INFLUENCE OF THE ROAD TRAFFIC ON QUALITY OF THE WATER OF SILNICA RIVER

Silnica River is a small river cutting through the city of Kielce from the North to the South-West. It has its source in Maslowskie Range at a height of 360 m a.s.l. and it flows into Bobrza River. It is ranked among mountain rivers at a 6.4 parts per thousand gradient. Its river-bed has belonged to Kielecki Protected Landscape Area since 2006. Next to Szydlowek estate the artificial water body was build - Kielecki Bay. Beneath Kielecki Bay, Silnica River flows in regulated river-bed. Because of no separated storm water drainage, the rainwater washes away pollutants among others from industrial plants, houses, pavements, and streets into Silnica River. The aim of this study is to present results of the research on influence of the road traffic on physiochemical properties of the water of Silnica River. Points of the heaviest traffic volume in Kielce located at the river were analysed. The research program included analysis of pH and heavy metals: Pb, Cd and Ni. Atmospheric conditions were observed at the same time. The obtained results showed that depending on analysed point the pollution of the Silnica River water reached different levels. This is a result not only of external factors such as praximity of roads and the road traffic volume but also the processes occurring in water environment.