The plan, dubbed "Water for Poland", seeks to counter water scarcity concerns worsened by climate change.
It was announced by Deputy Infrastructure Minister Marek Gróbarczyk during the 2nd Water Congress in Wrocław, an event focusing on water management and climate adaptation and addressing urgent issues in light of recent water crises across Western Europe.
Gróbarczyk said at a press conference that following years will see “a fight for water”.
“What is happening primarily in Western Europe clearly shows that we must implement our plan in the form of the ‘Water for Poland’ program... which will cover all activities in the field of increasing retention to 20% on a large scale”, Gróbarczyk told reporters.
Currently, Poland only retains 7% of its annual runoff, lagging behind the European average of 15%, Krzysztof Woś, president of the State Water Holding Polskie Wody (Polish Waters), was quoted as saying by state news agency PAP.
The plan involves building 400 reservoirs and modernizing 50,000 km of canals, prioritizing water supply for crucial agricultural areas.
Woś drew parallels with Spain's successful model, targeting enhanced water availability and security for Poland's environment, economy, and society.
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Source: PAP