Polish water agency ramps up illegal well inspections, fines soar

Poland's state water authority, Wody Polskie, has launched a nationwide increase in inspections of private wells and boreholes as drought conditions spur heightened illegal groundwater extraction. Owners who operate wells deeper than 30 metres or draw more than 5 cubic metres per day without a water‑right permit face fines ranging from 1,000 to 7,500 zł, with administrative penalties in severe cases reaching up to 766,000 zł.

In 2025 the agency issued over 6,500 administrative decisions on illegal water taking, imposing total penalties of more than 14 million zł. About 201 territorial inspections were carried out that year, and in 2026 the programme will cover roughly one‑quarter of all water‑related control activities. Violations commonly involve unregistered boreholes, exceeding permitted withdrawal limits, or continued use after a permit has expired.