16
K. Kubiak-Wójcicka
2.1 Introduction
In this chapter, attention will mainly be devoted to the conditions that determine
water resources in Poland, because Poland is one of the nine countries in the Baltic
Sea basin area. The total area of the Baltic Sea basin is 1,380,900 km
2 , including
311,900 km
2 in Poland. The area of Poland from which water flows to the Baltic
Sea constitutes 22.6% of the total Baltic Sea basin [1]. Hydrographically, Poland has
exceptionally favourable conditions, because the country’s administrative borders
match its hydrographic boundaries. The Baltic Sea basin accounts for 99.7% of the
total area of Poland. Such a hydrographic system facilitates water management in
terms of catchments and basins, and in terms of regulating water regimes within a
given area.
Water management in Poland, and in particular the formation and protection of
water resources, the use of water and the management of water resources, is regulated
by the Polish Water Law. Water management tasks are implemented by various state
institutions.
Systematic measurements and hydrological and meteorological observations are
carried out in Poland by the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management—
National Research Institute (in polish IMGW-PIB) in Warszawa [2], using basic
metering systems and networks. Its activity dates back to 1919, with the establishment
of the National Hydrological Service and the Institute of Water Management. IMGWPIB continuously provides current information on hydrospheric and atmospheric
conditions, as well as forecasts and warnings in normal and potentially hazardous
conditions. Up-to-date hydrological and meteorological data are available at http://
www.pogodynka.pl, while selected data on water resources can be found on the
website of Poland’s Central Statistical Office [1].
Surface water quality tests cover physicochemical, chemical and biological
parameters and are conducted in accordance with the Water Law under the aegis
of the Voivodeship Inspector for Environmental Protection (in polish Wojewódzki
Inspektor Ochrony ´
Srodowiska). Water quality monitoring is carried out according to
a six-year water management cycle, as provided for by national law, which reflects
the requirements of Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 23 October 2000, which in turn establishes the Community framework
for action on water policy know as the Water Framework Directive 2000. Monitoring is conducted based on designated “water bodies” which are understood as
separate and significant surface waters and which constitute the basic unit of water
management.
This chapter focuses on the temporal variability of water resources and their
geographical distribution and extent of use. Poland’s water resources are compared
in size to those of other countries in the Baltic Sea basin and other European countries.
K. Kubiak-Wójcicka
2.1 Introduction
In this chapter, attention will mainly be devoted to the conditions that determine
water resources in Poland, because Poland is one of the nine countries in the Baltic
Sea basin area. The total area of the Baltic Sea basin is 1,380,900 km
2 , including
311,900 km
2 in Poland. The area of Poland from which water flows to the Baltic
Sea constitutes 22.6% of the total Baltic Sea basin [1]. Hydrographically, Poland has
exceptionally favourable conditions, because the country’s administrative borders
match its hydrographic boundaries. The Baltic Sea basin accounts for 99.7% of the
total area of Poland. Such a hydrographic system facilitates water management in
terms of catchments and basins, and in terms of regulating water regimes within a
given area.
Water management in Poland, and in particular the formation and protection of
water resources, the use of water and the management of water resources, is regulated
by the Polish Water Law. Water management tasks are implemented by various state
institutions.
Systematic measurements and hydrological and meteorological observations are
carried out in Poland by the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management—
National Research Institute (in polish IMGW-PIB) in Warszawa [2], using basic
metering systems and networks. Its activity dates back to 1919, with the establishment
of the National Hydrological Service and the Institute of Water Management. IMGWPIB continuously provides current information on hydrospheric and atmospheric
conditions, as well as forecasts and warnings in normal and potentially hazardous
conditions. Up-to-date hydrological and meteorological data are available at http://
www.pogodynka.pl, while selected data on water resources can be found on the
website of Poland’s Central Statistical Office [1].
Surface water quality tests cover physicochemical, chemical and biological
parameters and are conducted in accordance with the Water Law under the aegis
of the Voivodeship Inspector for Environmental Protection (in polish Wojewódzki
Inspektor Ochrony ´
Srodowiska). Water quality monitoring is carried out according to
a six-year water management cycle, as provided for by national law, which reflects
the requirements of Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 23 October 2000, which in turn establishes the Community framework
for action on water policy know as the Water Framework Directive 2000. Monitoring is conducted based on designated “water bodies” which are understood as
separate and significant surface waters and which constitute the basic unit of water
management.
This chapter focuses on the temporal variability of water resources and their
geographical distribution and extent of use. Poland’s water resources are compared
in size to those of other countries in the Baltic Sea basin and other European countries.