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R. Graf and K. Pyszny
Keywords Metropolitan areas · Water management · EU water framework
directive · Sustainable development · Pozna´ n metropolis · Poland
18.1 Introduction
More than half of the world’s population (3.5 billion) currently lives in cities, and
by 2030, according to forecasts, the number of city residents will make up almost
60% of the population [1]. The development of urban agglomerations contributes to
the introduction of new water management models. This is related to the growth in
the water supply and sewage services to the population, the increasing impact of the
city on water resources and the increase of threats related to the effects of extreme
weather and hydrological events [2].
Over the historical development of cities, water management paradigms have
changed significantly, from the function of providing access to drinking water and
sewage disposal, flood protection and finally water-cycle city [3]. The National Water
and Environment Programme Guidance emphasize water resource efficiency based
on “sustainable communities” and “healthy catchment areas” and indicate various
implementation strategies to bring appropriate solutions and benefits [4].
According to the functional classification of urban area, based on population size
(presented by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD)
four types of urban areas were proposed [5]:
• Small urban areas, with a population below 200,000 people;
• Medium-sized urban areas (200,000–500,000);
• Metropolitan areas (500,000–1,500,000);
• Large metropolitan areas, with a population of 1,500,000 or more.
In Poland, 10 metropolitan centers have been distinguished [6]: the capital of
Warsaw, the Upper Silesian conurbation (with the center in Katowice), Łód´ z, Cracow,
Tricity (“Tricity” comprising Gda´ nsk, Sopot and Gdynia with the center in Gda´ nsk),
Wrocław, Pozna´ n, Szczecin, Bydgoszcz and Lublin (Fig. 18.1). As a metropolitan
area
1 (legal definition until 2017), a spatially coherent area of influence of a city
located in a voivodeship or a voivodeship council, with strong functional connections and advanced urbanization processes, with at least 500,000 inhabitants, was
recognized.
One of the essential elements of the European Union’s Europe 2020 Strategy is
the principle of sustainable development, to which the development of metropolitan
functions should refer. The development of metropolitan functions requires coordination of social and economic development, activities in the field of shaping and
1 Pursuant to the provisions of Article 5 of the Act of 9 October 2015 on Metropolitan Unions
(Journal of Laws Item 1890 with subsequent amendments)—this regulation has been repealed, and
currently only one metropolitan area, that of “Upper Silesia and the D˛ abrowa Basin”, is legally
operational; this was established by the Act of 9 March 2017 on the Metropolitan Union in the
Province of Silesia (Journal of Laws of 2017, Item 730).
R. Graf and K. Pyszny
Keywords Metropolitan areas · Water management · EU water framework
directive · Sustainable development · Pozna´ n metropolis · Poland
18.1 Introduction
More than half of the world’s population (3.5 billion) currently lives in cities, and
by 2030, according to forecasts, the number of city residents will make up almost
60% of the population [1]. The development of urban agglomerations contributes to
the introduction of new water management models. This is related to the growth in
the water supply and sewage services to the population, the increasing impact of the
city on water resources and the increase of threats related to the effects of extreme
weather and hydrological events [2].
Over the historical development of cities, water management paradigms have
changed significantly, from the function of providing access to drinking water and
sewage disposal, flood protection and finally water-cycle city [3]. The National Water
and Environment Programme Guidance emphasize water resource efficiency based
on “sustainable communities” and “healthy catchment areas” and indicate various
implementation strategies to bring appropriate solutions and benefits [4].
According to the functional classification of urban area, based on population size
(presented by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD)
four types of urban areas were proposed [5]:
• Small urban areas, with a population below 200,000 people;
• Medium-sized urban areas (200,000–500,000);
• Metropolitan areas (500,000–1,500,000);
• Large metropolitan areas, with a population of 1,500,000 or more.
In Poland, 10 metropolitan centers have been distinguished [6]: the capital of
Warsaw, the Upper Silesian conurbation (with the center in Katowice), Łód´ z, Cracow,
Tricity (“Tricity” comprising Gda´ nsk, Sopot and Gdynia with the center in Gda´ nsk),
Wrocław, Pozna´ n, Szczecin, Bydgoszcz and Lublin (Fig. 18.1). As a metropolitan
area
1 (legal definition until 2017), a spatially coherent area of influence of a city
located in a voivodeship or a voivodeship council, with strong functional connections and advanced urbanization processes, with at least 500,000 inhabitants, was
recognized.
One of the essential elements of the European Union’s Europe 2020 Strategy is
the principle of sustainable development, to which the development of metropolitan
functions should refer. The development of metropolitan functions requires coordination of social and economic development, activities in the field of shaping and
1 Pursuant to the provisions of Article 5 of the Act of 9 October 2015 on Metropolitan Unions
(Journal of Laws Item 1890 with subsequent amendments)—this regulation has been repealed, and
currently only one metropolitan area, that of “Upper Silesia and the D˛ abrowa Basin”, is legally
operational; this was established by the Act of 9 March 2017 on the Metropolitan Union in the
Province of Silesia (Journal of Laws of 2017, Item 730).