Drought in Poland: A creeping disaster
It’s been a warm, and in many places snowless winter. Spring has begun with relatively low rainfall. We observe low water levels on rivers. According to weather forecasts there will be no significant rainfall in April. "Drought is a cumulative phenomenon, and Poland is not prepared to capture water" – comments Prof. Paweł Rowiński, hydrologist, vice president of the Polish Academy of Sciences.
In an interview with TOK FM radio, the expert reminded that our country lacks sufficient retention reservoirs. "For too long Polish water management have suffered from underinvestment. Poland retains only 6.5% of the rainwater. The most important way of capturing water, local impoundment, was destroyed" – assesses Prof. Paweł Rowiński.
"With drought it is different than with flood. It creeps up silently and very slowly. This is a cumulative phenomenon. Already 2018 was a very dry year, and nature is not helping our hydrological system to renew" explains the expert.
Drought may affect seriously agriculture and result in higher fruit and vegetable prices, it hits also other sectors such as energy industry and water transport. There is a risk of water supply interruptions in some municipalities (last summer this situation happened in Skierniewice).
Polish water resources are rated as one of the lowest in Europe. Only Cyprus and Malta have even lower resources than Poland. In Poland there is 1.56 million liters of freshwater per person per year. For comparison, the average for Europe is almost three times higher (4.56 million liters per year).
Poland has suffered from a chronic water shortage for years. Now the situation is getting worse due to climate change.
Source of information: Interview given on April 15, 2020 for TOK FM radio
