GEPN: Exploring the Szczęśliwice Clay - report

On Sunday, 7 October, the Sub-Warsaw Diving Group carried out underwater reconnaissance in the clay pit located in the Szczęśliwice Park in Warsaw. The aim of the dive was, among other things, to investigate the level of pollution in the basin. More than 20 people showed up at the site, and as many as 15 volunteers were diving. They were of different ages and with different diving experience.

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The maximum logged depth is 9.4 metres. The bathymetric map gives 11 metres, but despite many efforts we did not manage to find this depth. To a depth of 2-3 metres there is good visibility and water clarity of about 1-2 metres, below that there is a layer of suspended solids which effectively hinders any visibility. Below 4-5 metres visibility improves to 1 metre, but darkness reigns.

During the dive we were able to locate a large concrete circle, tyres, several metal bin inlets, lots of logs and boards, lots of accessories

fishing tackle, as well as countless bottles and other rubbish. There are also a few golf balls and a set of documents with ID, driving licence and ATM card. In spite of the considerable pollution, the reservoir is inhabited by some flora and fauna. Carp, perch, pike, crayfish and whole fields of characteristic balls made up of freshwater blue-green algae, among others, have been observed.

In view of this result of our reconnaissance we will propose to carry out a clean-up on the occasion of Earth Day in May 2013. Thank you all for your participation. As always, the atmosphere was great, the mood was good and even the intense smell of hydrogen sulphide did not spoil it.

We would like to thank the Volunteer Fire Brigade Water Rescue Service from Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki for their support and joint diving and security.

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Photography Jan Michniewski. Underwater photography Kamil Jaczyński.