Illegalstorage, transportation and use of animal fertilisers (mainly slurry)can contaminate surface water in regions of high recreational value. Forexample, slurry produced by farms located near the Gołdapia HealthResort caused fish die-off in the nearby lakes in 2006.
Odoursfrom large-scale livestock production are equally troublesome. Manyfarms operate in buildings erected directly next to residential areas(or even in the village centre, as is the case with farms which occupythe buildings of the former State Agricultural Enterprises, PGR). TheRegulation of the Minister of Agriculture and Food Economics of 7October 1997 on the technical and localization requirements foragricultural buildings (Dz. U. 1997.132. 877) (15-30 m) explicitlydetermines the minimum distances between liquid fertiliser tanks, manurestorage slabs, fermentation chambers and biogas containers and theresidential buildings (15-30 m); however, these regulations do not applyto odour emissions prevention.
Ruralareas where agricultural activities are highly diversified and targetedat the development of agrotourism are worst affected. The problem alsoexists in the coastal region with seaside resorts (especially theVistula Lagoon and the Szczecin Lagoon classified as Hot Spots by HELCOMdue to high water eutrophication), significantly limiting therecreation qualities of the Baltic Sea.The sanitary quality of bathingwater is monitored by the Regional Sanitary Inspectorates, which closed5, 2 and 6 bathing sites, respectively, between 2007 and 2009, forreasons of microbiological contamination.