Ministry of the Interior allocates PLN 7 billion for urban water retention

Climate change is presenting Polish cities with increasing challenges, including intensified heat waves, more frequent droughts and sudden floods. In response to these threats, the Ministry of Climate and Environment (MoC) has announced the allocation of PLN 7 billion for the development of retention infrastructure. The investments, to be completed by 2027. will include both small and large-scale retention, the greening of urban spaces and the implementation of smart water management systems.

The initiative is crucial for the adaptation of larger and smaller cities to changing climatic conditions. Numerous benefits are anticipated through these measures, including lowering local temperatures, improving air quality and reducing the risk of flooding. These measures are aimed at creating conditions conducive to a healthier and more comfortable life for residents.

Increasingly frequent heat waves, as well as storms and flooding are an everyday occurrence today. That is why we have launched a program to support investments important to the challenges and adaptation to climate change, small and large retention – Minister Paulina Hennig-Kloska said at Wednesday’s press conference.

For whom is the support?

Various entities will be able to benefit from the program. The government has decided to support efforts to improve water retention by allocating more than PLN 7 billion for:

• local governments;
• water and sewage companies;
• public entities, including: Polish waters, GIOŚ, WIOŚ, marine offices;
• national parks.

The allocation of these funds is provided for the implementation of numerous projects focused on medium and small-scale retention. These initiatives will be key to making cities more resilient to extreme weather events.

There is a high public expectation that the centers of our cities green up, that there should be more and more parks, more and more trees, and that the cobblestones should disappear from them,” the minister pointed out at the conference.

Who will receive the money?

The Fund provides that medium retention projects will be implemented in 44 of Poland’s largest cities, including Warsaw, with an allocation of PLN 2.5 billion. In addition, a sum of PLN 4.5 billion will be allocated for the implementation of small retention programs in smaller urban centers. As Robert Gajda, vice president of the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management, told the conference, the total funds allocated for the program, amounting to PLN 7 billion, will come mainly from the EU FEniKS program, with an additional PLN 1.1 billion secured from the European Funds for Eastern Poland.

Under the European Funds for Eastern Poland, the ministry also plans to support medium-sized cities losing socio-economic functions, as well as other sub-regional centers and cities with the highest accumulation of marginalized communities, in the range of 20 to 100 thousand. residents, including towns with spa status.

What will the funds be used for?

The IOC says the support will be used for:

• Construction of a stormwater drainage network and associated green-blue infrastructure that contributes to the drainage, retention and use of rainwater;
• Greening of water bodies or their restoration in local urban catchments;
• Construction of rainwater reservoirs with accompanying infrastructure;
• Elimination of obstructions or soil sealing;
• Promoting small-scale retention;
• Renaturalization of transformed watercourses and water-dependent areas,
• Construction, reconstruction or rehabilitation of water facilities and supporting infrastructure to reduce the effects of floods and drought;
• Development and updating of strategic documents on water management, flood risk management and water resources protection.

Poland is among the four European countries alongside the Czech Republic, Malta and Cyprus with less than 1,700^{m3 of} water per person per year. According to UN requirements, Poland is in the group of water stressed countries, which is evident every summer day . Ministra Paulina Hennig-Kloska podkreśliła także, że jakość wód, wały przeciwpowodziowe, zbiorniki retencyjne i zatrzymywanie wód w aglomeracjach, monitoring jakości wód, wymagają natychmiastowych inwestycji.

Part of the amount has already been paid

The vice-president of the National Environmental Protection and Water Management Fund and the head of the Ministry of Environmental Protection stressed that some of the funds under discussion have already been allocated. Over the past six months, the National Environmental Protection and Water Management Fund has processed applications for a total of more than PLN 1.5 billion. To date, 31 agreements have been signed, and another 15 applications are awaiting finalization. Cities such as Sopot, Kielce, Grudziądz, Gdańsk, Radom, Białystok, Gliwice, Olsztyn, Gorzów Wielkopolski, Warsaw, Zielona Góra, Bielsko-Biała, Bydgoszcz, Wrocław and Poznań have already received funds. In addition, dozens of applications have passed preliminary verification, and the Fund expects to sign new agreements in the near future. The next round of calls is planned for autumn.

Robert Gajda also noted that climate change adaptation is a priority for the European Union, which raises expectations for additional funding, which the ministry is currently seeking.

Photo. main: Gdansk Waters