Funding for rainwater systems 2026. Who can receive 8 thousand PLN from the “Microretention” program?

Voivodeship Funds for Environmental Protection and Water Management have just announced the rules for applying for financial support under the Microretention program. Calls for applications in individual regions will start on 22 June this year. What is worth knowing?

We have already written about the new program, which is set to replace the My Water initiative, in mid-March. The two most important changes worth highlighting are the decentralization of fund management and higher grant amounts – up to 8 thousand PLN. The Microretention program will be implemented by WFOŚiGW, which have been allocated appropriate funding envelopes based on previously submitted applications.

The total budget of Microretention is 173 million PLN and comes from the European Funds for Infrastructure, Climate, Environment (FEnIKS) 2021–2027 program.

Do you want to benefit from the Microretention program?

The new program is aimed at individuals who are owners, co-owners, or perpetual usufruct holders of residential properties where a project for collecting and storing rainwater has been implemented. This is very important – only completed investments are eligible for support.

What is worth knowing about the microretention program?

• The funding will cover 90 percent of eligible costs (up to 8 thousand PLN), provided they were incurred after 1 July 2024 but before 31 December 2027.
• The minimum value of eligible costs is 2 thousand PLN.
• Applications may cover the costs of purchasing, installing, constructing, expanding, and commissioning systems for collecting rainwater and meltwater from roofs, driveways, or pavements.
• Rainwater storage tanks must have a minimum capacity of 2 m³, and the area covered by retention must be at least 50 m².
• Support will also be granted for the purchase and installation of pumps, sprinklers, or water distribution units.

The National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (NFOŚiGW) emphasizes that collected water may only be used for household needs, gardens, and natural retention, and not for agricultural or commercial activities.

Where to find the necessary documents?

According to announcements from NFOŚiGW, on 1 June the application rules along with the required forms were published on its websites. All calls will be conducted from 22 June 2026, exclusively in electronic form via the Application Generator.

The published documentation includes detailed catalogs of eligible and ineligible costs, template powers of attorney, and recommendations regarding technical requirements and supporting documents. In case of questions or doubts, it is advisable to contact representatives of the regional WFOŚiGW.

It is dry and will remain so, water must be collected

The importance of the Microretention program for Poland is confirmed by facts. April in Poland was exceptionally dry, which affected the hydrological situation in catchments and increased fire risk levels. The situation was not improved by rainfall in the first and second ten-day periods of May. According to current data from IMGW-PIB, low water levels are recorded at 71 percent of gauging stations.

The pessimistic scenario of developments is confirmed by the first this year report issued under the Agricultural Drought Monitoring System. In the period from 21 March to 20 May 2026, in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian and Masovian voivodeships, in the northern part of the Łódź and Greater Poland voivodeships, and in the Lublin voivodeship, exceptionally low values of the Climatic Water Balance were recorded – even below -125 mm.

However, rain will come, as climate change increases the intensity of extreme weather events, including strong storms and heavy rainfall. Such wet episodes are a great opportunity to retain water and store it for later use, benefiting home gardens, the microclimate, and the surrounding environment.