The verdict on the state behemoth has already been passed. What will the liquidation of Polish Waters mean?

The Water Management Polish Waters was established on 1 January 2018 on the basis of state budget units, i.e. the National Water Management Resource and employees of district offices. The direct reason for the reform of water management was the need to implement the provisions of the EU Water Framework Directive. Its implementation was a condition for Poland to use funds from the European Union operational programmes for the years 2014-2020.

However, Polish Waters as a new creation and institution did not prove successful.

- It's time to close the chapter titled "Polish Waters" and breathe life into a healthy model . I believe that this will happen if only our recommendations are accepted by the government and parliament - says Przemysław Koperski, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure, in an interview with Dziennik Zachodni.

In his opinion, Polish Waters were created contrary to the spirit of the European Water Framework Directive and instead of strengthening local governments, they took away their competences and control.

The new system, on which the advisory team for changing the water management system in Poland is finalizing its work, will primarily consist in separating the management of the Vistula from the management of the Oder, as well as separating administration from investment.

- The Vistula River Basin Authority, the Odra River Basin Authority and the National Water Administration will take on the tasks of Polish Waters and, most importantly, we will create a water fund based on the proven government road development fund, from which it will be possible to finance tasks reducing the risk of floods or droughts, including those reported by local governments - added Koperski in an interview.

Let us recall that the initial project of the reform of Polish Waters was proposed in the spring of 2024, but - as the Minister of Infrastructure Dariusz Klimczak said: "there was an outcry that increasing the competences of local governments would be associated with drastic increases in water prices".

At that time, however, the head of the ministry said that the Polish Waters Water Management Company required deep restructuring, not liquidation.

As gazeta.pl notes, the complete liquidation of Polish Waters may be problematic. The state-owned farm employs as many as 6.6 thousand people. Currently, in the country we have: 11 Regional Water Management Boards (RZGW), 50 Catchment Boards, 330 Water Supervision Boards and the National Water Management Board.

Let us also recall that Magdalena Biejat, the Left's candidate for the President of the Republic of Poland, spoke in favor of the liquidation of Polish Waters in the electoral campaign.

- Polish Waters could not cope with either the drought or the contamination of the Odra River," said Biejat, adding that "it is high time to liquidate Polish Waters and transfer some of their competences to local governments."