BALTIC SEAENVIRONMENT PROCEEDINGS No. 59 - Helcom

- 7 Directorates of Water Resource Administration which were
established covering the whole territory of Poland, whose
mission is to maintain river courses, coordinate anti-flood
activities, and collect small river transport fees,
Local organs
are:
- governors,
of governmental administration in the same field
who realize tasks from the water economy including
water quality protection through the Division of Environmental
Protection;
- heads of local districts who support activities of province
structures and directly support local governmental activities;
- state environmental Protection Inspectors and Province
Environmental Protection Inspectorate.
Present principles of protection and management of water
resources are determined by the Water Act of 24th October, 1974
with many later amendments.
The sustainable Water Sector Development Policy is based on the
following principles:
- decentralization of management of water resources by
implementation of the River Basin Management System;
- reduction of allowable concentrations of pollutants deposited
into the surface and ground water;
- introduction of progressively growing charges for waste
disposal;
- strengthening of economic instruments in order to enforce
minimization of water losses and increased recirculation in
water use for the industry and energy production.
The new Water Law Act which was considered by commissions of
Parliament, after adoption , will replace the Act of 1974. The
new act will codify changes in water management administration
and legalize the newly created Regional Water Development
Authorities. This act will determine also the role and functions
of the Regional Water Authorities and their tasks.
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