State Water Council – appointments were handed out

The State Water Board has officially begun its VI term, covering 2024-2027. The Council included new members whose experience and competence in water management herald promising development and the introduction of innovative solutions. During the inaugural meeting, held yesterday, the Council’s priority tasks for the coming years were discussed.

State Water Council

The State Water Council serves as a consultative and advisory body to the minister in charge of water management. It was established under the Law of July 20, 2017. – Water Law (OJ. U. of 2017. pos. 1566, as amended. zm.). The Council’s main tasks are to formulate opinions, proposals and conclusions on water resources management, flood protection and drought minimization strategies.

The composition of the Council includes a chairman, two deputy chairmen, a secretary and 30 members. According to Art. 363 of the Water Law, members of the Council are appointed by the minister responsible for water management. Candidates for membership are submitted by nationwide organizations that represent local government units, universities, scientific units, and social, economic and environmental organizations related to water management.

Inaugural meeting of the VI term of office

The inaugural meeting of the VI term of the State Water Council was held on July 16. During this meeting, the most important tasks and challenges facing the Council in the coming years were presented. The ceremony also provided an opportunity to officially present the newly appointed members and their plans for the future. In addition, a summary of the Council’s activities from the previous term was conducted.

The end of the meeting was devoted to a debate on a series of legislative changes aimed at reforming water regulations. Special attention was paid to amendments to the Law on Collective Water Supply and Collective Sewage Disposal, the Water Law, as well as the draft law on the revitalization of the Oder River and other laws affecting water resources management.

Appointment of Council members

The latest term of the State Water Board has seen significant personnel changes. Prof. Ph. Izabela Zimoch, a prominent specialist from the Silesian University of Technology. Her deputies became Dr. Mateusz Grygoruk of the Warsaw University of Life Sciences, and Dr. Habil. Eng. Bogdan Michal Wziątek, representing the Polish Angling Association. Pawel Plonski became the Council’s secretary, completing the new composition of the body’s leadership.

Today I was pleased to present you with appointments to the State Water Council for the new term. In the coming years, we will benefit from your knowledge and experience in matters of water management, protection against floods and the effects of drought – said Deputy Infrastructure Minister Przemyslaw Koperski, who chaired the meeting.

The State Water Council has been joined by new members Joanna Kopczynska, chairman of the Polish Water Authority, and Prof. Ph. Agnieszka Kolada of the Institute of Environmental Protection – National Research Institute, who specializes in water protection. The Council was also joined by Prof. Robert Czerniawski of the University of Szczecin and Piotr Nieznański of the Code for Green Foundation. The full list of Council members is available on the website of the Ministry of Infrastructure.

Tasks and goals for the new term

The new term of the State Water Council has set ambitious tasks and goals to increase the efficiency of Poland’s water resources management and adapt to a changing climate. The Council’s main tasks will be to provide opinions on draft planning documents and normative acts related to water management, make proposals to improve water resources, as well as to protect against flooding and the effects of drought. The PRGW will also analyze and provide opinions on programs for the implementation of water maintenance tasks and supervise planned investments in water management. The Council will continue to work on modernizing water infrastructure and implementing modern technological solutions to support sustainable water management and counteract the negative effects of climate change.

Cooperation with local institutions and communities

In the new term, the State Water Council plans to intensify cooperation with scientific institutions, local governments and social and environmental organizations. The goal of this cooperation is to gain a deeper understanding of local needs and water resource management issues, allowing for more effective and inclusive management of these resources. It is also crucial to actively involve various stakeholder groups in the decision-making process, which is essential for an effective and sustainable water policy.

Photo. main: Ministry of Infrastructure, CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 EN