Rainwater funding 2025. How to obtain money for micro-retention?

As of 17 November 2025, residents of Krakow can apply for funding for projects related to the management of rainwater and meltwater. Micro-retention is not only beneficial for household budgets and gardens but also for local ecosystems. Autumn is an excellent time to plan such investments in other cities as well.

Poles need to start collecting water

According to the latest report of the Polish Geological Service, hydrogeological low flow persists in 14 voivodeships in November. Even the fact that October was wetter than the long-term average has not significantly changed the condition of underground water resources. Poland does not have enough water, and agricultural drought remains a recurring problem every year.

Micro-retention is based on the assumption that rainwater is collected directly where precipitation occurs. Barrels, tanks, drainage systems and rain gardens are solutions that can be used with any roof and in any garden. Even when small tanks are used, the scale effect allows significant amounts of rainwater to be captured in urban and rural environments, reducing water shortages during periods of deficit.

Krakow micro-retention of rainwater and meltwater

The authorities of Krakow have launched another round of applications for funding projects related to the collection and use of rainwater. The Krakow micro-retention programme provides reimbursement of up to 80 percent of incurred costs, but no more than PLN 12,000. Grants are available for the implementation of investments such as:

• construction of an underground or above-ground tank together with a gutter connection system;
• construction of a bioretention system;
• construction of a drainage system collecting rainwater and meltwater;
• installation of an irrigation system;
• construction of a green roof.

Applications may be submitted until 12 December 2025 in electronic form or at Resident Service Points of the Krakow City Hall.

Support for small-scale retention in other Polish cities

Micro-retention is a concept that is gaining growing support among local governments. Many Polish cities run periodic programmes subsidising investments in systems for collecting rainwater and meltwater, aimed not only at owners of single-family houses but also at housing associations and businesses.

In Warsaw, the application process began on 1 September and will continue until 31 March 2026. The subsidy will cover up to 80 percent of costs, but no more than PLN 4,000 for single-family houses and PLN 10,000 for other buildings. The same rules apply to residents of Sopot, who can apply for funding until 12 December.

Gdynia runs an ongoing application process (up to PLN 10,000), while in Wrocław new editions of the Catch the Rain programme are usually launched in spring. Annual spring rounds are also organised in Poznań, where housing cooperatives and associations could receive up to PLN 50,000 this year, and owners of single-family houses up to PLN 6,000, as well as in Lublin, where funding covers up to 70 percent of costs.

Unfortunately, there is a severe lack of nationwide micro-retention support programmes that would also be available to residents of small municipalities. The My Water programme, run by the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (NFOŚiGW), despite its great popularity, has not been continued in 2025. As a result, the potential for developing blue infrastructure in Poland remains largely untapped.