3 Administration of Water Resources Management: Key Facts …
39
3.6 Conclusions
The organizational structure of water management, which operated in 2001–2017 in
Poland, was not conducive to the sustainable development of water management. It
resulted mainly from 2 institutions dealing with water management, which functioned
in the administrative and sub-basin divisions. Despite the introduction of the WFD
and its functioning in Poland for over 15 years, there were many problems that
were not completely resolved. The new institution dealing with water management,
Pa´ nstwowe Gospodarstwo Wodne Wody Polskie, has been operating since 2018 and
its focus is only on the catchment area. It is subordinate directly to the Ministry of the
Environment. Despite the reform, some of the problems related to water management
are still valid. The most important issues to be dealt with in the near future are the
training of employees at various levels and stakeholders in the interpretation of water
law. Systematic meetings of officials responsible for water management with the local
community, directly in the field, constitute an important element of integrated water
resources management. The lack of a common database and access to information
for all authorities at local, regional, and public level causes misunderstandings. This
database should be implemented as part of interdisciplinary national projects, which
should be coordinated at the government level. The problems mentioned above are
not new. They have already appeared before. As the time of functioning of the new
institution responsible for water management is short, there is a hope that in the
coming years these problems will be solved in a systematic manner, which will
allow for the integrated management of water resources. Therefore, the time for a
full assessment of the activity is still ahead, in the future.
3.7 Recommendations
This chapter presents institutions responsible for water management in Poland and
their responsibilities. In the future, the focus should be on research showing current
water management in Poland in the opinion of officials, local government officials,
stakeholders and society. It will be particularly important to pay attention to the
development of effective communication schemes between various institutions. The
method of communication plays a key role in making decisions, especially in crisis
situations.
39
3.6 Conclusions
The organizational structure of water management, which operated in 2001–2017 in
Poland, was not conducive to the sustainable development of water management. It
resulted mainly from 2 institutions dealing with water management, which functioned
in the administrative and sub-basin divisions. Despite the introduction of the WFD
and its functioning in Poland for over 15 years, there were many problems that
were not completely resolved. The new institution dealing with water management,
Pa´ nstwowe Gospodarstwo Wodne Wody Polskie, has been operating since 2018 and
its focus is only on the catchment area. It is subordinate directly to the Ministry of the
Environment. Despite the reform, some of the problems related to water management
are still valid. The most important issues to be dealt with in the near future are the
training of employees at various levels and stakeholders in the interpretation of water
law. Systematic meetings of officials responsible for water management with the local
community, directly in the field, constitute an important element of integrated water
resources management. The lack of a common database and access to information
for all authorities at local, regional, and public level causes misunderstandings. This
database should be implemented as part of interdisciplinary national projects, which
should be coordinated at the government level. The problems mentioned above are
not new. They have already appeared before. As the time of functioning of the new
institution responsible for water management is short, there is a hope that in the
coming years these problems will be solved in a systematic manner, which will
allow for the integrated management of water resources. Therefore, the time for a
full assessment of the activity is still ahead, in the future.
3.7 Recommendations
This chapter presents institutions responsible for water management in Poland and
their responsibilities. In the future, the focus should be on research showing current
water management in Poland in the opinion of officials, local government officials,
stakeholders and society. It will be particularly important to pay attention to the
development of effective communication schemes between various institutions. The
method of communication plays a key role in making decisions, especially in crisis
situations.