LIFE Pilica: Sustainable Water Management in Poland

The LIFE Pilica integrated project tackles these challenges by strengthening the capacity to implement key remedial measures from the Vistula River Basin Water Management Plan, promoting sustainable water management and ecosystem restoration.

The Vistula river basin, covering 183,000 km² (59% of Poland’s surface area), is a vital environmental and economic region. Within it, the Pilica river catchment, spanning 9,251 km² across five voivodships, is a key area for water management. It features diverse landscapes, including parks, nature reserves, and Natura 2000 sites, and supports biodiversity, tourism, and local economies, particularly around the Sulejów Reservoir.

The LIFE Pilica project, funded by the European Union’s (EU’s) LIFE program, aims to improve water quality in the Pilica catchment by implementing the River Basin Management Plan (RBMP). It joins other EU water integrated projects, uniting stakeholders like local authorities, farmers, and environmental experts to address water ecosystem pressures. Key objectives include reducing pollution, promoting sustainable practices, and raising ecological awareness. Specific measures involve improving rural wastewater management, enhancing water retention, restoring stream hydromorphology, and supporting blue-green infrastructure to manage non-point pollution in rural and urban areas.

Challenges include coordinating efforts across diverse regions and ensuring stakeholder collaboration. To address these, LIFE Pilica takes part in the development of  strategic documents on water management, promotes nature-based solutions, and engages communities through education and awareness campaigns. This collaborative approach ensures sustainable and widely supported water quality improvements.

Running from 2021 to 2030, the project aims to achieve 60% of environmental objectives in the basin, reduce blue-green algal blooms in Sulejów Reservoir by 25%, and increase ecosystem services like tourism by 20%. Public awareness of RBMPs is expected to rise by 30%. These efforts align with the EU’s Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, addressing eutrophication, enhancing aquatic ecosystems, and restoring biodiversity through improved hydrodynamics and ecological continuity.

Beyond environmental benefits, the project impacts local economies and public awareness. By fostering cooperation among farmers, authorities, and stakeholders, it promotes sustainable water management practices. Long-term sustainability is ensured through education, strategic planning, and financial mechanisms. The focus on nature-based solutions, such as blue-green infrastructure, ensures lasting improvements in water quality and biodiversity in the Pilica catchment.

#WaterWiseEU campaign 

This story has been submitted by a partner of the #WaterWiseEU campaign. The EU-wide campaign focuses on water resilience, aiming to change the way we see, use and value water. Find out more about the campaign and how you can get involved.