[The effect of water pipelines on the quality of drinking water].

The purpose of the study was to assess the effects of various pipelines on drinking water quality. For the study carried out in Warsaw buildings were chosen in which the installations were made of polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, copper and steel. Water samples were taken from the sites of water leading to the buildings and from the highest floors, if possible.

[Effect of water contamination with surface active substances and plant protecting agents on aquatic organisms].

The purpose of the study was establishing in what degree the presence of surface-active substances affects the influence of herbicides present in surface waters on aquatic organisms. The study was carried out under laboratory conditions using as herbicides promethrin (triazine group) and dichlorophenoxy-acetate sodium (2,4 D), and detergents - sodium alkylsuphonate ABS and non-ionic detergent Rokafenol N8P7. The effect of these substances was studied on the test organisms from own cultures - Daphnia magna Straus, larvae of insects Chironomus plumosus L, and young fish Lebistes reticulatus.

[Occurrence of aquatic organisms in water pipes and the resulting problems with drinking water disinfection].

The present text is the first part of a paper aimed at specification of the requirements ensuring effective disinfection of drinking water. The discussed health hazards result not only from the presence of pathogenic microorganisms in water, but also from the occurrence of micro- and macroscopic plant and animal organisms. It was shown that while the traditional method for water treatment and disinfection reduces the number of these organisms, it fails to eliminate them completely, particularly in the case of tap water intake from shore intakes of surface waters.