Potential threat to Polish lakes and reservoirs from contamination by objects of environmental flood risk

Abstract There is a potential threat to lakes and water reservoirs from contamination released due to the flooding of objects that can pose an environmental risk (cemeteries, sewage treatment plants, sewage pumping stations, landfills and industrial plants) located in areas prone to inundation. The analysis covered large lakes and reservoirs (those with the area of over 50 ha), identified as bodies of surface water located in areas potentially affected by flooding of high (10%), medium (1%) and low (0.2%) probability of occurrence. These areas are presented on flood hazard maps and flood risk maps. The results of analyses revealed that the scale of potential threat to Polish lakes, defined as bodies of surface water, with contamination from objects of environmental flood risk is marginal, however, in the case of reservoirs – significant.