The testing of a model performance is important and is also a challenging part of scientific work. In this paper, the results of the physically-based EROSION-3D (Jürgen Schmidt, Berlin, Germany) model were compared with trapped sediments in a small reservoir. The model was applied to simulate runoff-erosion processes in the Svacenický Creek catchment in the western part of the Slovak Republic. The model is sufficient to identify the areas vulnerable to erosion and deposition within the catchment. The volume of sediments was measured by a bathymetric field survey during three terrain journeys (in 2015, 2016, and 2017). The results of the model point to an underestimation of the actual processes by 30% to 80%. The initial soil moisture played an important role, and the results also revealed that rainfall events are able to erode and contribute to a significant part of sediments.

This paper provides a detailed look into the historical development of the water supply system of a big industrial city and its impact on the river environment and needs of the wastewater treatment system. The city of Brno, Czech Republic, was chosen for this study because it has a long history in the field of water supply, and the city has changed rapidly over the last 200 years. The city’s development necessitated an adaptation of drinking water sources, most significantly the use of the Březová nad Svitavou facility, which resulted in a change of condition of the Svitava River. The notable decrease in river flow, aided by industrial development of settlements within the Svitava River catchment between 1850 and 1950, strongly contributed to the spread of river pollution. However, the construction of wastewater treatment plants during recent decades led to a restoration of river quality and, consequently, of the entire environment of the Svitava River catchment. This paper also presents a view on activities connected with the long term surface water quality monitoring and improvement with regard to water quality conditions in spring areas and the river network influenced by the water supply system.

Výzkumné území hydrogeologického rajonu 4232 Ústecká synklinála v povodí Svitavy představuje významnou oblast zdrojů podzemních pitných vod. Zdejší zdroje patří k nejkvalitnějším a nejvydatnějším zdrojům v rámci celé České republiky (ČR). Vývoj využití území je zde úzce spojen s rozvojem sídel a průmyslu (textilního), který svým významem dalece přesahoval hranice regionu. Postupný rozvoj vytvářel tlak na přírodní zdroje, a to zejména na vodu, kdy se zvyšovaly nároky na množství užitkové i pitné vody, ovlivněna však byla také jakost vod průmyslovým i zemědělským znečištěním. I přes viditelný úbytek obyvatel v posledních 20 až 30 letech lze pozorovat rozšiřování sídel, zejména díky nové vý-stavbě na zemědělské půdě, což je do určité míry kompenzováno rozšiřováním trvalých travních porostů a lesů. Tento nárůst spolu s mírným roz-vojem vodních ploch může být brán jako pozitivní jev s ohledem na současné i budoucí změny klimatu.

The outcomes of watercourse revitalization are mostly evaluated as positive, depending on the implementation of the given revitalization. A potential negative aspect of watercourse revitalization was investigated via the example of an important source of groundwater for drinking purposes in Březová nad Svitavou. The aim of the research was to assess whether revitalization of the watercourse in the section upstream of the offtake point was appropriate. The assessment used long-term data from the watercourse operator as well as our own short-term monitoring. The results indicate that in this section, the risk of contamination from surface water into groundwater significantly outweighs other benefits of revitalization. Therefore, a partial, modified revitalization was proposed, which in the assessed section maintains and regenerates the existing separation between the watercourse and the groundwater. At the same time, however, it enables the formation of river sediment in the trough as a natural environment for the development of zoo- and phytobenthos and related higher organisms.