Development and spatial differentiation of water and sewage infrastructure in Poland in the years 1995–2014

Abstract

Municipal infrastructure has an impact on the functioning and development of the settlement system of the country, the development of cities and rural areas. The aim of the article is to present changes in the level of water supply and sewage infrastructure, showing the dynamics of the processes in the country, the various provinces and comparing the effects of the implementation of tasks in urban areas and rural areas. The time range of the study covers the last 20 years, ie. the years 1995–2014. The study showed significant effects of investment. In the first years of self-realized investment concerned all water supply, then complementary projects for sewer were launched. Large investment effects were noted especially in the regions of eastern and central Poland. To a large extent this was possible thanks to the support programs funded by national and EU subsidies. In terms of the spatial layout much attention should be paid to the disproportion percentage on the network between Polish eastern and western and northern regions. In part this is due to continuing with the historical conditions and the uneven allocation of investment in the post-war period. Despite reported significant improvements in property investment the scale of the needs in the various regions of the country it is still high. This means that in the coming years it will be necessary to economise in the budgets of municipalities further funds for development of infrastructure of water and sewage. This is one of the conditions shaping the growth of competitiveness of territorial units and the possibility of multi-functional, sustainable development.