1 Introduction to the “Management of Water Resources in Poland”
5
1.2 Main Themes of the Book
The book includes the following parts: Introduction (I part), Water Resources in
Poland (II part), Change of Flow in Polish Rivers (III part), Economic Importance
of Water Resources (IV part) and Conclusions (V part). The second part is discussed
in seven chapters. Part III is presented in 8 chapters, while Part IV is discussed in 4
chapters. In the sections below, the main features of each of them will be presented
under the appropriate topic.
1.3 Water Resources in Poland
The thematic block dedicated to “Water Resources in Poland” presents the size of
Poland’s water resources and their economic use nationwide. The current state of
water resources is the effect of water management over many years in accordance with
the applicable water resource management system and the organizational structure
of water management in Poland.
The chapter entitled “Water Resources and Management of Poland in
SCOPUS database” provides a short overview of the state of water management in
Poland. The focus was on research funded by grants, leading international journals,
institutional affiliations as well as recognized sponsors and projects available in the
SCOPUS database, covering water aspects in Poland. Detailed studies are presented
in the following chapters.
The chapter “Administration of Water Resources Management: Key Facts
about Water Resources in Poland” discusses the legal status and institutions responsible for administration and management of water resources. The organizational
structure of water management in Poland in 2001–2017 did not support the sustainable development of water management. This was mainly due to two institutions
dealing with water management, which operated within administrative boundaries
and drainage basins. This led to confusion and conflicts in terms of competence. The
water management reform was carried out in 2017, as part of which the State Water
Management of Polish Waters was established in 2018. The new institution focuses
exclusively on the catchment area, however, an assessment of its activities can be
summarized in a few years.
Chapter entitled “Water Resources in Poland and their use” introduces the
reader to a general presentation of the amount of surface and underground water
resources and their economic use in Poland. The authors of the chapter emphasize that water resources in Poland are extremely low compared to other European
countries. On average, in the years 1901–2017, the annual outflow through Polish
rivers was 61.1 km
3 per year, which gives on average about 1600 m
3 per capita per
year. Annual outflow of Polish rivers in particular years and decades of the period
1901–2017 fluctuated in a very broad range from 37.5 km
3 in 1954 to 89.9 km
3 in
1981, averaging 61.1 km
3 . Water resources are shrinking as a result of abstraction
5
1.2 Main Themes of the Book
The book includes the following parts: Introduction (I part), Water Resources in
Poland (II part), Change of Flow in Polish Rivers (III part), Economic Importance
of Water Resources (IV part) and Conclusions (V part). The second part is discussed
in seven chapters. Part III is presented in 8 chapters, while Part IV is discussed in 4
chapters. In the sections below, the main features of each of them will be presented
under the appropriate topic.
1.3 Water Resources in Poland
The thematic block dedicated to “Water Resources in Poland” presents the size of
Poland’s water resources and their economic use nationwide. The current state of
water resources is the effect of water management over many years in accordance with
the applicable water resource management system and the organizational structure
of water management in Poland.
The chapter entitled “Water Resources and Management of Poland in
SCOPUS database” provides a short overview of the state of water management in
Poland. The focus was on research funded by grants, leading international journals,
institutional affiliations as well as recognized sponsors and projects available in the
SCOPUS database, covering water aspects in Poland. Detailed studies are presented
in the following chapters.
The chapter “Administration of Water Resources Management: Key Facts
about Water Resources in Poland” discusses the legal status and institutions responsible for administration and management of water resources. The organizational
structure of water management in Poland in 2001–2017 did not support the sustainable development of water management. This was mainly due to two institutions
dealing with water management, which operated within administrative boundaries
and drainage basins. This led to confusion and conflicts in terms of competence. The
water management reform was carried out in 2017, as part of which the State Water
Management of Polish Waters was established in 2018. The new institution focuses
exclusively on the catchment area, however, an assessment of its activities can be
summarized in a few years.
Chapter entitled “Water Resources in Poland and their use” introduces the
reader to a general presentation of the amount of surface and underground water
resources and their economic use in Poland. The authors of the chapter emphasize that water resources in Poland are extremely low compared to other European
countries. On average, in the years 1901–2017, the annual outflow through Polish
rivers was 61.1 km
3 per year, which gives on average about 1600 m
3 per capita per
year. Annual outflow of Polish rivers in particular years and decades of the period
1901–2017 fluctuated in a very broad range from 37.5 km
3 in 1954 to 89.9 km
3 in
1981, averaging 61.1 km
3 . Water resources are shrinking as a result of abstraction