For several centuries, Bolesławiec’s water has been renowned for its excellent quality. Princes and kings admired it. In 1538, the chronicle of Bolesławiec mentions Emperor Frederick I, who scooped water from the spring with his hand and stated that it had a refreshing effect.
Water drawn from the spring was believed to have miraculous properties, which led to numerous pilgrimages from Saxony and Silesia. The spring supplied the town with water, which was distributed through a water-supply system. The sewage system connected with it formed the basis of a system for irrigating gardens and fields (the second in Europe after Gouda in the Netherlands).
The history of Bolesławiec’s sewage system is commemorated by a memorial stone with a plaque and engraved dates. It stands in a square on Bankowa Street, next to Primary School No. 2. The monument was thoroughly renovated by PWiK, which cares about the tradition and quality of Bolesławiec’s water.
The PWiK laboratory in Bolesławiec continuously tests the quality of the water supplied to Bolesławiec residents. The tests are carried out by qualified staff, and the quality system is approved by the State Sanitary Inspectorate. The values of the microbiological and physicochemical parameters of water from the intakes serving the town and municipality of Bolesławiec can be found on the PWiK website.
Spring Water for Pennies
Residents of the town and municipality of Bolesławiec do not need to buy spring water in a shop; all they need to do is turn on the tap. Tap water does not need to be boiled before drinking because it meets all European standards, while boiling causes valuable components to precipitate.
To be safe for health, water must have suitable chemical and bacteriological purity, while mineral waters must have appropriate physiologically significant properties that have a beneficial effect on human health. There are around 300 types of bottled water on the market, most of them low-mineral spring waters. This is precisely the type of water we obtain from our deep wells; its properties and mineral composition meet the criteria for spring water.
One 1.5-litre bottle of spring water costs approximately PLN 1.70. One cubic metre (1,000 litres) of tap water equals 667 bottles of water for which we pay approximately PLN 1,000 in shops. Meanwhile, a cubic metre of mains water costs PLN 3.10, delivered to the home—just turn on the tap.
Hard Water—Healthy Water
Consumers generally consider water hardness a negative phenomenon because it causes limescale to form in kettles and other heating appliances and also requires increased use of detergents in washing machines. Limescale is calcium and magnesium carbonate precipitated during boiling. Calcium and magnesium compounds, which affect water hardness, have a beneficial effect on human health.
The results of studies conducted for many years on various continents prove that soft water (water with low hardness), above all lacking calcium and magnesium, is good for washing machines but not for the human body. People who drink hard water, such as Georgians, have healthier hearts and live longer than Finns, who drink soft glacial water.
Drinking water should therefore contain primarily magnesium and calcium, which determine its hardness but are extremely important for the human body. Deficiencies of these elements can be supplemented by consuming water rich in these substances.
The hardness of water from Bolesławiec’s intakes ranges from 100 to 300 mg/litre as calcium carbonate and falls within a safe range beneficial to health.
Iron in Healthy Water
When water comes from deep wells, as Bolesławiec’s water does, it often has an elevated iron content. This is a natural phenomenon in deep groundwater and is related to the type of underlying ground in which it occurs. Iron and manganese are effectively reduced during water treatment.
Periodic so-called iron staining of the water, manifested by a yellow colour, does not indicate deterioration in the quality of water from the intake. It is associated with flushing steel pipes or an excessively sudden increase in pressure, particularly in old installations. Steel pipes become overgrown during years of use, forming deposits consisting of a biological film and iron compounds. Periodic flushing, which washes compounds out of the pipes, causes temporary inconvenience for the user. The flushed impurities must flow out through the taps.
The long-term benefits, however, are better water quality and proper pressure in the pipes. That is why maintaining the proper condition of installations is so important from the point of view of water quality.
PWiK Ensures the Quality of the Water Supplied
PWiK makes every effort to ensure that this good-quality water reaches homes and flats in the best possible condition. It maintains the network in good condition by carrying out inspections, periodic flushing, repairs and replacements of old, worn-out sections.
Whenever a failure is repaired, the network is flushed, and a temporary deterioration in water quality in the network may then occur. Such situations are rare; it is also worth flushing one’s own installation at such times by letting some water run.
It should also be remembered that PWiK is responsible for the network and connections up to the main water meter (in the case of a housing cooperative, these are the water meters in the pressure-boosting stations). The owners and administrators are responsible for the remaining part of the installation, which has a significant impact on water quality.
Water Is Life
Life developed in water and remains dependent on it. Water is the main component of the body, accounting for 65–70% of an adult’s body mass. It is a solvent and carrier of nutrients, regulates blood pressure and body temperature, facilitates the removal of harmful metabolic products and strengthens natural immune processes.
As an ideal solvent, water enables all life processes occurring in the human body to proceed properly. For these reasons, both the quantity and quality of water are very important. An adult needs an average of 2–2.5 litres of water a day, as this amount is excreted through the skin, lungs, kidneys and digestive tract.
We obtain a large part of the water our bodies need from food, but we must also supply it by drinking various beverages. Ideally, this should be in the form of clean water with a well-balanced mineral content.
The custom has developed of buying such water, sold as mineral or spring water under various brand names and usually heavily advertised. This is a good habit that is important in our diet and beneficial to health, provided that we take an interest in the chemical composition of the water we buy.
(information: PWiK/ii)