Warta River Basin Case Study Poland

Home , Brda (river), Bystrzyca (Oder), District (Poland), Drawa, Dunajec, Gwda

Background Paper

Andrzej Tonderski

December 2004

This paper is a product of the study, “Integrated River Basin Management and the Principle of Managing Water Resources at the Lowest Appropriate Level – When and Why Does It (Not) Work in Practice?” The Research Support Budget of the World Bank provided major funding. The project was carried out by the Agriculture and Rural Development Department at the World Bank. The Water Resources Management Group and the South Asia Social and Environment Unit at the World Bank have provided additional support. The study core team includes Karin Kemper and Ariel Dinar (Co-Task Team Leaders, World Bank), William Blomquist and Anjali Bhat (consultants, Indiana University), and Michele Diez (World Bank), William Fru (consultant), and Gisèle Sine (International Network of Basin Organizations). Basin case study consultants include Maureen Ballestero (Tárcoles - Costa Rica), Ken Calbick and David Marshall (Fraser - Canada), Rosa Formiga (Alto Tietê and Jaguaribe - Brazil), Consuelo Giansante (Guadalquivir - Spain), Brian Haisman (Murray Darling - Australia), Kikkeri Ramu and Trie Mulat Sunaryo (Brantas - Indonesia), and Andrzej Tonderski (Warta - Poland). The views expressed in this paper are those of the author and should not be attributed to the World Bank.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. COUNTRY INFORMATION ...... 1 1.1 HISTORY...... 1 1.2 LEVEL AND TRENDS IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT...... 2 1.3 GOVERNMENTAL SYSTEM ...... 3 1.4 CONTEXT OF REGIONAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT...... 4 1.4.1 Regional (Provincial) Level Functions ...... 5 1.4.2 Functions Of District Level – County...... 5 1.4.3 Functions of municipal level ...... 5

2. WATER RESOURCE CONDITIONS AND PROBLEMS IN GENERAL ...... 6 2.1 GEOGRAPHICAL AND CLIMATIC CONDITIONS...... 6 2.2 WATER RESOURCES OF POLAND AS COMPARED WITH EUROPE AND THE WORLD ...... 6

3. REGIONAL ISSUES WITHIN THE COUNTRY ...... 8 3.1 SPATIAL VARIABILITY OF WATER RESOURCES IN POLAND ...... 8 3.2 TEMPORAL VARIABILITY OF WATER RESOURCES IN POLAND...... 8 3.3 AVAILABLE RESOURCES AND ARTIFICIAL RETENTION...... 9 3.4 UNDERGROUND WATER RESOURCES...... 9 3.5 SURFACE WATERS ...... 10 3.6 SUPPLY-DEMAND BALANCE OR IMBALANCE, AND HOW THESE HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED IN THE PAST AND PRESENT ...... 11 3.7 HYDROPOWER USE OF WATER RESOURCES...... 13 3.8 WATER QUALITY CONCERNS, AND HOW THESE HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED IN THE PAST AND PRESENT ..... 14 3.9 QUALITY OF POLISH RIVERS...... 16 3.10 QUALITY OF WATERS IN THE MONITORED LAKES...... 18 3.11 FLOOD CONTROL, AND HOW IT HAS BEEN ADDRESSED IN THE PAST AND PRESENT ...... 18 3.11.1 Average Annual Losses In The Years 1958 -1998 ...... 18 3.11.2 Technical, Organizational, And Financial Actions Taken After July 1997 Flood...... 18

4. RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT...... 20 4.1 DEVELOPMENT OF WATER MANAGEMENT BASED ON RIVER BASINS...... 21 4.2 SHAPE OF WATER MANAGEMENT IN POLAND ...... 23 4.3 ECONOMIC INSTRUMENTS...... 27 4.4 INFORMATION SYSTEM ...... 28 4.5 SUPERVISION AND CONTROL SYSTEM ...... 28 4.6 EDUCATION & RESEARCH...... 29 4.7 SOURCES OF FINANCING FOR ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AND WATER MANAGEMENT...... 29

5. CONTEXT OF NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT...... 32

6. WARTA RIVER BASIN INFORMATION ...... 33

6. WARTA RIVER BASIN INFORMATION ...... 34 6.1 PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS OF THE WARTA RIVER BASIN ...... 34 6.2 INTERNAL PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF THE RIVER BASIN ...... 36 6.3 HISTORICAL AND CURRENT DEVELOPMENT OF WATER RESOURCES OF THE WARTA RIVER BASIN ...... 38 6.4 SOCIAL CONTEXT OF RIVER BASIN ...... 39

7. MANAGEMENT OF THE WARTA RIVER BASIN...... 41 7.1 PRE-DECENTRALIZATION PERIOD ...... 41 7.2 DECENTRALIZATION REFORM PROCESS...... 41 7.3 MAIN PROBLEMS OF WATER MANAGEMENT ...... 41 7.4 PERFORMANCE MEASURES ...... 45

REFERENCES ...... 46 List of Tables

Table 1 Structure of Public Administration in Poland ...... 4 Table 2 Schedule of development of Water Management in Poland ...... 23 Table 3 Voivodship Share in the Warta River-Basin ...... 35 Table 4 Comparison of the RWMA in Poznań with the rest of Poland...... 36 Table 5 Characteristics of the Voivodships in the Warta Basin...... 39

List of Figures

Figure 1 Map of Poland (Internet)...... 1 Figure 2 GDP and Household expenditure in Poland (billion USD) between 1990 and 2001...... 2 Figure 3 Comparison of Poland’s and total OECD per capita GDP between 1990 and 2001...... 2 Figure 4 Volume indices of GDP and Household expenditure in Poland between 1990 & 2001.... 3 Figure 5 Water Independence expressed as the share of water resources generated within some European countries...... 7 Figure 7 Water Intake Per GNP Unit (m3/GNP unit US$1,000)...... 12 Figure 8 Water Consumption in Poland (million m3/year)...... 13 Figure 9 Wastewater Discharge in Poland (million m3)...... 14 Figure 10 Territorial responsibilities of respective RWMAs ...... 24 Figure 11 Organization Scheme of the Ministry of the Environment...... 32 Figure 12 A diagram of links relevant in water management in Poland ...... 33 Figure 13 Drainage basin of the Warta River...... 35 Figure 14 Indication of water resources and forests in the Warta River Basin...... 38

Acronyms

Abbreviation Explanation in English Abbreviation Explanation in Polish ASF Agency of State Farmlands ASP Agencja Skarbu Państwa CIEP Chief Inspectorate of Environmental GIOŚ Główny Inspektorat Ochrony Protection Środowiska DDWM District Directorate of Water ODGW Okręgowa Dyrekcja Gospodarki Management Wodnej GNP Gross National Product PNB Produkt Narodowy Brutto GPRFE Government Plenipotentiary for PRUSP Pełnomocnik Rządu d.s. Usuwania Removal of Flood Effects Skutków Powodzi IMWM Institute of Meteorology and Water IMGW Instytut Meteorlogii i Gospodarki Management Wodnej IWM Institute of Water Management IGW Instytut Gospodarki Wodnej MUWR Main Underground Water Reservoir GZWP Główny Zbiornik Wód Podziemnych NBWM National Board of Water NKGW Narodowy Komitet Gospodarki Management Wodnej NFEPWM National Fund for Environmental NFOŚGW Narodowy Fundusz Ochrony Protection & Water Management Środowiska i Gospodarki Wodnej PE Personal Equivalent LRM Liczba Równoważnych Mieszkańców PNES Polish National Energy System PSE Polskie Sieci Energetyczne RBWM Regional Board of Water RZGW Regionalny Zarzad Gospodarki Management Wodnej (stary) RWMA Regional Water Management RZGW Regionalny Zarzad Gospodarki Authority Wodnej (nowy) SES Sanitary and Epidemiological SANEPID Stacje Sanitarno Epidemiologiczne Stations VBLIWZ Voivodeship Boards of Land WZMiUR Wojewódzki Zarząd Melioracji i Improvement and Water Facilities Użytków Rolnych VIEP Voivodeship Inspectorate of WIOŚ Wojewódzki Inspektorat Ochrony Environmental Protection Środowiska

1. COUNTRY INFORMATION1

1.1 HISTORY

Poland is an ancient nation that was founded around the middle of the 10th century. Its golden age occurred in the 16th century. During the following century, the strengthening of the gentry and internal disorders weakened the nation, until it was partitioned by an agreement in 1772 between Russia, Prussia, and Austria. Poland regained its independence in 1918 only to be overrun by Germany and the Soviet Union in World War II in 1939. It became a Soviet satellite country following the war, but one that was comparatively tolerant and progressive. Labor turmoil in 1980 led to the formation of the independent trade union "Solidarity" that over time became a political force and by 1990 had swept parliamentary elections and the presidency. A "shock therapy" program during the early 1990s enabled the country to transform its economy into one of the most robust in Central Europe, boosting hopes for acceptance to the EU.

Figure 1 Map of Poland (Internet)

1 Full credit for the country information in this paper is given to the United States Central Intelligence Agency World Factbook, 2004.

1.2 LEVEL AND TRENDS IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Poland has steadfastly pursued a policy of liberalizing the economy and today stands out as one of the most successful and open transition economies. GDP growth had been strong and steady in the period 1993-2000 but declined in 2001 with slowdowns in domestic investment and consumption and the weakening in the global economy (GUS, 2001). The privatization of small and medium state-owned companies and a liberal law on establishing new firms have allowed for the development of a private sector. In contrast, Poland's large agricultural sector remains handicapped by structural problems, surplus labor, inefficient small farms, and lack of investment. Restructuring and privatization of "sensitive sectors" (e.g., coal, steel, railroads, and energy) have begun. Structural reforms in health care, education, the pension system, and state administration have resulted in large fiscal pressures. Further progress in public finance depends mainly on privatization of Poland's remaining state sector. The government's determination to enter the EU as soon as possible affects most aspects of its economic policies. Improving Poland's outsized current account deficit and reining in inflation are priorities. Warsaw leads the region in foreign investment and needs a continued large inflow. The GDP (expressed at current prices and current exchange rates) was in 2002 estimated to $180 billion (, which corresponds to GDP per capita - $4,500).

GDP Gross Domestic Product POLAND OECD Total Household final consumption expenditure 200 5000 25000 180 160 4000 20000 140 3000 15000 120 100 2000 10000 80 billion USDbillion 60 1000 5000

40 OECDGDP [billion USD] Poland GDP [billion USD] 20 0 0 0 3 8 99 994 995 99 999 000 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 1990 1991 1992 1 1 1 1996 1997 1 1 2 2001

Figure 2 GDP and Household expenditure Figure 3 Comparison of Poland’s and total in Poland (billion USD) between 1990 and OECD per capita Gross Domestic Product 2001 (Source OECD, 2003). (billion USD) between 1990 and 2001 (Source OECD, 2003).

It is interesting to emphasize that the relative growth of Polish economy is higher than OECD countries in total (Polish GDP per capita grew from nearly $1500 in 1990 to nearly $4750 in 2001—a 317% increase, while the OECD GDP per capita grew from nearly $18,000 in 1990 to nearly $23,000 in 2001—a 128% increase).

POLAND OECD Total POLAND OECD Total 150 150 140 140 130 130 120 120 110 110 100 100 90 90 80 80 70 70

Volume indicies (1995=100) indicies Volume 60 (1995=100) indicies Volume 60 50 50 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002

Figure 4 Volume indices of GDP and Household expenditure in Poland (1995=100) between 1990 and 2001 (Source OECD, 2003).

1.3 GOVERNMENTAL SYSTEM

Poland is a republic. Its constitution entered into force on October 16, 1997 after passing the national referendum on May 23, 1997 and being adopted by the National Assembly on April 2, 1997. The Polish legal system is based on a mixture of Continental (Napoleonic) civil law and holdover Communist legal theory. Changes are being gradually introduced as part of a broader democratization process. Judicial review of legislative acts was limited, but under the new constitution, the Constitutional Tribunal ruling is final as of October 1999. Court decisions can be appealed to the European Court of Justice in Strasbourg. The chief of state is the President, who has been Aleksander Kwasniewski, since December 23, 1995). The President is elected by popular vote for a five-year term. The last election was held October 8, 2000, and the next is to be held in October 2005). The prime minister is the head of government and, along with the deputy prime ministers, is appointed by the president and confirmed by the Sejm. The cabinet consists of a Council of Ministers responsible to the prime minister and the Sejm; the prime minister proposes, the president appoints, and the Sejm approves the Council of Ministers. The legislative branch of Polish government is the bicameral National Assembly (Zgromadzenie Narodowe), consisting of the Sejm (460 seats with members elected under a complex system of proportional representation to serve four-year terms) and the Senate (100 seats with members elected by majority vote on a provincial basis to serve four-year terms).

1.4 CONTEXT OF REGIONAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

There are three levels of administrative division in Poland: regional (provincial - voivodeship); district (county – poviat); and local (municipality – gmina). There are 16 provinces (województwa, singular - województwo)2; 308 regular counties, 65 township counties and 2,489 municipalities, which are the basic units of the country’s territorial structure. Affiliated (zespolona) administration is subordinated to regional or district level representatives such as Voivode or Starosta. Non-affiliated (niezespolona) administration is not subordinated to regional or local level representatives but directly to the Ministers or Main Inspectors. Table 1 Structure of Public Administration in Poland Governmental Governmental Self-governmental Self-governmental Levels Administration Administration Administration Administration Non-affiliated – Affiliated (zespolona) Non-affiliated (niezespolona) Affiliated (zespolona) (niezespolona) National Fund of Environmental Protection and Water Central Government Management

Provincial Voivodeship (voivodeship) Voivode Assembly Regional Boards of Voivodeship Voivodeship Fund of Voivodeship Office, Water Management Board Environmental Protection and Police, Fire Brigades Water Management Inspections: Sanitary Inspection Marsal Voivodeship Board of Land Environmental, Office Improvement and Water Veterinary, others Facilities County Poviat Council (poviat) Poviat Board Starosta Sanitary Inspection Police, Fire Brigades, Poviat Fund of Environmental Veterinary Inspection Protection and Water and other inspections Management Municipal (gmina) Municipal Council Municipal Board President, Wojt, Major Municipal Fund of Environmental Protection and Water Management

2 Dolnośląskie, Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Łódzkie, Lubelskie, Lubuskie, Małopolskie, Mazowieckie, Opolskie, Podkarpackie, Podlaskie, Pomorskie, Śląskie, Świętokrzyskie, Warmińsko-Mazurskie, Wielkopolskie, Zachodniopomorskie.

1.4.1 Regional (Provincial) Level Functions

Provincial self-government defines the strategies and carries out the provincial development policy. Provinces perform task of a provincial nature in the sectors of: health promotion and protection; protection of goods of culture; social welfare; modernisation of rural areas; spatial development; environmental protection; water economy, including flood protection; municipal transportation; sport and tourism; consumer rights protection; defense; public security; unemployment prevention and activation of the local labour market.

1.4.2 Functions Of District Level – County

District-level functions for counties include: public education; health promotion and protection; social welfare; support for the disabled; municipal transportation and the construction and maintenance of county roads; protection of goods of culture; sport and tourism; land surveying, cartography and cadastre; real estate management; administration of architecture and building engineering; water economy; environmental protection; agriculture, forestry and inland wafer fishing; law and order and safety; fire and flood protection, prevention of threats to the life and health of people and the environment; and unemployment prevention and activation of the local labor market;

1.4.3 Functions of municipal level

Municipal-level functions include: zoning and real estate management; environmental protection and water economy; construction and maintenance of commune roads, streets, bridges, and squares, and road traffic organization; construction and maintenance of water supply systems; construction of sewage systems; sewage treatment and disposal; maintenance of cleanliness and public order as well as sanitary appliances; landfill and waste disposal; electric power and gas supplies; health protection and social welfare; maintenance of local municipal transportation; commune housing; public education (nurseries, pre-schools, elementary and junior high schools); culture, including commune libraries; law and order, safety, and fire and flood protection; pro-family policy (providing pregnant women with social, medical, and legal care); support and promotion of the ideas of local government structures; cooperation with non-governmental organizations; cooperation with local and regional communities in other countries.

2. WATER RESOURCE CONDITIONS AND PROBLEMS IN GENERAL

2.1 GEOGRAPHICAL AND CLIMATIC CONDITIONS

Poland is situated in Central Europe in the catchment area of the Baltic Sea and in the basins of two large European Rivers—the Vistula (in Polish Wisła) and the Oder (in Polish Odra), and of the small rivers from the littoral stretch of the Baltic Sea (11.8% of the national territory). Small patches of the national territory are situated within the basins of the Dniester, the Danube, and the Elbe Rivers (0.3%). The fundamental component of the water balance, the mean annual precipitation amounts to under 500 mm in central Poland, over 700 mm in the sea belt and exceeds 1500 mm in the Carpathian Mountains. The multiannual precipitation in Poland amounts to 620 mm and is lower than the global value (800 mm).

2.2 WATER RESOURCES OF POLAND AS COMPARED WITH EUROPE AND THE WORLD

The annual precipitation on the land surface of the Earth is around 110,000 km3. However, most of the rainwater is re-circulated into the atmosphere in the end of evaporation process, and only part of it feeds surface and underground waters. Consequently, the mean annual renewable fresh water resources (flow from land surface to the seas and oceans) is estimated to be about 40,000 km3 or 6,750 m3 per capita. In Europe, the mean per capita water resources are about 4,560 m3, but differ significantly between countries. In Poland, the mean annual surface runoff in the years 1950-1999 amounted to around 62 km3 (including the water inflow from outside Poland). This gives the annual per capita resources of approximately 1600 m3, which is almost three times less than the mean value for Europe. Moreover, in dry years this value is significantly under the mean level, and the minimum value in the above period was below 1,000 m3 per capita (Słota, H., 2000).

Hungary The Netherlands Moldova Luxemburg Romania Czech & Slovakia Ukraine Latvia Portugal Estonia Albania Croatia Lithuania Austria Germany Belarus B elgium Greece Switzerland Slovenia Poland

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Figure 5 Water Independence expressed as the share of water resources generated within some European countries. (Source: EEA, 1995).

The aforementioned water resources comprise both the country's own resources, obtained from rainfall on its territory, and the resources brought in by the water inflow from abroad, conventionally referred to as “transfrontier resources”. A given country’s share of its own resources in the overall water resources illustrates its dependence on transfrontier waters. As can been seen, Poland is one of those countries that has highly “hydrographic” borders. Only 13 percent of Polish water resources originates from outside the territory of Poland.

3. REGIONAL ISSUES WITHIN THE COUNTRY

3.1 SPATIAL VARIABILITY OF WATER RESOURCES IN POLAND

From an economic viewpoint, the information on spatial variability of water resources is especially interesting. The areas having the biggest shortage of rainfall supply are found in the belt of central Poland. However, in vast parts of these areas, transfrontier resources occur, i.e., the waters flowing from South Poland in surface streams. Poland is a country of relatively small spatial resources variability index, but it has a low index of resources per 1 km2. The mean runoff coefficient in Poland is around 0.28, meaning that about 72% of the rainfall volume goes back to the atmosphere. Therefore, the resources unit index, not considering the supply from outside Poland, amounts to 5.5 l/s/km2, that is slightly above a half of the mean value for Europe, which is 9.6 l/s/km2.

Fresh water deficit is likely to occur also within areas having a favorable per capita resources index as the transfrontier waters are often polluted and cannot be fully utilized. Analyzing the average unit runoff from the provinces, and referencing it to the population, shows that the lowest local unit resources (expressed in m3/person/year) are found in the following voivodeships: śląskie (c.a. 700), mazowieckie (c.a. 800), łódzkie (c.a. 900), kujawsko- pomorskie (c.a. 950), and wielkopolskie (c.a. 950). The most difficult situation is in the provinces of Śląsk, Łódź, and Wielkopolska that have scarce transfrontier resources.

3.2 TEMPORAL VARIABILITY OF WATER RESOURCES IN POLAND

Resources are not only subject to spatial but also to time variability. Most water flows in surface streams in late spring (April), and the least - in autumn (September). The maximum to minimum mean monthly runoff ratio is higher for the Vistula than for the Oder Basin. The mean value for the total territory of Poland is about 2.6.

Figure 6 Temporal distribution of the average runoff from the territory of Poland (modified from Słota, H., 2000)

10 9 8 7 6 /year 3 5 4

billion m 3 2 1 0 July May April June March August October January February November December September

3.3 AVAILABLE RESOURCES AND ARTIFICIAL RETENTION

Water supply as a basic requirement is a guarantee of water supply that is satisfactory to the users. The 95% (and higher) duration time flows constitute around 40% of the average flows registered over many years, and the corresponding water resources amount to 24.4 km3. They have to be further reduced by the so-called inviolable resources, determined mainly by hydrobiological factors. In Poland, the inviolable resources, determined by the low average flows recorded over many years, amount to 15.3 km3. Therefore, the resources available to the population and economy are nearly 9 km3, which gives 250 m3/person/year. One of the ways to increase the potential utilization of natural resources is to store water in reservoirs. In Poland, there are 108 reservoirs of capacity exceeding 1 million m3, while the total capacity of all reservoirs is 3.6 km3. It constitutes around 6% of the average yearly runoff. It is estimated that the real potential of the man-made retention, conditioned by topographical, demographic, and economic factors, amounts to 15% of the average yearly runoff. It would allow increasing the available 95% class resources by additional 4 km3.

3.4 UNDERGROUND WATER RESOURCES

In Poland, the characteristics of underground water resources has been based on the hydrogeologic division and the resulting arrangement of Hydrogeologic Regions in which the Main Underground Water Reservoirs (MUWR or GZWP in Polish) are situated. The principal quality and quantity criteria for division into GZWPs are: potential output of a well hole over

70 m3/h, intake output over 10,000 m3/day, flow rate in the water bearing layer over 10 m3/h, and the highest class of water quality - Class I. In the areas of water deficit individual quantitative criteria are applied, appreciably lower than the principal ones and allowing to mark out reservoirs of practical importance against the generally disadvantageous hydrogeological conditions. A total of 180 Main Underground Water Reservoirs have been created (40 according to the individual criteria) of a total area of 163,441 km2 (constituting 52.2% of the Polish territory), which offer available resources of 7.35 km3/year (the available resources are water amounts, secured in the 95% time in each year). Out of the total number of GZWPs, 53 most abundant in water have been selected, with available resources exceeding 100,000 m3/d, and constituting as much as 78.9% of overall resources. The underground water resources index is small in the mountains and at the foothills, while in the central and northern Poland it grows. According to the geological age, the most abundant in water are the quaternary (51.3%), cretaceous (23.1 %), jurassic (11.7%), triassic (7.1 %) and tertiary (5.0%) deposits. In big cities and in highly urbanized areas, both point source pollution and area pollution at the first user's level occur. Along the Baltic coastline, as well as within the salt-bearing deposits, symptoms of water salinification are found.

3.5 SURFACE WATERS

The area occupied by surface waters in 1991 was 826,000 ha, 2.6% of the area of Poland. In comparison to 1980, this area increased due to the construction of several new reservoirs, of which the largest are Jeziorsko on the Warta River (c.a. 42,000 ha), Lake on the Pszczynka River (12,000 ha), Mietkow on the Bystrzyca River (9,200 ha), and Brody Ilzeckie on the Kamienna River (7,300 ha). Of the total area of inland waters, lakes cover about 317,000 ha, while rivers occupy 509,000 ha (GUS, 2001a). There are many lakes in Poland. Almost 9,300 of them are larger than 1 ha. They occupy over l% of the area of Poland. Slightly more than half of all lakes are small with a surface area of 1 to 5 ha. They occupy 10,400 ha, only 3.3% of the area of all lakes in Poland. There are 3,500 mid-size lakes (5 to 50 ha), which cover 37% of the total area, and there are 1,078 large lakes, with area between 50 and 1,000 ha, making up 55% of the total area of lakes. There are only 34 very large lakes, larger than 1,000 ha, which constitute only 0.4% of all lakes but cover 76,200 ha. This amounts to one-quarter of the total lake surface in Poland. There are about 60 artificial water reservoirs whose size exceeds 100 ha. The largest of them is Wloclawek Reservoir, which covers more than 7,000 ha. A large majority of lakes exist in the lake district belt. In the Pomeranian Lake District there are 4,192 lakes, which occupy over 115,000 ha, in the Masurian Lake District there are 2,561 lakes (142,000 ha), in central Poland (Wielkopolska-Kujawy Lowland and Polesie Lubelskie)

there are 1,711 lakes (53,000 ha), and in the rest of the country there are only 895 lakes with the total surface area of 6,800 ha. (Andrzejewski & Baranowski, 1993) Most of the lakes in Poland are shallow. A depth of over 20 meters is very rarely encountered. Lakes are a transitional and short-term phenomena. All of them are slowly waning as a result of silting-up, overgrowth, erosion processes, and reclamation. Depending on the initial lake depth and the rate of aforementioned processes, the waning of lakes proceeds at different speeds. The water accumulated in the lakes has a moderating influence on the environment and through increased evaporation affects the amount of precipitation. Many Polish lakes perform the role of receptors of industrial and domestic effluent, which worsens their quality. Many lakes are also polluted by leaking fertilizers and other chemicals from surrounding farmland.

3.6 SUPPLY-DEMAND BALANCE OR IMBALANCE, AND HOW THESE HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED IN THE PAST AND PRESENT

The present water intake in Poland amounts to 11,313 million m3/ year, or approximately 310 m3/year per capita. (The average index for Europe is 700 m3/year, and for the EU countries 630 m3/year). The index of water resources utilization in Poland is as high as 18.7% and varies between 7% in the small Baltic river basins, 16% in the Vistula Basin, and 27% in the Oder Basin (with the mean value for Europe being 15%). The efficiency of the water resources utilization is, among others, reflected by the index illustrating the utilization of resources per GNP. In comparison to other European countries, this value in Poland is relatively high.

Austria Germany France Czech Republic Spain Poland Hungary

0 20406080100120140 Water intake per GNP unit [m3/ GNP unit 1000 USD]

Figure 7 Water Intake Per GNP Unit (m3/GNP unit US$1,000)

The share of water intake for municipal water supply constitutes 21% of the total intake and is similar to the mean value for Europe (19%). The intake share for industry is 69% of the total water drawn, and exceeds the value for Europe (53%). The share of the power sector in the total industrial intake, amounting to 91% in Poland, also exceeds the average value for Europe (70-80%). The intake in the agricultural sector, which is 9% in Poland, is significantly lower than the mean value for Europe (23%). Since the early 1990s, there has been a considerable fall in water intake in each sector of economy. The reasons were the water consumption saving enforced by economic incentives, the economic stagnation, reduced production, and closing down of production and processing plants. Another important factor determining a decreased intake is the limitation of water loss. Although the level of loss in industry is relatively small (about 0.4% of the water drawn), in the municipal water supply networks as much as 18% of the country's total water supplied to the municipal supply system “disappears”—not only because of the treatment process loss but mainly because of the network leakages. In the total water intake of all the sectors of economy, surface and underground waters constitute, respectively, 84% and 16%. The proportions resemble those found in some West European countries (Germany: 82% and 18%, France: 85% and 15%, Spain: 86% and 14%). In the municipal water supply networks, the respective share of underground and surface waters amounts to 57% and 43%. Industry is supplied from surface and underground waters in the respective proportions of 95% and 4%; while the share of mine waters is as little as 2%.

Since around 2000, all of the 875 Polish towns have been supplied from municipal networks, used by 91.3% of the inhabitants. The average water consumption per inhabitant amounts now to 129 I/day. Since 1980 an appreciable improvement has taken place; another 139 towns are supplied from water supply networks, and at the same time, the daily water consumption per inhabitant has decreased by almost 75 I/day. The present consumption level complies with the world standards for developed countries, in which water is considered an item of adequate economic value. Since around 2000, about 51 % of Polish private farms have made use of water supply systems (compared to 39% in 1994). About 48% use rural mains, whereas 1% is supplied from mobile cisterns.

()

industry agriculture municipalities total 16000

14000

12000

10000

8000

mln m3 6000

4000

2000

0 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

Figure 8 Water Consumption in Poland (million m3/year), (Source: GUS, 2001a)

3.7 HYDROPOWER USE OF WATER RESOURCES

Poland belongs to the group of countries of low potential water power. According to estimates, this power is equal to 2.3 TW, which is as little as 0.04% of the worldwide potential, while the Polish territory is as large as 2.3% of the world's land area (Słota, H. 2000). According to other sources, the hydropower potential of Poland is estimated to be 13.7 TWh/year, of which 45.3% falls to the Vistula, about 9.3% to the Oder, 43.6% to the Vistula's and the Oder's Basins, and 1.8% to the littoral rivers. Out of this potential only 1.6 TWh/year is now utilized.

Electricity generated by the Polish hydropower stations constitutes only about 3% of the gross production of electricity. In years shortly after 2000, the Polish National Energy System has comprised about 120 industrial hydroplants in operation; 7 of them (13 MW) were built in the interwar period, 87 (190 MW) were taken over after 1945 when the western and northern lands had been incorporated to Poland, 2 (50 MW) were commissioned during the occupation time, and 30 (1,755 MW) were built after 1950. Apart from the industrial hydropower stations, in Poland there are approximately 200 small plants operating off the industrial network. Their overall output is around 200 MW. According to the development program of the Polish hydropower sector by 2020, there would be 6,200 MW installed in hydropower plants (including 4,500 in the pumped-storage stations). This program gives rise to protests of ecological organizations, objecting mainly the construction of water dams and reservoirs.

3.8 WATER QUALITY CONCERNS, AND HOW THESE HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED IN THE PAST AND PRESENT

The state of surface waters varies throughout the territory of Poland. The status quo is determined mainly by contaminants from nonpoint sources, which are responsible for 60-70% of the country's total nitrogen compounds burden (Tonderski, 1997; GUS, 2001a), 40% of organic contaminants (GUS, 2001a) and 30-40% of phosphorus load (Tonderski, 1997; GUS, 2001a).

treated non-treated cooling waters total 14000

12000

10000

8000

6000 mln m3 4000

2000

0 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

Figure 9 Wastewater Discharge in Poland (million m3), Source GUS, 2001a.

About 85% of water taken for consumption returns back to surface waters as wastewater. The amount of wastewater generated annually is in the level of 10,100 million m3, about 17% is municipal sewage and about 83% industrial wastewater. The amount of wastewater requiring treatment is about 2,900 million m3 annually. This is mainly sewage from municipal systems, as the main part of industrial wastewater is cooling waters, which are "conventionally clean”, i.e., they do not need treatment with biological methods. In 1998, 833 out of 875 Polish towns were sewered, but at the same time, as many as 130 of them had no sewage treatment plants. The plants in the remaining 745 towns are in most cases insufficient. They suffer from hydraulic overloading, and sewage is treated only mechanically. As far as big industrial plants are concerned, 1,669 out of 3,028 have no treatment plants, and 147 of the treatment plants in operation have an insufficient output. The amount of wastewater from municipal and industrial sources has fallen systematically since early 1990s, mainly because of the effect of rationalization of water consumption both in industry and in households. To some extend it is also a result of applied economic instruments. Recent investments in the environmental sector have led to a growth in the number of sewage treatment plants. Earlier this decade, there were about 5,000 sewage treatment plants in Poland, of which 1,759 were industrial treatment plants, 1,471 were municipal sewage treatment plants, and about 1,770 were different small sewage treatment plants, including individual house treatment systems. The majority of municipal sewage treatment plants are small, solving the local problems of protection of waters. The significant problem is still very poor treatment of sewage from large cities. Of sewage originating from the 42 largest cities, only 43 % is treated with the biological methods. Quality monitoring of the waters flowing in Poland is being performed on some selected rivers. This operation is coordinated and performed by the Main Inspectorate of Environmental Protection. The monitoring network consists of almost 400 control sections. The total length of all Polish rivers exceeds 90,000 km, whereas quality control and assessment covers river stretches totalling about 6,200 km. Systematic examination of water quality is employed for all rivers with basin areas over 300 km2; and also some having smaller basins but economically significant. Apart from this system, water intake inspection is also systematically performed by the provincial Sanitary and Epidemiological Stations in the sections of municipal water supply intakes. This national monitoring also comprises observations of the lake water quality.

3.9 QUALITY OF POLISH RIVERS

The reduction of pollution from both point and non-point sources resulted in gradual improvement of the quality of Polish rivers. The length of river stretches where the water quality norms are exceeded has been reduced. At the same time, the length of stretches of rivers with waters for drinking water has seen quality increased. The systematic fall of the content of biogenic substances, organic matter, the heavy metals, and of different toxic substances and phenols has been reported. The suspended matter and salinity of river waters was not essentially improved. The greatest problem of Polish rivers is the sanitary state of water. In spite of small improvements, about 80% of sections of rivers carry waters exceeding bacteriological norms. This is due to discharge of untreated municipal waters as well as nonpoint pollution from rural areas with poor or non-existing sanitary systems. There are two different methods for determining the quality of flowing waters being currently considered in Poland. The first is based on a traditional method of reliable concentrations developed by the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (IMWM). The second method is based on the usefulness of water for different users (suggested by EU directives). The most commonly used method (reliable concentrations) assumes a relationship between the amount of flow and the concentrations of respective pollution indices. The representative concentration is one that corresponds to the mean low flow. The values of concentrations corresponding to this flow are based on the previously identified regressive relations, best-fit from the statistical viewpoint, occurring between the results of the simultaneous measurements of water quality and flow rates. The hydrochemical profiles, determined upon the measurements, allow classifying water purity according to the respective pollution indices. The overall quality evaluation of river waters is a synthesis of compiled profiles for different pollution indices. The representative concentration of the worst water quality is decisive for the class of water quality within the respective river stretches. A similar methodology for the evaluation of quality is adopted to the selected groups of contaminants (e.g., organic compounds, biogenic compounds, salinity, physico-chemical parameters, etc). The quality level of Polish rivers, according to the overall assessment, is characterized by a share of the length of stretches ranked in the respective purity classes, referred to the overall length of the rivers under control. A three step classification of the inland surface waters has been adapted in Poland: Class one - comprises waters that can be used for supplying the population, the production of plants requiring potable quality water, and for the natural habitat of the salmonids;

Class two - comprises waters providing the natural habitat for fish other than the salmonids, used for rearing and keeping of farm animals, for recreation, practicing water sports, and establishing bathing resorts; Class three - comprises waters fit for supplying industrial plants, other than those that require potable water, for watering farmlands, gardening, glass crops, and crops under shields made of other materials. Waters are classified according to the criteria, by referring the representative concentration to the standard data assumed as limit values for the respective classes. Subject to consideration are 57 indices that represent different classes of contaminants: organic substances, inorganic compounds (salinification), amounts of the dragged suspensions, biogenic compounds, specific substances, hydrobiological indices, and the sanitary condition. The classification of water quality for the concentrations of the indices characterizing organic contaminants clearly shows the adverse effect of sewage discharged from big urban agglomerations: Górny Śląsk, Kraków, Poznań, Łódź and Warszawa. The effect of river water pollution caused by discharging sewage, mine waters, and industrial effluents is reflected by the classification according to the salinification indices. The impact of agricultural pollution and of untreated municipal sewage on the water quality can be expressed in the classification presenting the concentration levels of the nutrients indices. The overall classification of water quality of the main Polish rivers, based on examinations from 1998, in compliance with the physico-chemical and bacteriological criteria, indicates that most river stretches lie outside the range of the limit values. The evaluation methods for determining the quality of waters flowing in Poland differ from those used in the EU countries. The EU Directives, regarding the usefulness of water for water supply networks (Directive 75/440-/EEC), fish habitat (Directive 78/ 659/EEC), recreation and bathing resorts (Directive 76/160/EEC) specify three categories (A1, A2, A3) for the waterworks, corresponding with the established, standard treatment methods. When assessing the quality of the Polish river waters qualified for waterworks in compliance with the permissible standards, the most common are A2 waters (subject to normal physical and chemical treatment and disinfecting). When evaluating the usefulness of waters for water supply purposes in compliance with the parameters recommended in the directive, most waters fall within the A3 values range. When assessing the usefulness of waters for securing habitat for the salmonides and the Cyprinidae fish according to the EU standards, the upper stretches of the Carpathian tributaries of the Vistula and the Karkonosze tributaries of the Oder River can provide proper living conditions for the salmonides. Similarly, most rivers of the Pomerania and the Mazurian regions have waters that can secure proper habitat for these fish species.

3.10 QUALITY OF WATERS IN THE MONITORED LAKES

According to the principles in effect in Poland, the overall quality assessment of lacustrine waters are decided by: The class of purity, determined by the results of physical, chemical, and biological examinations; and The lake's susceptibility to degradation, which is determined upon its morphological, hydrographic, and catchment factors. The examinations are performed twice a year, during both spring circulation and summer stagnation, on 124 lakes with a total area of 17,600 ha. While comparing the examination results from the last decade, it can be noticed that the evaluations of water quality are increasingly advantageous. On the other hand, an analysis of changes in the respective indices of lacustrine water quality and the results of hydrobiologic tests can point to progressing processes of eutrophication and deoxidation of lacustrine waters in Poland.

3.11 FLOOD CONTROL, AND HOW IT HAS BEEN ADDRESSED IN THE PAST AND PRESENT

It is estimated that the total area potentially exposed to flood covers 7% of the territory of Poland.

3.11.1 Average Annual Losses In The Years 1958 -1998

The average yearly flood losses (in 1998 prices) in the respective periods were as follows (Słota, H., 2000): 1958 – 1967: 368.1 million PLN; 1968 – 1979: 488.7 million PLN; 1980 – 1990: 547.8 million PLN; 1991 -1998: 1,289.6 million PLN The mean value for those 41 years amounted to PLN 470.3 million per year. A clearly increasing tendency of mean losses in the successive periods can be observed. The largest and most severe flood events in that period took place in 1960, 1970,1980, 1987, and 1997.

3.11.2 Technical, Organizational, And Financial Actions Taken After July 1997 Flood

The flood of July 1997 unveiled many shortcomings and defects in the flood protection system in Poland. Intensive and long-lasting rainfall in southern Poland in July 1997, during raised water stages, was linked to stationary low pressures developing over Central Europe. In the

flood time, the rainfall level exceeded 100 mm. This value was locally exceeded. Extreme rainfalls in the Upper Vistula Basin occurred in the Dunajec River basin and achieved locally over 120 mm; in the Oder River basin, the highest levels occurred in the basins of the Bystrzyca, Kaczawa, Bober and Kwisa rivers, ranging from 150 mm to as high as 300 mm. After the flood, the Polish government adopted the National Program of Reconstruction and Modernization. A US$200 million loan agreement was signed with the World Bank in order to give this Program financial support. The main objective of the Program was to offer aid to people who suffered losses during the flood, reconstruct towns and settlements, and modernize infrastructure in the flood-affected areas. The Program was divided into three parts. The first part was limited to temporary actions, aimed at removing the direct effects of the flood, eliminating the hazards, and securing basic aid for flood victims. The second part included a set of medium-term projects, involving help for agriculture, repairs of public buildings and housing, and basic repairs and maintenance of facilities. The third part is a long-term program comprising reconstruction and modernization of the regions affected by the flood, principally in the field of water condition control, hydrotechnic facilities, public utilities, reforesting program, communications, transportation and implementation of the most updated early warning systems in case of natural disasters. Since the 1997 flood, on the initiative of the civil service organizations and local governments, many local and regional flood protection and prevention plans have been developed. Implementation of these plans is given financial assistance from the Government Plenipotentiary for Removal of Flood Effects, appointed after the 1997 flood. The Government granted him a full range of powers for initiating and coordinating any actions related to the removal of flood effects.

4. RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT

Rational utilization and protection of water resources are sanctioned in the Constitution of the Republic of Poland: “The Republic of Poland shall guard the independence and the inviolability of its territory, secure the human and civil freedom and rights, the public safety, the national heritage and shall secure the environmental protection following the principle of sustainable development”. The most important legal regulations in compliance with this entry are legal standards specifying the:

utilization principles of water resources (Laws of 1974 and 2001: Water Law Act) use of the environment (Laws: of 1980: The Environment Protection and Shaping Act, and of 1991: The Environment Inspection Act); problems related to town and country planning (Law: 1994 The Land Development Act); tasks performed by the local governments and the state agencies (Laws of 1990 and 1998: The Local Government and Assignment of Competence and Tasks to the Community and Government Administrative Bodies Act). The management system of water resources comprises both the central and local government administrative bodies. The planning, executive, and investment tasks are subject to all levels of local governments—province, district, and municipality. The instruments that enable performance of those tasks are, among others, the strategy of provincial development; the provincial programs of sustainable development and environmental protection; and the local town and country plans worked out by and in the communities. The management tasks regulating the legal status of the use of water resources (e.g., water permits) are carried out by the government organs—the voivodeships as well as by the Heads of District (Starosta)—as tasks assigned by the Central Government. The main targets of water management in Poland are: Improving the purity level of surface and underground waters Securing the required amounts of good quality water, with proper level of assurance, to both people and the national economy Reducing the amount of flood destruction and damage caused by the water as an element Limiting bottom and bank erosion in river beds, and safe operation of hydrotechnical facilities Providing the conditions for utilization of water resources in power industry, navigation, and for recreational purposes.

Following the eco-development policy, those targets must be pursued in compliance with the socially and economically grounded demands as well as with the needs of environmental protection.

4.1 DEVELOPMENT OF WATER MANAGEMENT BASED ON RIVER BASINS

The conception of water management in hydrographic catchment basins, treated as uniform systems, originated from the tendency towards the optimization the performance of all tasks of water management. A modern approach to the management of water resources entails taking into consideration the natural and ecological requirements, public safety, and economical development. The system for the management of water resources, shaped in Poland before 1990, was adapted to the administration borders and did not meet the requirements of the modern water management. The first legal and organizational regulations for water resource management were made in 1919 in the reborn Poland, upon the establishment of the Ministry of Public Works as the chief administration for water resources management, and upon passing the first Water Law Act in 1922. It is, however, 1930 that can be considered as the beginning of water protection activities as in that year the Inter-Ministerial Commission for Protecting Rivers from Pollution was appointed. In the after-war time, the tasks pertaining to water management were carried out by different departments. In the years 1960-72, there existed a central Institute of Water Management, which became responsible for the matters of planning, shaping, utilization, and analysis of water resources. In 1972 the matters relative to the environmental protection and water management were joined by establishing the Ministry of Administration, Country Planning, and Environmental Protection. At the same time (1973), forces of Institute of Water Management were merged with National Institute of Hydrology and Meteorology to create the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management, which remains responsible for monitoring, planning, and controlling water resource management. Later on, the Ministry was subject to a large number of restructurings; the last conversion took place in 1999 when the Ministry of the Environment was established and entrusted with two sectors of economy: environmental protection and water management. In early 1990s, works aimed at reforming the old situation commenced. The appointed Regional Boards of Water Management (RBWM) were to have operated according to the hydrographic borders and were assumed to support the creation of a new system of water management as well as to take some advance actions arising from the scheduled amendments to the Water Law Act. Their fundamental range of responsibilities related to the balance of water resources, determining the conditions and terms for the use of basin waters as well as

keeping of the information system of water economy and management. Almost ten years of RBWM activity was not accompanied by an amended Water Law Act that could have secured some proceeds from the fees paid for specific use of waters. Amending the Act addressed only the planning activities, which were also important for the management process. In parallel, the activity of the District Directorates of Water Management (DDWM), established in 1964 for the preservation of the state-owned waters and of essential importance in the water economy, and their function of the direct investor in the nationwide water economy and management tasks and projects was continued. At the end of 1999, the DDWM were merged with the RBWM and their respective ranges of operation were supplanted in the Regional Water Management Authorities (RWMA). Presently, a new Water Law Act proposes to establish a two-level central administration dealing with water management—Office of the President of the National Board of Water Management (NBWM) and the offices of Directors of the Regional Water Management Authorities. The new Water Law Act, apart from the present management instruments, proposes new tools: a plan for improving the level of water resources in the country and water resources management plans in the catchment areas. Bureau of Water Management (BWM), which was established in February 2000 by the Minister of the Environment, is a nucleus of the NBWM. BWM brings into harmony the work of the RWMAs in the respective basins and provides assistance in organizing actions targeted at the rational use, preservation, and protection of water resources. Also, BWM performs the tasks referred to in the EU Water Framework Directive, which has significantly influenced the structure of the current water management in Poland. By Decision No. 21 of May 5, 2002, Minister of the Environment appointed the State Council for Water Management. The Council consists of 30 members, who are proposed by the National Organizations Group of Regional Self-Governmental Entities and also by the academic, scientific, and research communities, and social, economic, and ecological organizations related to water management. The State Council is appointed every 4 years. Pursuant to provisions in the Water Law Act, the State Council shall pronounce opinions on the matters of water management, flood control, and drought control, and in particular to: Present proposals and move motions on the improvement in the state of water resources and flood control throughout the country; Pronounce opinions on the proposals for investment plans and programs in the field of water management; Pronounce opinions on the proposals for legal acts regulating the matters of water management.

Table 2 Schedule of development of Water Management in Poland

When Description Comments 1919 Establishment of the Ministry of Shortly after state of Poland was reborn after World Public Works War I 1922 The First Water Law Act 1930 Inter-Ministerial Commission for Beginning of the water protection Protecting Rivers from Pollution 1960 Institute of Water Management Planning, Investigating, Analyzing water resources 1964 District Directorates of Water monitoring, maintenance and operation of water Management resources 1972 Ministry of Administration, Country Planning and Environmental Protection 1989 Funds for Environmental Protection National, provincial, and municipal funds for financing and Water Management projects serving protection of environment and water management 1999 Regional Water Management Through merge of DDWM and RBWM Authorities 1999 Ministry of Environment Main duties: Environmental Protection and Water Management 2000 Bureau of Water Management Main responsibilities: to harmonize the activities of RWMAs 2002 State Council for Water Main duties: Advisory role in issues related to water Management management

4.2 SHAPE OF WATER MANAGEMENT IN POLAND

The current shape of water management in Poland is based on the following fundamental principles:

The catchment basin principle - assumes that the water economy management should take place within the areas of the respective basins The democratization principle - involvement of the public in holding the control of the use and development of water resources The administrative principle - the statutory control and supervision of the State on the overall water resources The centralist principle - leaving the strategic and fundamental financial means in the hands of the central authorities The market principle - aimed at making the water management economical

REGIONAL WATER DEVELOPMENT AO S in GDA ŃSK

in KATOWICE

in KRAKÓW

in POZNA Ń

in SZCZECIN

in WARSZAWA

in WROC ŁAW

Figure 10 Territorial responsibilities of respective RWMAs

Poland has been divided into 7 water management regions 1. The RWMA seated in Gdansk. Its operational territory covers the Vistula River basin from the locality of Korabniki to the mouth at the sea and the basins of the east littoral rivers. 2. The RWMA seated in Gliwice. Its operational territory covers the basin of the Vistula River from the sources to the mouth of the Przemsza River and the basin of the Oder River within the national territory to Kędzierzyn-Koźle. 3. The RWMA seated in Cracow. Its operational territory covers the basin of the Vistula River from the mouth of the Przemsza River to the mouth of the Sanna River. 4. The RWMA seated in Poznań. Its operational territory covers the basin of the Warta River from the sources to the mouth of the Oder River. 5. The RWMA seated in Szczecin. Its operational territory covers the basin of the Oder River from the mouth of the Nysa Łużycka River to the mouth at the sea, excluding the basin of the Warta River. It also includes the basin of the west littoral rivers. 6. The RWMA seated in Warsaw. Its operational territory covers the basin of the Vistula River - from the mouth of the Sanna River to Korabniki.

7. The RWMA seated in Wroclaw. Its operational territory covers the basin of the Oder River from Kędzierzyn-Koźle to the mouth of the Nysa Luzycka River. The main administrative agency dealing with water management is the Ministry of the Environment, which is responsible for rational water economy policy in the country. Its most important tasks in this field comprise: Shaping state policy by proposing proper laws, intended, among others, to create legal and economic instruments serving the rational use and protection of the quality of wafer resources. Programming the development tendencies and the operational principles of water management. Issuing executorial provisions on water management supervising the subordinate units. At the central level it is intended to elaborate a improvement plan for national water resources as well as a flood and draught prevention plan. Those plans take into consideration the main assumptions, resulting from the nationwide spatial economy and the regional policy, and will build the foundations for making management plans for water resources in the catchment areas. In the case of the largest Polish rivers, the Vistula and the Oder, this role will be played by the programs compatible with the guidelines specified in the ”Strategy” (CoM, 2000), regarding both the natural amenities of their valleys and the state of their development up to that time, and finally, the conditions arising from the utilization of the resources of their tributaries. International links are of considerable importance in the program for the Oder River, secured according to the bilateral agreements with the Germany and the Czech Republic on cooperation on the frontier waters. The most important institutions responsible for the management of water resources in the hydrographic areas, are the Regional Water Management Authorities (RWMAs). The RWMAs are regional non-affiliated government agencies that execute the ordinances of the Minister of the Environment in matters of water economy and management as well as those related to conservation of the state-owned waters and to the implementation of water management investments of global significance. The RWMAs are organizational units set up for the performance of the following tasks of water management: Estimating surface and gound water balances Determining the conditions of basin river use Acting as a party in legal proceedings in cases regarding the specific use of inland waters and other administrative proceedings pertinent to water management and protection Keeping the water cadasters

Balancing the material and financial needs relative to the water management in the basin Initiating studies and research on the development and protection of surface and underground waters Working out programs and plans of water resources management, water protection, and flood and draught prevention, and Giving opinions on designs, siting of investments that may appreciably affect the water management, and objects to be localized within the high water beds.

In relation to the waters, RWMAs’ tasks, subject to their administration, are extended to: Programming the development and preservation of inland surface waters Elaborating multiyear projects and yearly investment and budgetary plans for the preservation and use of inland surface waters Assuring proper technical conditions and servicing of hydro-engineering buildings and facilities Assuring correct condition of beds of rivers and streams, as well as of present control facilities, water management in the retention reservoirs Participating in flood emergency operations Holding of the investor's function in the field of water investments of the department of the environment, and Collecting charges and fees for the navigation and sluice operation, materials extracted from the surface waters, lease of the shore/bank areas, use of hydro-engineering facilities, use of water power plants in combination with water raising objects that are administered by the regional board, the cooperation on the frontier waters in compliance with the effective legal provisions and international agreements, cooperation on water management with the public administration bodies, the Inspectorates of Environmental Protection, the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management, maritime offices and regional forestry boards, among others. In relation to flood control, the Main Flood Control Committee acts under provisions in the Act of October 24, 1974 on the Water Law (O.J. No. 38, Item 230, further amended) and the Ordinance of the Council of Ministers of March 11, 1997 on flood control (O.J. No. 10, Item 39, further amended). The Chairman of the Main Flood Control Committee is ex oficio the Minister of the Environment, who also appoints and recalls the members of the Committee. Detailed responsibilities of the Committee include: Executing direct flood control management and coordinating the activity of the Provincial Flood Committees, as well as cooperating with both the public administrative authorities and

the other organizational units, who have been appointed for flood control purpose, and counteracting flood impacts; Elaborating the Committee’s Annual Operational Plans as well as its annual activity reports; Performing the analysis of periodical assessments of the state of flood control activity on the national scale; Analyzing the course of flood control actions; Elaborating the Committee’s Operational Plan for Direct Flood Control, as well as establishing relevant guidelines for the Provincial Flood Control Committees; Participating in inspections of the Provincial Flood Control Committees and initiating and supervising organizational preparations for securing the assistance to population, who have been affected in result of flood accidents; Establishing general rules of practice for organizational units’ preparation to conduct flood control actions thereof; and Managing training in the field of flood control.

4.3 ECONOMIC INSTRUMENTS

Water, as an economic item, is subject to the market policy rules. However, because of its specific character—mainly the limited availability of its resources and the relative necessity of defining priorities in the satisfaction of needs—a certain interference of the State with the system financing the water resources can be acknowledged as justified. The economic instruments serving the implementation of the State policy in the field of management of water resources comprise: Fees for the use of the environment for business purposes and modifications thereto; the water management regulations provide fees for the intake of surface and underground waters as well as charges for sewage discharges into waters or into the soil and a ”retention” fee relative to the reduction of the natural retention caused by interfering with the natural water circulation (e.g., land reclamation or changes in the use of the areas); Fines for misuse of the environment, such as illegal water intake and exceeding the permissible water lifting, as well as for exceeding the limit values specified for sewage discharges; Subventions in the form of: government and budgetary grants and preferential credits from the national. provincial, district and community funds for the environmental protection and water management, the bank for environment protection and the foundations supporting the environment investments;

Tax relief in the form of pro-ecological fiscal preferences such as the possibility of deducting some investment expenses and donations for environmental protection, the application of reduced vat rates for manufacturers of certain goods and those who render ecological protection services, etc.

4.4 INFORMATION SYSTEM

The water management information system (water cadastre) will be kept centrally by the National Board of Water Management, and in the case of river basins, by the respective RWMAs. The cadastre data will be made available free of charge to interested parties (in compliance with the constitutional right of each citizen to obtain information on the environmental condition, in the present case, on the state of waters). The collected information will constitute the foundation for the National Boards of Water Management and RWMAs to work out plans and programs as well as for their current operational activities.

4.5 SUPERVISION AND CONTROL SYSTEM

The control of water management has recently been restricted merely to control actions related to the quality of waters performed by the Inspectorate of Environmental Protection and the Sanitary Inspectorate as well as to the inspection of the technical condition and safety of water constructions, in compliance with the competence of the building inspection services, according to the Building Regulations Act. According to the new Water Law Act, while maintaining the existing competence of the Inspectorates of Environmental Protection, the Sanitary Inspector, and the building supervisory organs, the power of control will be statutorily extended to the President of the National Board of Water Management and the Directors of the RWMAs. NBWM and RWMAs are responsible for supervision of the matters related to the water economy, mainly, to controlling the compatibility of the actions and attitudes of water users and owners of water facilities with the conditions contained in the decisions issued basing on the provisions of the Water Law Act. Apart from the institutional control, there are also certain forms of social control, performed with the participation of social representatives. They take part in the committees of water management in catchment areas, and take into consideration the opinions of society in the procedures adopted to make, evaluate, and approve water management plans and Environment Impact Assessments (EIA).

4.6 EDUCATION & RESEARCH

The education will be conducted within the ecological syllabus and in compliance with its concept as specified in the new Environmental Protection Act. This Act shall oblige: All authorities of all types of schools and training centers giving courses aimed at improvement of qualifications to include the problems related to the environmental protection and the sustainable development in the syllabuses The mass media to shape social awareness of environmental protection and to propagate the principles of that protection. It is intended to establish specialized units within both the national and regional levels to support the actions resulting from the Environmental Protection Act, by providing adequate educational materials, staying in direct contact with schools, mass media, and local communities, and to hold negotiations within EIA procedures. At the same time, in parallel with the education of society, it is necessary to develop research to make scientific foundations of rational water management. The aforesaid bill of the environmental protection law shall oblige the administrative organs as well as the institutions coordinating and conducting research activity, the university-level schools and other research facilities, whose range of activity is linked to the environmental protection, to include research on those problems in their syllabuses.

4.7 SOURCES OF FINANCING FOR ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AND WATER MANAGEMENT

The investment outlays on environmental protection have increased almost five times since 1990. An appreciable progress is also observed in the share of the means appropriated for the environmental protection in the national economy investment outlays (from 3.6% in 1990 to 8.0% in 1999) as well as in the Gross National Product (in 1998 it reached 1.6%). Comparing the investment outlays in Poland and in other countries, it can be concluded that in the group of East European countries, Poland is the leader in the environment protection issues; however, when compared to the West European, countries Poland has reached half of that level. Recently, the significance of enterprises as investors has grown considerably. Since 1996 they have been the leading investors, and their share in the investments has gone up from 20% in 1992 to 43% in 1998. The second most significant source of financing investments for the environment protection in Poland, and by the same for the protection of waters, are ecological

funds—the National Fund as well as provincial, district, and municipal funds for the environment protection and water management.

A considerable part of the investments (20% per year) is financed by local governments. On one hand, it is a consequence of their responsibility for performing their own tasks (within the municipality budgets). On the other hand, the local communities have become more and more aware of the problem and their goal is to protect environment and keep it in the best possible condition. The financial means obtained from fines for the misuse of the environment for business purposes are transferred to one national, 16 provincial, 373 district and 2489 community funds for environmental protection and water management. For example, the means coming from the water intake fees are transferred to the national (19.6%), provincial (50.4%), district (10%), and community funds (20%). The funds collected are apportioned for giving financial assistance or crediting the investments serving the environment protection and water management purposes. The State budget allows for the outlays on multi-year investments (as far as water management is concerned, those are mainly large retention reservoirs and stages of fall). The budget also supports maintenance of the rivers and hydro engineering facilities within the financial aid to the RWMAs and PBLIWFs. The use of indirect budgetary means, such as general grants and purpose subventions for the local governments is also significant; e.g., in the years 1998-2000, municipalities, districts, and provinces obtained purpose subventions for additional financing of their own tasks in relation to the repair of the 1997 flood damage. The Bank Ochrony Srodowiska S.A. (Polish abbreviation, ”BOŚ”) has been operating since 1991. It offers preferential credits for activities in the environmental protection and water management. The preferential credit pool was established at the BOŚ, among others, in cooperation with the National and Provincial Funds for Environmental Protection and Water Management. The foundations, which support financing of the investments in water management are: The Rural Areas Aid Foundation (Fundacja Wspomagania Wsi), Polish Agency for Regional Development (Polska Agencja Rozwoju Regionalnego), European Fund for the Development of Polish Rural Areas (Europejski Fundusz Rozwoju Wsi Polskiej), Foundation of Aid Programs for Agriculture (Fundacja Programów Pomocy dla Rolnictwa): “Counterpart Fund”. Those foundations collect funds and redistribute foreign aid. They give preferential credits and grants to companies operating in the water and sewage disposal sector and to the community boards, intended for the investments in sewage disposal and sewage treatment.

Poland receives financial aid for carrying out projects in the field of water management under bilateral cooperation agreements or through international organizations (e.g. International Monetary Fund, the World Bank Group, or the European Union). Currently, water protection and water management projects are financed from the aid programs such as PHARE 2000, SAPARD, and ISPA, among others. Since 1991 it has been possible to finance the environmental protection under the clauses of partial reduction of the Polish debt. The eco-conversion funds are administered by Eko-Fund (Ekofundusz).

5. CONTEXT OF NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

The Ministry of the Environment was established on the basis of an appropriate legal Act on October 26, 1999. The Act came into force on November 10, 1999 (see: "Dziennik Ustaw" - The Governmental Gazette - No. 91/1999). Before 1999 the Ministry was called Ministry of Environmental Protection, Natural Resources, and Forestry, but the functions were primarily the same.

Minister of Environment

Minister's Political Office Minister´s Bureau

Division for the Protection of Confidential Information

Bureaus Departments Advisory Bodies Subordinated & Supervised Units

Administration & Management Economy State Council for Environmental Protection Regional Water Management Authorities

Human Resources & Development Geology & Geological Concessions State Council for Nature Conservation Budgetary Waterworks Plant (Pulawy)

Inspection & Internal Audit European Integration State Council for Water Management Environmental Information Centre (Warsaw)

Administrative Jurisdiction Investment & Technological Development Geological Council Training Centre (Debe n/ Warsaw)

Promotion & Information Law & Legislation Commission for Mineral Resources The Board of National Parks (Warsaw)

Forestry Commission for Hydro-geological Documentation Institute of Environmental Protection (Warsaw)

Nature Conservation Commission for Environmental Impact Assessment Institute of Ecology of Industrialized Areas

Ecological Policy Commission for Cartographic Elaborates Insitute of Meteorology and Water Management

International Cooperation Commission for the Environment Awards Institute of Forestry Research (Warsaw)

Defence Affairs Central Flood Committee The State Geological Institute (Warsaw)

Water Resources Chief Inspectorate of Environmental Protection

State Forest Enterprise, National Forests

N F E P W M

Bureau of Water Management

Figure 11 Organization Scheme of the Ministry of the Environment.

The administration of the state-owned surface waters, not administered by the RWMAs, is divided between the Voivodeship Boards of Land Improvement and Water Facilities (VBLIWF), which are subject to the provincial governments, and the Agency of State Farmlands (ASF). In addition, the National Parks administer waters located in their territory and the State Forestry Enterprise ”National Forests” administers certain water areas situated within their forest zones.. The supervision over compliance with the regulations and the environment monitoring is carried out by the Chief Inspector of the Environment Protection. At the voivodeship level, the tasks of the environment inspection are performed by the Voivode through the Voivodeship Inspector of the Environment Protection. The provincial inspectors deal with the proceedings brought up against any industrial plant that is hazardous to health or life and/or causing other

damage, and can issue fines for any misuse of the environment and for exceeding the limit pollution values as specified in the regulations and/or administrative decisions.

Figure 12 A diagram of links relevant in water management in Poland (modified from Słota, 2000)

Minister of Environment

Chief Inspector of Environmental Regional State Forestry Protection Water Enterprise Management National Forests Authorities

Marshal Voivode

Voivodeship Starosta Department of Inspector of Environmental Environmental Voivodeship Protection Protection Boards of Land Improvements and Water Department of Environmental Protection, Agriculture & Forestry

Water users

Municipality Industry Agriculture

Water resources, rivers and streams, hydrotechnical facilities

6. WARTA RIVER BASIN INFORMATION

The name of the river (originally Vrta) comes from the proto-Slavonic language, describing a river that flows rapidly, often changing direction. From immemorial times, the river valleys were territories where settlements most eagerly gathered, this being also the case with the Warta. The locals living on its banks made direct use, needing water for making food, bathing, washing, and as a place for animals to drink. They caught crabs, mussels, and fish. They soaked willows for weaving into baskets, fences, and domestic walls. Those who worked on the river were named rafters, wanderers, and raftsmen. Various goods were floated down the river as well as machines and equipment for the farm, stockbreeding, and trades. Business developed on the Warta with timber, grain, salt, metal, potassium, honey, leather, wool, and craft work sailing the river. All that hard-working Wielkopolska was able to produce. Often the river was imbued with symbolic meaning. Living by the river was an impetus to weave stories and create legends. The spirits of ancestors, nymphs, water sprites, demons, and kelpies were bestowed upon the waters. Since ancient times magic rituals were practiced on the Warta such as setting wreaths afloat on St John's Day eve or sinking the yellow flowering madder plant, symbolizing winter.

6.1 PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS OF THE WARTA RIVER BASIN

Warta’s source lies 380 m above sea level in Kromołów, near Zawiereć. The entire length of the river from source to estuary is 808 km while the sailing passage from Częstochowa to Kostrzyń over the Odra River stretches for 735 km. Its main tributaries are: Prosna, Obra, Widawka, Ner, and Noteć. The basin area extends from the northern part of the Czestochowsko-Krakowska Upland (region of Zawiercie), through the western edge of the Piotrkow Upland, the Wielkopolska Lowland, the Wielkopolskie Lakeland, up to the southern edges of the Pomeranian Lakelands (the Waleckie and Krajenskie Lakeland) and the northern part of the Lubuskie Lakeland. The climate in the Warta basin does not differ from the Polish climate nationwide and is appreciably characterized with the oceanic climate features: small temperature amplitudes, early spring and summer and a relatively short winter period. The main city on the Warta River is the capital of Wielkopolska, Poznań. Within the boundaries of the city itself the river runs for 20 km. Apart from its benefits the river can also show its destructive side. Older Polish people recall the great floods at the beginning of the 20th century and later ones, which those of later generations were witness to. This seemingly peaceful river has contributed a lot of damage and brought fear. The enormous retentive dam

in Jeziorsko that was finished in 1986 became a life raft for the river, which can be supplemented with water during times of drought.

Figure 13 Drainage basin of the Warta River, Source Internet.

The Warta River basin comprises almost all the Wielkopolskie Voivodeship, and some parts of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Lubuskie, Łódzkie, Opolskie, Pomorskie, Ślqskie and Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeships. In the Warta Basin 78 counties (poviats) and 400 municipalities (gminas) are located.

Table 3 Voivodship Share in the Warta River-Basin

Voivodship Area of Voivodship Share of the Voivodship Share of the in Warta Basin Area Warta Basin Area km2 % % Kujawsko-pomorskie 4523 25,2 8,21 Lubuskie 5410 38,7 9,82 Łódzkie 8747 48,0 15,87 Opolskie 809,6 8,6 1,47 Pomorskie 799,4 4,4 1,45 Śląskie 3138 25,5 5,69 Wielkopolskie 26695 89,5 48,3 Zachodniopomorskie 5071 22,1 9,2 Warta River Basin 100

Table 4 Comparison of the RWMA in Poznań with the rest of Poland.

Characteristics Unit Poland Poznań Share Surface area Km2 312685 55248 18% Rainfall Mm 630597 Runoff Mm 198121,5 Total water consumption million m3 11048,5 2285 21% Industrial water consumption million m3 7638 1723 23% Agricultural water consumption million m3 1061 169 16% Municipal water consumption million m3 2350 393 17% Total generation of wastewater million m3 2501 411 16% Treatment million m3 2200 384 17% Advanced treatment million m3 460 72 16% No-treatment million m3 301 27 9% Mechanical municipal treatment plants Units 135 9 7% m3/day 996260 270604 27% PE / LRM 2004701 389570 19% Biological municipal treatment plants Units 1844 287 16% m3/day 4731743 685996 14% PE / LRM 23835649 4081164 17% Advanced municipal treatment plants Units 421 96 23% m3/day 3549655 459123 13% PE / LRM 16544086 2384140 14%

6.2 INTERNAL PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF THE RIVER BASIN

The Regional Board of Water Management in Poznań operates within the Warta River basin, which has an area 55,193 km2 (about 17.7 % of the surface of Poland). Warta River basin has been partitioned on four main sub-areas: Upper Warta (Górna Warta) about 15,750.4 km2, Middle and Lower Warta and Odra (Warta Środkowa and Dolna as well as Odra) about 17,033.5 km2, Upper and Lower Noteć (Górna and Dolna Noteć) about 17,333.9 km2, and Prosna about 5,075.2 km2. The Warta River basin is located within the drainage area of the Odra River. The main river is Warta, which is 808.2 km long, and discharges to Odra River. The main rivers in the river basin are: Noteć (388.4 km), Prosna (216.8 km), Obra (163.8 km) and Ner (125.9 km), Wełna (117.8 km), Drawa (185.9 km), Gwda (145.1 km). The river network is well developed and has been determined by the valleys created as a result of glacier forces. The net is completed with many lakes of different sizes as well as artificial reservoirs. Small reservoirs are used for agricultural purposes, while larger reservoirs are used by industry and for flood protection. They are mainly situated in southern and south-central part Warta River basin. The main reservoirs are: Jeziorsko, Poraj, Piaski - Szczygliczki, Gołuchów, Brzózki. The main flood

protection function plays the reservoir in Jeziorsko with a total volume of 203 million m3, and operational volume of 170 million m3. The extreme northern and southern areas of the Warta River catchment area are abound in woodlands. The northern regions of the Warta basin are covered mainly by the Noteć Forest and in part, by forest complexes of the Drawsko-Kaszubskie and the Walecko-Mysliborskie Lakelands. The basic tree species are pines, and low numbers of spruces, beeches, oaks, birches, and alders, especially in the peat bogs. Due to the fire hazard and the timber industry developed in that area, appreciable parts of the trees standing are thickets. A protective function is assigned to 25% of the woods; the remaining part is either multifunctional or constitutes protected areas. Protected areas In the operational territory of the RWMA in Poznań, there are two national parks: the Wielkopolski National Park, situated southwards from Poznań, and the Drawski National Park, situated in the northern part of the catchment and set in a picturesque landscape of the Drawa River. Apart from the national parks, there are many landscape parks, protected landscape objects, and forest reserves situated within the basin as well. They are concentrated in the immediate Warta River catchment as well as in the catchments of the Noteć, Prosna and Obra.

Figure 14 Indication of water resources and forests in the Warta River Basin

6.3 HISTORICAL AND CURRENT DEVELOPMENT OF WATER RESOURCES OF THE WARTA RIVER BASIN

Historically, water management in the Warta River, and generally in Poland, was focused on the hydrotechnical issues (drainage, retention, flood protection, navigation) and on water supply. The investments in water management were almost exclusively assigned for development of the technical infrastructure. Unlike other parts of Poland, Wielkopolska region developed skills in irrigation techniques. The flood control system of the Warta River consists of several units: embankments, reservoir Jeziorsko as well as a valley, Koninsko-Pyzderska. Embankments, despite efforts over many years to restore them, are not providing a solid protection as they were often built with different types of material. Also the ground of the embankments is often too soft (weak). Therefore, the main function in the system of flood protection is played by Jeziorsko reservoir, situated on the border between Lódz and Wielkopolska provinces. From November until March, the reservoir is normally prepared to receive a flood wave of 203 million m3. The

Jeziorsko reservoir, in connection with natural flooding capacity of the Koninsko-Pyzderskiej valley, as well as the natural flooding capacity of the valley upstream of Poznań, in the neighborhood of Rogalin, provides the good flood protection for the main city on the Warta, Poznań. Gorzów Wlkp., about 200 km downstream of Poznań, recognizes the results of the flow of water from the Noteć River, as well as the backwater from the Odra River. This creates great problems for this city to get protected from flooding, and the only protection is provided by the embankments, which are in quite poor technical condition. Prosna River, in turn, is very unpredictable river with a large flooding potential, which threatens large city of Kalisz. Significant improvement of the situation will be achieved when the reservoir in Wielowieś Klasztorna, with about 50-70 million m3 capacity, is built. Noteć does not provide significant flooding risks. The main reason for the situation is land use, which is dominated by low-intensive pastures and meadows.

6.4 SOCIAL CONTEXT OF RIVER BASIN

Over 34% population living in the Warta River basin, are inhabitants of cities, from which the largest are two agglomerations: Lódz with 800,000 inhabitants and Poznań with 600,000. inhabitants. The other main cities are: Częstochowa, Sieradz, Kalisz, Ostrów Wlkp., Gniezno, Konin, Piła, and Gorzów Wlkp.

Table 5 Characteristics of the Voivodships in the Warta Basin Voivodship Total Area of Total Urban Industrial sales Agriculture Un- Voivodship Population Population production production employment km2 million % PLN/person dt/ha % Kujawsko-pomorskie 17970 2.101 62.30% 11642 27.3 19.2 Lubuskie 13984 1.024 64.75% 10386 14.5 21.3 Łódzkie 18219 2.648 64.88% 11124 16.7 16.3 Opolskie 9412 1.086 52.39% 11331 28.4 15,7 Pomorskie 18293 2.195 68.38% 13380 13.3 16.6 Śląskie 12293 4.857 79.39% 16984 12.7 12.9 Wielkopolskie 29826 3.357 57.70% 14748 31.2 12.5 Zachodniopomorskie 22902 1.733 69.71% 10054 17.7 20.8 Poland 312685 38.648 61.83% 12648 18 15.1

Industry in the Warta River basin is generally located around larger cities, where manufacturing and trading has been developing for centuries and where cheap labor was available. The main industrial zones are: the brown coal mining in Konin and Bełchatów, along with the power stations, the textile industry concentrated around Łódź and Pabianice, and the wood industry concentrated in a belt around the Noteć River and its tributaries, Gwda and Drawa. Heavy industry found localization in large cities: Poznań, Częstochowa, Ostrów

Wlkp., Gorzów Wlkp. Pharmaceutical and chemical industries developed in Pabianice, Poznań, Gorzów Wlkp. as well as Inowrocław. Apart from brown coal mining, there is exploration of rock salt (Wapno and Kłodawa) as well as limestone (the Barcin area) in the Warta River basin. Agricultural farms developed in regions around Sieradz, Kalisz, and Poznań generated the development of agro- and processing industry. There is high concentration of fruit processing industry around Kalisz and Poznań, grain processing industry in areas of Sieradz, Poznań, and Kruszwica, and sugar factories in Wielkopolska Voivodeship.

7. MANAGEMENT OF THE WARTA RIVER BASIN

7.1 PRE-DECENTRALIZATION PERIOD

Similar to the overall situation in Poland prior to 1990, water management in Warta River basin was organized in the administrative boarders of the Voivodeships.

7.2 DECENTRALIZATION REFORM PROCESS

The introduction of the basin-wide management of the water resources was a central initiative coming from the national level. Therefore, the process was very similar in most of the river basins, including Warta River basin.

7.3 MAIN PROBLEMS OF WATER MANAGEMENT

Flood protection. Although the embankments have been carefully restored for many years, they do not offer much safety mainly because of the non-uniformity of the construction materials and weak substratum. Of crucial importance in the flood protection and prevention system is the Jeziorsko retention reservoir with holding capacity of 203 million m3, situated at the borderline of the Łódzkie and Wielkopolskie voivodeships. This reservoir, combined with the natural holding capacities of the Koninsko-Pyzderska flood valley and of the valley situated upwards from Poznań near Rogalin, constitute a quite good flood protection system for Poznań, the largest town on the Warta River. Gorzów Wlkp., situated 200 km from Poznań, can feel the effects of increased water supplies from the Noteć and the backwater from the Oder. In turn, the Prosna is a capricious river, with significant flood potential, threatening another big city - Kalisz. A considerable improvement can be expected when the 50-70 million m3 retention reservoir in Wielowieś Klasztorna is ready for use. The Noteć River does not present big flood hazard because of land underdevelopment; the dominant features are meadows. 2. Recreation. The chief areas utilized for recreational purposes are the Lubuskie, Wielkopolskie, Drawsko-Kaszubskie, and the Walecko-Mysliborskie Lakelands. Those hills formed by the glacier are covered with woods and lakes arranged in their landscape in a picturesque way. The Jura Krakowsko-Częstochowska, with a beautifully situated castle at Olsztyn, is also an enthralling place. The peripheries of the artificial retention lakes—Poraj and Jeziorsko—also attract tourists who like resting near the water. The development of agrotourism, that is, holidays in the countryside, has been growing intensively, especially near lakes or water rings.

3. Navigation. The Warta River basin comprises the following waterways: the Warta River - from the mouth at the Oder to Konin (up to the Ślesiński Canal), the Ślesiński Canal, the Upper canalized Noteć River, the Lower canalized Noteć, the free flowing Noteć to the mouth at the Warta, Bydgoski Canal. In addition, the RWMA in Poznań will administer the stretch of the canalized Brda River to the mouth at the Vistula. These waterways are utilized very differently and have differentiated technical parameters of the navigation route, and therefore, belong to different navigability classes. 4. Reservoir retention. On the Warta River there are two big retention reservoirs. The Poraj reservoir, located above Częstochowa, was to secure water supply for Częstochowa Steelworks and to provide good conditions for recreational centers around its shores. The Jeziorsko reservoir was built chiefly for protecting Konin and Poznań against floods. The function of this reservoir is also water supply and electricity production. In order to secure the habitat for water birds, a stable rising level is maintained in the breeding season from April 1 to June 20. Another significant reservoir in this region is Pakość on the West Noteć of a capacity of 41 million m3. Its main functions are providing water supply to the industrial region of nearby Inowrocław, securing water for agricultural irrigation in the Noteć valley, and providing flood protection. The RWMA in Poznań advocates construction of the Wielowies Klasztorna retention reservoir on the Prosna River above Kalisz, which will provide control of a high water wave to avoid the superposition of the waves from the Warta and the Prosna Rivers, and in consequence, to reduce the flood hazard to Poznań. In the Warta River basin there are 7 smaller reservoirs of a holding capacity of 0.58-1.8 million m3, used for irrigations, fish breeding, and recreation. The problem of the so-called ”small water retention” still needs solving. At the request of the RWMA, the IMWM worked out a study entitled The Hierarchy of Needs in the Small Retention Areas. According to this study, the Wielkopolska region lies in the area of extreme demands. 5. Maintenance of rivers and hydro-engineering facilities. The principal rivers flowing within the operation territory of the RWMA in Poznań are fully or nearly fully regulated. The following river regulation works, aimed at the navigation use, have been carried out in the following stretches: Warta River (from Konin, km 406 to Kostrzyń on the Oder, km 0.0); the Noteć with the Bydgoski Canal and the Upper Noteć Canal and the Ślesiński Canal (newly constructed). The remaining rivers—the Prosna, the Ner, the Obra, and the Wełna have been controlled and provided with stages of fall and weirs in order to draw water for irrigation and fish breeding. Other rivers, like the Gwda, the Drawa and the Upper Warta, have been provided with stages and dams; the generated water rising is utilized in the production of electricity or for driving mills and sawmills. Shortage of financial means causes the repair

works to be limited, hence, the occurrence of both shore erosion and the unintended restoration of a large number of river stretches to their natural state. Therefore, the river traffic conditions become worse and damages for losses must be paid. 6. Safety condition of the hydro-engineering facilities. The RZGW in Poznań administers 103 hydro-engineering objects, the most important being the water lifting facilities on the retention reservoirs, the sluice devices, the Czersko Polskie sluice and weir on the Brda River, the sluice at Okole and Cyżkówka on the Wałbrzyski Canal, finally, the sluice at Pątnów and the Gawrony sluice and weir on the Ślesiński Canal. All hydro-engineering facilities are subject to periodic inspection and control of their technical condition performed by authorized service staff as well as by the Centre for Technical Inspection of Dams of the IMWM. Based upon the controls and inspections carried out, it can be concluded that despite some problems caused by financial shortages, the technical conditions of the buildings under the RWMA’s administration in Poznań, with the exception of the Brda Mouth sluice, which is out of operation and will be liquidated, are not hazardous. 7. Ecological problems of river control. In their maintenance and investment activity, the RWMA in Poznań pays much attention to items related to the protection of the natural environment and ecology. In practice, this range of operation means there is a minimum interference with the environment and, where possible, the natural course of rivers is restored. The use of natural materials—fascine, stone, sand, and wood—usually exerts minimum impact on the natural character of a watercourse, while the biological and biotechnical development brings the desired effects without disturbing the biological equilibrium. 8. In the field of water protection, RWMA in Poznań contributes through giving opinions and recommendations about financing the investment in the field of water protection, in particular in construction of wastewater treatment. RWMA is deeply involved in the construction process of the two largest investments in this field—wastewater treatment plants for the city of Łódź and the city of Poznań, which are the two main conglomerations in the river basin. At the same time, these cities are the main point sources of pollution in the Warta River. Since the introduction of new Water Law Act, RWMA acts as a stakeholder in Water Permitting Procedures, which allows the staff of RWMA the recognition of the activities and investment in the field of water management aimed at the improvement or protection of the environment. At the same time the staff may participate in identification of investments, which may generate threats for surface and ground water resources. An important task is also the completion of the overall balance of surface and underground waters, the balance of water management and the conditions and terms of use of waters in those basin areas for which such studies have not been elaborated yet. All results from the studies will be entered into the computer-aided system of water management and linked to the GIS for the visualization. A relatively small part of the river basin has completed studies concerning capacity of

underground water resources. Due to the large cost of such analysis, which exceeds the financial ability of RWMA, the studies have been conducted only in the three areas so far: the drainage area of Prosna, the drainage area of upper Warta from its source to Liswarta tributary, as well as so called Poznan Basin of Warta River. In the years 2000-2010 such studies are planned to be done in the remaining part of the Warta River basin. Another major task in the years 2000-2010 will be completion of the study of Conditions of Water Use in the River Basin for the so-called Poznan basin of Warta River, as well as for the area between the Liswarta tributary and so-called Poznan basin of Warta River. Simultaneously analysis will be done for the upper and middle Noteć, so that in the year 2010 about 90% of the river basin will have prepared Conditions of Water Use in the River Basin. The remaining 10% of the basin (mainly lower parts of the Warta River basin) is foreseen to be completed later (2011–2012). 9. Since 1997 flooding, RBWM Poznań was involved in the programs concerning remediation of damages after flood, as well as the construction of modern protective systems reducing risk of future flooding. Among the main tasks of RBWM were: preparation of the coherent and comprehensive program and schedule to collect the basic numeric data as well as computer system to compute data in order to support decisions related to flood protection. 10. Yet another important task is creation and maintenance of a river basin database, which will be based on a modern computer system. RBWM has created it, and the regional computer system of water economics (RSIGW) in which the gigantic amount of information about water users in the river basin, the supplies of waters, water quality geological and hydrogeological data, estate register, etc, has been collected. This information is ready for utilization in the database, however, it requires equipment of the highest quality (both hardware and software). RBWM in Poznan is planning to conduct analysis of factual and financial needs related to water management in the river basin. Such a task covers all aspects of water management: Protecting surface and underground waters by constructing sewer systems and wastewater treatment plants, safe landfills for waste, creating safe zones for recharging underground waters resources, etc.; Increasing water supply through the development of the big-scale and small-scale retention; Providing flood protection; Supplying the public with potable water of suitable amount and quality; Supporting public access to water sports and recreation. 11. RWMA participates in the program of Odra River worked out by the Czech Republic, Germany, and Poland. The program "Flodis Oder" concerns the cooperation of water management services in flood protection and water quality of the transboundary Odra River. In the recent years, the two strategic programs "Program Odra 2006" as well as "Program for

Odra" were joined in one coherent program of technical and natural character: "Program for Odra 2006". In the final phase of this process, the Warta River basin was inserted in the modified program. Now, RWMA participates in preparaing the program description for the Warta River basin. Such a program, owing to its complexity, will contain all aspects of water management and environmental protection and will take into consideration all studies executed so far. RWMA in Poznań will also participate in the program of small-scale retention. All studies and investigations confirmed that Wielkopolska and Warta River basin belong to the zone of the greatest needs for small-scale retention.

7.4 PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Land area under cultivation: It is difficult to accept a direct impact of water management on the extent of the cultivated area in the region, where irrigation does not play a significant role in agricultural practices. Additionally, there are several others mechanisms (both social and economical) that more significantly contribute to the explanation of this parameter. Economic value of crops produced: This parameter has more direct connection to other political and economic factors, rather than water management. For instance, supply and demand of the crops on the market, would significantly affect its price. Also, other policy related issues such as taxation system, subsidies in agriculture, prices for fuel and energy have more direct impact than water management system. Number of incidents of waterborne diseases per year: Even though there is still part of wastewater that is discharged to the environment without adequate treatment, waterborne diseases have not been considered a significant issue in Poland for decades. Generally, water supply services (either by centralized municipal systems, or as a private individual facilities) have been efficiently providing waters of good hygienic quality. Probably, the more relevant parameters would be proportion of untreated wastewater discharged to the environment, or proportion of river stretches with satisfactory bacteriological classes of parity.

REFERENCES

Andrzejewski, R. & Baranowski, M., 1993, State of Environment in Poland, Environmental Information Centre, GRID-Warsaw UNEP, Warsaw;

CoM, 2000, Strategy of Sustainable Development of Poland till 2025, Warsaw

EEA, 1995, Europe's Environment, European Environmental Agency, Copenhagen

GUS, 2001a, Central Statistical Office of Poland, Environment 2001, Warsaw

GUS, 2001b, Central Statistical Office of Poland, Statistical Yearbook, Warsaw Słota, H. (Ed.), 2000, Water Management in Poland, Guide, Cracow