Rainwater retention programme for agriculture
Recently the Polish government announced the "My Water" program, where subsidy support up to 80% of costs (up to PLN 5,000) will be allocated to natural persons as final beneficiaries for the management of rainwater. The program’s budget is PLN 100 million and is directed to inhabitants of both rural and urban areas.
As it is estimated by the Minister of Climate, "My Water" program will finance up to 20 000 household retention installation. We estimate that these investments will keep 1 million cubic meters of water a year at the place where the rain falls, i.e. on private plots. This means that one million cubic meters of very valuable water will relieve the sewage system and reduce the risk of flooding as a result of torrential rains.
Support was provided for the purchase, assembly and commissioning of installations allowing for the use of rainwater and snowmelt in the property covered by the project, as a result of which these waters will not be discharged, for example, into the domestic and economic sewage system, storm water drainage system, drainage ditches discharging outside the property, into the areas neighboring, streets, squares, etc. Received money can be used for drainage pipes (collected from gutters, drains to the above-ground tank, underground tank, pond, draining system), underground or above-ground retention tank, pond, draining system and elements for irrigation or other use of retained water.
The "My Water" program will be implemented in the years 2020-2024, with the signing of grant agreements scheduled up to 30 June 2024, and spending until the end of 2024.
At the same time, the Ministry of Climate and the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (NFEPWM) are working on three other activities related to retention in rural areas and cities. The programs will be targeted at local governments. For that actions, another PLN 210 million can be allocated to investments in the field of water retention and retention.
Within that allocation, PLN 50 million from national funds - as part of the modified NFEPWM priority program "Adaptation to climate change and reducing the effects of environmental hazards" - was reserved for local government units for the implementation of tasks in the field of water retention in rural areas. In this case, grants of up to 70% of eligible costs will be available.
The program answers the call of the Polish agricultural organization for financial support of investments, which would help in collecting and managing rainwater in Poland.
Source: Ministry of Climate, Agropolska.pl, farmer.pl