3 Development and Protection of Water …
37
3.2 Development and Protection of Water Resources
Poland is one of the most water-poor countries in Europe. It is ranked 26th in Europe in
terms of water resources according to EUROSTAT and 72nd in the world. The average
amount of water per year per capita in Poland is about 1,600 m
3 , while in the European
Union overall it is more than 4,500 m
3 (global average: about 7,300 m
3 ). Water
resources vary significantly from country to country across Europe. For example,
the amount of water per one resident of Sweden is more than 20,000 m
3 , while the
amount per resident of Austria is more than 10,000 m
3 . The amount per German
resident is about 1,800 m
3 , while the amount per resident in the Czech Republic is
roughly the same as in Poland. Access to water at less than 1,500 m
3 per one person
per year is commonly believed to be very low and triggers serious problems in water
resource management.
Water shortages are described using the concept of the water exploitation index
(WEI). This is an index that relates annual water usage to available water volumes
[6]. When water usage exceeds 20% of reserve capacity, water management needs
to be thought of as a critical element of the national economy. In recent years Poland
has been ranked 11th in Europe based on WEI (Fig. 3.1), which remains close to the
dangerous boundary value of 20%, above which water shortages may be expected.
The WEI value for Poland is 18.2% at present [7].
Poland is a country with “hydrographic boundaries.” Only 13% of the country’s
water resources emerge outside of Polish territory. The amount of water “exported”
by Poland is about half that. The average surface water volume available across
Poland is about 63 km
3 , and may decline to less than 40 km
3 in a very dry year
while increasing to 90 km
3 in a very wet year [8]. Hence, Poland’s water supply
is highly variable over time and is unevenly distributed geographically. At a 95%
water security level less untouchable supplies, the real water supply level in Poland
in dry periods hovers at only about 250 m
3 per person per year. This low supply
level calls for water retention practices and continuous monitoring of the quantity
and quality of the country’s water supply. Water usage per resident of Poland in 2012
stood at about 300 m
3 , while in other European countries it ranged from less than
100 m
3 (Luxembourg and Malta) to more than 1,200 m
3 in Estonia. According to
GUS (Central Statistical Office), Poland’s main statistical agency, the industry is the
leading water customer in the country (67%), with municipal services at 21%, and
agriculture and forestry at 12%.
Poland’s water supply consists mainly of natural lakes (33.0 km
3 ), reservoirs
(3.07 km
3 ), rivers (1.30 km
3 ), and fish ponds (0.60 km
3 ). Poland’s water storage
needs are estimated to be at about 7 km
3 including flood management capacity
ranging from 1.5 to 2.0 km
3 . Despite good natural conditions in the country, water
retention capacity in Poland is very limited. The total volume of retention reservoirs
is about 4 billion m
3 , which is sufficient to store only 6.5% of mean annual runoff in
the country. This value may potentially increase to 15%. Water storage must increase
in Poland in order to secure the country’s water supply. This may be accomplished
37
3.2 Development and Protection of Water Resources
Poland is one of the most water-poor countries in Europe. It is ranked 26th in Europe in
terms of water resources according to EUROSTAT and 72nd in the world. The average
amount of water per year per capita in Poland is about 1,600 m
3 , while in the European
Union overall it is more than 4,500 m
3 (global average: about 7,300 m
3 ). Water
resources vary significantly from country to country across Europe. For example,
the amount of water per one resident of Sweden is more than 20,000 m
3 , while the
amount per resident of Austria is more than 10,000 m
3 . The amount per German
resident is about 1,800 m
3 , while the amount per resident in the Czech Republic is
roughly the same as in Poland. Access to water at less than 1,500 m
3 per one person
per year is commonly believed to be very low and triggers serious problems in water
resource management.
Water shortages are described using the concept of the water exploitation index
(WEI). This is an index that relates annual water usage to available water volumes
[6]. When water usage exceeds 20% of reserve capacity, water management needs
to be thought of as a critical element of the national economy. In recent years Poland
has been ranked 11th in Europe based on WEI (Fig. 3.1), which remains close to the
dangerous boundary value of 20%, above which water shortages may be expected.
The WEI value for Poland is 18.2% at present [7].
Poland is a country with “hydrographic boundaries.” Only 13% of the country’s
water resources emerge outside of Polish territory. The amount of water “exported”
by Poland is about half that. The average surface water volume available across
Poland is about 63 km
3 , and may decline to less than 40 km
3 in a very dry year
while increasing to 90 km
3 in a very wet year [8]. Hence, Poland’s water supply
is highly variable over time and is unevenly distributed geographically. At a 95%
water security level less untouchable supplies, the real water supply level in Poland
in dry periods hovers at only about 250 m
3 per person per year. This low supply
level calls for water retention practices and continuous monitoring of the quantity
and quality of the country’s water supply. Water usage per resident of Poland in 2012
stood at about 300 m
3 , while in other European countries it ranged from less than
100 m
3 (Luxembourg and Malta) to more than 1,200 m
3 in Estonia. According to
GUS (Central Statistical Office), Poland’s main statistical agency, the industry is the
leading water customer in the country (67%), with municipal services at 21%, and
agriculture and forestry at 12%.
Poland’s water supply consists mainly of natural lakes (33.0 km
3 ), reservoirs
(3.07 km
3 ), rivers (1.30 km
3 ), and fish ponds (0.60 km
3 ). Poland’s water storage
needs are estimated to be at about 7 km
3 including flood management capacity
ranging from 1.5 to 2.0 km
3 . Despite good natural conditions in the country, water
retention capacity in Poland is very limited. The total volume of retention reservoirs
is about 4 billion m
3 , which is sufficient to store only 6.5% of mean annual runoff in
the country. This value may potentially increase to 15%. Water storage must increase
in Poland in order to secure the country’s water supply. This may be accomplished