Impacts Of Urbanisation And Protection Of Water Resources In The Vilnius District,Lithuania

Vilnius municipality, Lithuanian Republic, is revising the general plan of city development. Different environmental scenarios of the city's growth possibilities have been evaluated. One of the most serious problems limiting the city's growth is water-resources protection. Increasing eutrophication of rivers and lakes is the result of pollution. Untreated sewage, recreation and agriculture are the most important sources of contamination. Therefore, certain limitations on the expansion of the city in the zones of surface-water protection are planned. The necessity of groundwater protection is further limiting the city's growth. The shallow water-table aquifer is vulnerable pollution almost everywhere, so it needs be highly protected where it is utilised for water supply or where it is replenishing deeper exploited aquifers. Eighteen to nineteen groundwater intakes are operated within the limits of the city and its suburbs. The principal artesian aquifer in the central and southwestern parts of the town is fairly vulnerable to pollution. Two groups of territories for controlling city growth are identified, on the basis of surface-water importance for recreation and groundwater for water supply. A method similar to GIS technologies was applied for this purpose.