Well owners under the microscope. Exceeding these limits can cost you dearly
Polish Waters increases the number of well inspections. There are two important limits without a permit, and exceeding them can result in a fine of up to PLN 7,500. PLN fine.
Having a well on your own plot does not mean that you can draw water without any restrictions. Polish Waters increasingly monitors the use of groundwater. The reason is the growing scale of off-record collection, especially in areas affected by drought.
The regulations allow the use of wells without additional consent, but only after meeting certain conditions. Both the depth of the intake and the amount of water taken in each day are important.
Well without permission. Two important limits
You can use an intake up to 30 meters deep without a permit, provided that your daily water consumption does not exceed 5 cubic meters. Exceeding even one of these limits means the need to obtain a water permit.
This means that formalities may also be required if the well itself is not deeper than 30 meters, but the owner draws more than 5 cubic meters from it. water per day. Similarly, a permit will be needed for deeper intakes, even if consumption remains below the indicated limit.
Even 7.5 thousand PLN fine for water consumption
The scale of detected cases is expected to increase. In 2025, 4,722 decisions were issued regarding illegal groundwater abstraction, and another 1,798 in the first part of 2026. The total value of fines imposed in 2025–2026 exceeded PLN 14 million.
Violation of the regulations may result in a fine ranging from PLN 1,000 to PLN 7,500. In the most serious cases, arrest or restriction of liberty are also possible. Liability may also apply to persons who do not fulfill the obligations arising from the decision to withdraw or expire a water permit.
There should be more inspections of wells
One of the reasons for the increased interest in groundwater are long periods without precipitation and high temperatures. In such conditions, surface water resources are limited, and more and more people begin to use water located underground.
In 2025, almost every fifth field inspection concerned groundwater abstraction. In 2026, the share of such inspections is to increase to 25%. Specialists from the Polish Geological and Polish Water Institute indicate that in some parts of the country the amount of water abstracted outside the register may correspond to up to half of the legally registered abstraction.
When is a water permit needed?
A permit is required when the well depth exceeds 30 meters or water withdrawal exceeds 5 cubic meters. per day. The document may be issued for a maximum of 30 years.
The cost of issuing a water permit is PLN 330.07. However, the maximum fee cannot exceed PLN 6,372.27. In certain situations, the issued authorization may be limited or withdrawn – with or without compensation.
