Dead fish with burned gills in the Vistula River. Malopolska Voivode explains what happened

The largest number of dead animals was found in the Proszowice district, on the banks of the river between the bridge in Nowe Brzesko and the monastery in the town of Hebdów. The fish were said to have burned gills. – Initial findings indicate that the Vistula River was probably polluted with sewage, mainly of a domestic nature, which caused a deterioration in water quality, which in turn resulted in fish kills – said the governor of Małopolska at a press briefing. The pollutants escaped into the Vistula through a ditch from the sewage treatment plant in Niepołomice. This outlet discharges sewage into the ditch, which is grey-brown in colour and has a strong odour similar to raw domestic or municipal sewage. As reported, the sewage discharge “was intensive”. According to information provided at the press briefing, there is currently no contamination of the water.

The provincial services are investigating the matter, further water collections for testing are planned. The Niepołomice sewage treatment plant will be inspected. Last year's inspection did not reveal any irregularities there. If violations are confirmed, possible action is to apply for a restriction or withdrawal of the permit for operation and a fine imposed by the Provincial Inspectorate for Environmental Protection (WIOŚ) on the perpetrator of the offense. Probably, the low river levels and high temperature, reducing water oxygenation, also had an impact on the death of fish. – Currently, we do not observe any disturbing phenomena in the discharge area in Niepołomice – emphasized the governor, adding that there should be no more fish kills in connection with the recent rainfall and rainfall forecasts for the coming days.

The Provincial Inspectorate for Environmental Protection received the first reports of a larger number of dead animals before 10 p.m. Earlier, in the afternoon, the office received information about individual dead fish at the height of the Igołomia-Wawrzeńczyce commune bordering Krakow. The owners of individual sections of the river, mainly anglers' associations, are obliged to catch and dispose of the fish. The services of the governor are offering their help in this. Due to the multiple exceedances of salt levels in the Vistula, the Provincial Inspectorate for Environmental Protection asked the mines in Silesia to refrain from emptying the reservoirs until it rains. Water discharges from the Czaniecki Reservoir and the Przewóz water stage were also launched – in order to improve the water level in the Vistula.