Chapter 16
The State of Water and Sewage
Management in Poland
Katarzyna Kubiak-Wójcicka and Monika Kielik
Abstract This chapter describes the state of water and wastewater management
in Poland in the years 1999–2015. The study presents the state of Poland’s water
resources, the structure of their use and the amount of financial outlays allocated to
water and sewage management. The analysis was based on statistical data obtained
from the Central Statistical Office (GUS). The basic infrastructure related to water
and sewage management is the water supply and sewerage network together with
sewage treatment plants. The results of the analysis show that availability of water
and sewerage infrastructure has significantly improved in recent years, however, in
some provinces it is still not sufficient. Major changes in the financing of water and
wastewater management resulted from Poland’s accession to the European Union
which increased the possibility of financing activities that led to the improvement of
wastewater treatment.
Keywords Water intake · Water supply network · Sewerage network · Financial
outlays · Poland
16.1 Introduction
Water resources in many regions of the world are insufficient and water demand
constantly grows. In many countries, the issue of water resources shortage becomes
a matter of national safety, in which water is an important and indispensable element
[1, 2]. An issue of water supply for the population is especially noticeable in cities,
where high population density generates high water demand [3].
Water demand surge and against limited water resources requires rational water
resource management at all levels: country, regional and local [4]. Water supply
depends not only on its geologically available amount but also on legal, economic
and social frames related to water distribution system [5]. Reduction of water intake
and consumption is possible by obtaining effective technologies and appropriate
K. Kubiak-Wójcicka (B) · M. Kielik
Department of Hydrology and Water Management, Faculty of Earth Sciences and Spatial
Management, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Lwowska 1, 87-100 Toru´ n, Poland
e-mail: kubiak@umk.pl
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
M. Zeleˇ náková et al. (eds.), Quality of Water Resources in Poland, Springer Water,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-64892-3_16
375
The State of Water and Sewage
Management in Poland
Katarzyna Kubiak-Wójcicka and Monika Kielik
Abstract This chapter describes the state of water and wastewater management
in Poland in the years 1999–2015. The study presents the state of Poland’s water
resources, the structure of their use and the amount of financial outlays allocated to
water and sewage management. The analysis was based on statistical data obtained
from the Central Statistical Office (GUS). The basic infrastructure related to water
and sewage management is the water supply and sewerage network together with
sewage treatment plants. The results of the analysis show that availability of water
and sewerage infrastructure has significantly improved in recent years, however, in
some provinces it is still not sufficient. Major changes in the financing of water and
wastewater management resulted from Poland’s accession to the European Union
which increased the possibility of financing activities that led to the improvement of
wastewater treatment.
Keywords Water intake · Water supply network · Sewerage network · Financial
outlays · Poland
16.1 Introduction
Water resources in many regions of the world are insufficient and water demand
constantly grows. In many countries, the issue of water resources shortage becomes
a matter of national safety, in which water is an important and indispensable element
[1, 2]. An issue of water supply for the population is especially noticeable in cities,
where high population density generates high water demand [3].
Water demand surge and against limited water resources requires rational water
resource management at all levels: country, regional and local [4]. Water supply
depends not only on its geologically available amount but also on legal, economic
and social frames related to water distribution system [5]. Reduction of water intake
and consumption is possible by obtaining effective technologies and appropriate
K. Kubiak-Wójcicka (B) · M. Kielik
Department of Hydrology and Water Management, Faculty of Earth Sciences and Spatial
Management, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Lwowska 1, 87-100 Toru´ n, Poland
e-mail: kubiak@umk.pl
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
M. Zeleˇ náková et al. (eds.), Quality of Water Resources in Poland, Springer Water,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-64892-3_16
375