President signs amendment to the Water Law

On February 18, 2025, the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, signed the Act of January 24, 2025, amending the Water Law and the Act on Amendments to the Water Law and Certain Other Acts. The amendment concerns the financing of key state services and the increase of budget limits for the years 2025–2028.

Objectives of the amendment

The changes to the Water Law aim to address irregularities identified in the audit report of the Supreme Audit Office (NIK) P/24/001 – State Budget Execution in 2023, Part 22 – Water Management. The key corrections pertain to the allocation of subsidies for:

• The State Hydrological and Meteorological Service,
• The State Service for the Safety of Dam Structures,
• The State Geological Service.

As part of the amendment, paragraphs 3a and 3b have been added to Article 385 of the Water Law, allowing:

• The Institute of Meteorology and Water Management – National Research Institute (for tasks related to the State Hydrological and Meteorological Service and the State Service for the Safety of Dam Structures),
• The Polish Geological Institute – National Research Institute (for tasks related to the State Geological Service)

to receive institutional subsidies from the state budget.

Increase in Budget Expenditures

The amendment also provides for an increase in state budget expenditure limits to finance the activities of the above-mentioned services in the years 2025–2028.

The act will enter into force 14 days after its official announcement.