HYDRO MINERALNE databases. The balance was worked out on the basis of users’ reports collected by Polish Geological Institute-National Research Institute up to the date of 31 March 2012. The data was divided not only according to Paczyński and Płochniewski hydrogegological units division (1996) (table 1) but also according to Polish districts division (table 2).

In 2011 reserves of groundwater classified as minerals were calculated as 4,225.31 m³/h in 89 deposits. The reserves of thermal waters were 2,545.70 m³/h, curative waters – 1,675.91 m³/h and brines 3.70 m³/h. In the analyzed period the Minister of the Environment approved the following hydrogeological reports for reserves determination of thermal and curative waters:

• “Hydrogeological documentation for reserves determination for curative waters from Paleogene deposits in substitute P-1 A intake in Muszyna” (in Polish);
  The documentation determines the reserves of a new P-1 A curative waters intake in Muszyna as a substitute intake for liquidated P-1 one.
• “Hydrogeological documentation for reserves determination for curative waters from Paleogene deposits in P-16 intake in Piwniczna-Zdrój” (in Polish);
  The documentation determines the reserves of a new P-16 curative waters intake in Piwniczna-Zdrój.
• 3. ‘Annex No. 1 to hydrogeological documentation for reserves determination of Polańczyk IG-2 curative waters intake in Polańczyk ” (in Polish);
  Annex to documentation determines the reserves for a new groundwater intake of curative waters in Polańczyk.
• ”Hydrogeological documentation for reserves determination for No. 4 curative water intake in Wojkowa (Stupne Stream Valley)” (in Polish);
  The documentation determines the reserves for a new curative waters intake in Wojkowa, Muszyna commune.
• ”Hydrogeological documentation for reserves determination for Poddębice GT-2 thermal waters intake” (in Polish);
  The documentation determines the reserves for a new thermal waters intake in Poddębice (not documented before)

In 2011 the Ministry of the Environment approved one hydrogeological documentation for disposable resources determination:

• ”Hydrogeological documentation for disposable resources determination of curative waters and potentially curative ones of Kłodzko Region and the area of Jelenia Góra.’ (in Polish).
  This documentation determines disposable and renewable resources of curative waters and potentially curative ones in Sudetes area, according to data from September 2008.

The amount of brines, curative and thermal waters intake in 2011 was calculated on 8,062,837.26 m³/year. In comparison to the previous year it has decreased of about 81,776.51 m³.

Notice: in case of springs and artesian flows, only amount of used waters is given, not total amount of outflowing water (this refers to: Swoszowice, Krzeszowice, Wapienne deposits).

Table 1. The list of brines, curative and thermal waters in particular regions – thousand m³, m³/h (as at 31 December 2011)

Table 2. The list of brines, curative and thermal waters in particular voivodeships – thousand m³, m³/h (as at 31 December 2011)

Prepared by: L. Skrzypczyk, J. Sokołowski