Wody Polskie increases inspections of groundwater wells

Wody Polskie is intensifying inspections of groundwater intakes to combat illegal water extraction, a trend exacerbated by droughts. Regulations require a water law permit for wells deeper than 30 meters or those with a daily consumption exceeding 5 cubic meters.

Failure to comply can result in fines ranging from 1,000 to 7,500 PLN, and in severe cases, imprisonment or restriction of liberty. Statistics show a significant scale of non-compliance: in 2025, 4,722 decisions were issued regarding illegal groundwater extraction, and 1,798 were issued in the first half of 2026. Total fines imposed during 2025–2026 have exceeded 14 million PLN, with the highest single sanction surpassing 766,000 PLN.

Authorities plan to increase the share of groundwater-related inspections from nearly 20 percent in 2025 to 25 percent in 2026. Experts from the State Geological Institute and Wody Polskie suggest that in some regions, unrecorded extraction may account for up to half of the water taken legally.