34
K. Kubiak-Wójcicka
– and in principle should – participate in these consultations, but information about
meetings does not always reach them on time, or they do not know where to look
for such information, or the consultations are located in the significant distance from
the place of residence. However, there is a chance that with time, social awareness
in this regard will be higher, and interest will increase.
• Inconsistency of Databases and Unified Information System as Well as Access to
Information
In Poland, there was no integrated information system of water management. Every
Regional Water Management Authority had its own system, which was not consistent
with that in other water regions. This prevented potential users and decision-makers
from using full information about the state of the environment in drainage basins,
analysing and assessing the environment as well as examining their impact on the
state of various alternative investment and organisational solutions. On the other
hand, the lack of direct access to basic hydrological data by users, but also local
governments, shows that the information contained in different types of studies is
inconsistent.
• No Precise Description of Powers and Tasks for Individual Institutions
This is evident in the context of issuing water supply consent for special use of water.
Each of the institutions involved in the procedure had different guidelines, and thus in
many issued decisions, there is no relevant hydrological information, or the decisions
were issued illegally. It was, therefore, necessary to introduce a provision relating to
the substantive scope to be met by water supply consent.
• Inconsistent Interpretation of Laws by Individual Institutions
According to the interviewees, this factor was the major source of conflicts. Often
different interpretation of the regulation by different institutions led to issuing
different decisions in the same subject. It seems essential to introduce appropriate
training for employees of institutions on each level, starting from communes up to
voivodeship (regional) and as well within Regional Water Management Authorities
and Provincial Drainage and Water Facilities authorities. Such training may comprise
a point of experience and knowledge exchange in the area of proper management
and may be a stage for determination of proper task coordination at various levels.
3.4 Water Management After 2018
Water management in Poland is still carried out both through the state and local
governments. The management of water resources after the introduction of changes in
the organizational structure is carried out mainly by the Ministry of the Environment
and the Ministry of Maritime Economy and Inland Navigation.
The main entity responsible for national water management is Pa´ nstwowe Gospodarstwo Wodne Wody Polskie. It operates based on the provisions of the Act of 20
July 2017 – Water Law (Journal of Laws, items 1566 and 2180), and the statute
K. Kubiak-Wójcicka
– and in principle should – participate in these consultations, but information about
meetings does not always reach them on time, or they do not know where to look
for such information, or the consultations are located in the significant distance from
the place of residence. However, there is a chance that with time, social awareness
in this regard will be higher, and interest will increase.
• Inconsistency of Databases and Unified Information System as Well as Access to
Information
In Poland, there was no integrated information system of water management. Every
Regional Water Management Authority had its own system, which was not consistent
with that in other water regions. This prevented potential users and decision-makers
from using full information about the state of the environment in drainage basins,
analysing and assessing the environment as well as examining their impact on the
state of various alternative investment and organisational solutions. On the other
hand, the lack of direct access to basic hydrological data by users, but also local
governments, shows that the information contained in different types of studies is
inconsistent.
• No Precise Description of Powers and Tasks for Individual Institutions
This is evident in the context of issuing water supply consent for special use of water.
Each of the institutions involved in the procedure had different guidelines, and thus in
many issued decisions, there is no relevant hydrological information, or the decisions
were issued illegally. It was, therefore, necessary to introduce a provision relating to
the substantive scope to be met by water supply consent.
• Inconsistent Interpretation of Laws by Individual Institutions
According to the interviewees, this factor was the major source of conflicts. Often
different interpretation of the regulation by different institutions led to issuing
different decisions in the same subject. It seems essential to introduce appropriate
training for employees of institutions on each level, starting from communes up to
voivodeship (regional) and as well within Regional Water Management Authorities
and Provincial Drainage and Water Facilities authorities. Such training may comprise
a point of experience and knowledge exchange in the area of proper management
and may be a stage for determination of proper task coordination at various levels.
3.4 Water Management After 2018
Water management in Poland is still carried out both through the state and local
governments. The management of water resources after the introduction of changes in
the organizational structure is carried out mainly by the Ministry of the Environment
and the Ministry of Maritime Economy and Inland Navigation.
The main entity responsible for national water management is Pa´ nstwowe Gospodarstwo Wodne Wody Polskie. It operates based on the provisions of the Act of 20
July 2017 – Water Law (Journal of Laws, items 1566 and 2180), and the statute