Chapter 4
Water Resources in Poland and Their Use
Zdzisław Michalczyk and Joanna Sposób
Abstract Water resources in Poland are directly related to the features of the natural
environment, particularly the hydrogeological and climatic conditions. The territory
of Poland is characterised by relatively low water resources, and the outflow of rivers
is among the lowest in Europe. In the context of the occurring climatic changes,
measures aimed at water retention in the catchment are recommended. Changes
in the conditions of water circulation should be towards its retention in the soil
and bedrock, leading to a decrease in surface runoff and an increase in exploitable
resources in catchments. In addition to the construction of retention reservoirs, this
purpose can be met by changes in the land use structure, application of suitable
agrotechnical measures, as well as the construction of corrective steps slowing down
water outflow. All water resources are subject to strong human pressure leading to
their quantitative and qualitative transformations. They result from an increase in
the water needs accompanying an increase in the standard of life and development
of industrial infrastructure and raw material extraction. It is important to reduce the
water consumption at every stage of its use: in households, industry and agriculture.
The level of exploitation, especially on the regional scale, should not endanger the
stability of low flows and natural functioning of hydrogenic ecosystems. The water
safety of the country requires the maintenance of the quantity and quality of water
resources on a good level and effective protection against the effects of drought and
floods.
Keywords Water resources · Water use · Water protection · Poland
Z. Michalczyk (B) · J. Sposób
Department of Hydrology and Climatology, Faculty of Earth Sciences and Spatial Management,
Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, 2 d Kra´ snicka Ave, 20-718 Lublin, Poland
e-mail: zdzislaw.michalczyk@poczta.umcs.lublin.pl
J. Sposób
e-mail: joanna.sposob@poczta.umcs.lublin.pl
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
M. Zeleˇ náková et al. (eds.), Management of Water Resources in Poland, Springer Water,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-61965-7_4
43
Water Resources in Poland and Their Use
Zdzisław Michalczyk and Joanna Sposób
Abstract Water resources in Poland are directly related to the features of the natural
environment, particularly the hydrogeological and climatic conditions. The territory
of Poland is characterised by relatively low water resources, and the outflow of rivers
is among the lowest in Europe. In the context of the occurring climatic changes,
measures aimed at water retention in the catchment are recommended. Changes
in the conditions of water circulation should be towards its retention in the soil
and bedrock, leading to a decrease in surface runoff and an increase in exploitable
resources in catchments. In addition to the construction of retention reservoirs, this
purpose can be met by changes in the land use structure, application of suitable
agrotechnical measures, as well as the construction of corrective steps slowing down
water outflow. All water resources are subject to strong human pressure leading to
their quantitative and qualitative transformations. They result from an increase in
the water needs accompanying an increase in the standard of life and development
of industrial infrastructure and raw material extraction. It is important to reduce the
water consumption at every stage of its use: in households, industry and agriculture.
The level of exploitation, especially on the regional scale, should not endanger the
stability of low flows and natural functioning of hydrogenic ecosystems. The water
safety of the country requires the maintenance of the quantity and quality of water
resources on a good level and effective protection against the effects of drought and
floods.
Keywords Water resources · Water use · Water protection · Poland
Z. Michalczyk (B) · J. Sposób
Department of Hydrology and Climatology, Faculty of Earth Sciences and Spatial Management,
Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, 2 d Kra´ snicka Ave, 20-718 Lublin, Poland
e-mail: zdzislaw.michalczyk@poczta.umcs.lublin.pl
J. Sposób
e-mail: joanna.sposob@poczta.umcs.lublin.pl
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
M. Zeleˇ náková et al. (eds.), Management of Water Resources in Poland, Springer Water,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-61965-7_4
43