On February 17, 2025, the 1st Meeting of the Polish Bathing Water Group, established as part of the UrbanBlueHealth project, took place online. The meeting was attended by 15 participants from 11 institutions.
The goal of the 1st Meeting of the Polish Bathing Water Group was to introduce the aim of UrbanBlueHealth project and discuss the pollution of natural bathing water related to the sources of contaminants, as well as available methods to improve bathing water quality as a base to select best solution for testing under Pilot action.
Participants and Key Speeches
The meeting was opened by Dr. hab. Anna Kozajda, Head of Biological Safety Unit (Department of Chemical Safety), and Urszula Matejas, Associate director of the Municipal Sports and Recreation Centre in Lodz.
Members of the Polish Bathing Water Group, representing the scientific community, participated in a discussion that covered, the presented SWOT analysis, emerging issues at bathing areas in Poland, and the ongoing water quality monitoring at these sites.
List of Meeting Participants:
Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine
- Dr. hab. Anna Kozajda, PhD of medical sciences, habilitation in health sciences,
- Emilia Miśkiewicz, MSc Microbiology.
Municipal Sports and Recreation Center
- Iwona Safianowska, Director,
- Urszula Matejas, Associate director,
- Tomasz Królikowski, Head of Natural Bathing Sites in MOSiR in Lodz.
Other institution represented in Polish Bathing Water Group:
- University of Lodz, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Ecohydrology and Applied Ecology UNESCO;
- National Institute of Public Health – National Research Institute, Department of Environmental Health Safety;
- Chief Sanitary Inspectorate, Department of Human Health Safety in the Environment;
- Voivodship State Sanitary Inspectorate (WSSE) in Lodz, Environmental Hygiene Supervision Department;
- District Sate Sanitary Inspectorate (PSSE) in Lodz, Section of Environmental Hygiene Supervision;
- Lodz University of Technology, Department of Environmental Biotechnology;
- Voivodship Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Lodz;
- Marshal’s Office in Lodz, the Climate and Environment Department;
- City of Łódź Office, Department of Health, Sports and Social Affairs, Sports Department..
Progress:
- Inaugural Kick-off Meeting (KoM)
- Project and BWG objectives presented by NIOM (PP3)
Key Findings:
- Highlighted findings from the SWOT analysis on managing natural urban bathing sites related to the water quality improvement.