In the municipalities located at the foothills of the Carpathians, water is becoming an increasingly valuable resource. Climate change, including declining snow cover and prolonged periods without rainfall, is causing once-fast-flowing mountain streams and rivers to flow increasingly slowly, while groundwater levels have dropped so significantly that scientists warn of a deepening hydrological drought. Local residents’ experiences confirm these changes – even the oldest inhabitants cannot remember a time when wells that were once abundant dried up as they do today.
Water shortages are now affecting even municipal water supply networks.
It has already happened that our volunteer firefighters had to deliver water by tanker from a private water intake to ensure an adequate level in our water supply system
At the same time, wastewater collection and treatment have also been major challenges. In the village of Dudyńce, located within Bukowsko Municipality, the lack of a sewerage system had been one of the key issues affecting residents for many years. Households mainly relied on individual septic tanks, which, in the event of leaks, contributed to environmental pollution, especially of local watercourses.
These challenges affect residents’ daily lives and highlight the growing importance of circular water management, water conservation, and the ability to retain and reuse water resources. Therefore, Bukowsko Municipality (Podkarpackie Voivodeship, PL) welcomed the opportunity to participate in the project “Clean Water – Development of Sustainable Water Management in the Cross-Border Area” (WaterWise).
The municipality was able to establish cooperation with a local government partner in Ukraine facing similar challenges. In the city of Rudky (Lviv Oblast, UA), the sewerage infrastructure had deteriorated and was largely out of use, while individual wastewater management solutions no longer met the required sanitary standards.
The beginnings of cooperation
The partnership between Bukowsko and Rudky began with a meeting during the final event organised by the Slovak town of Snina as part of a cross-border project co-financed by the Interreg Poland–Slovakia Programme. It was there that representatives of both local governments made their first contact, which quickly developed into further cooperation.
The event was followed by an exchange of emails, phone conversations and mutual visits – both in Bukowsko and Rudky. Cooperation between the partners was further strengthened during the difficult first days of the war, when they supported each other. At the same time, the concept of a joint project was gradually developed, eventually taking the form of the WaterWise initiative currently being implemented.
Bukowsko: from challenge to solution
In Bukowsko Municipality, the project has entered an advanced stage of implementation. The construction of a modern sewerage network in Dudyńce is nearing completion. Once operational, it will allow additional households to connect to a system ensuring safe and efficient wastewater management.
This investment will directly improve residents’ quality of life and contribute to the protection of the natural environment. In the near future, rain gardens will also be created in Dudyńce and Pobiedno to help retain rainwater and support natural water retention processes.
Meanwhile, across the border…
As part of the WaterWise project, the sewerage network in the centre of Rudky is being reconstructed. Thanks to this investment, residents will gain access to a more reliable system, while the quality of wastewater management will significantly improve.
At the same time, a rainwater storage reservoir is being constructed. It will serve a practical purpose – the collected water will be used, among others, for fire protection. This is an example of a solution that combines residents’ safety with the sustainable management of natural resources.
What’s next? Green solutions and education
Educational activities are also planned on both sides of the border, including workshops for children and young people, as well as meetings and training sessions for local authorities. Their aim is to raise awareness that responsible water management starts with everyday decisions.
The WaterWise project is an example of a partnership in which each side contributes its own experience and responds to local needs while pursuing a common objective.
Shared responsibility for water
Although the investments are implemented locally, their effects will extend beyond administrative boundaries and contribute to the protection of the wider cross-border area. Reducing pollution and improving wastewater management will help improve water quality in key Carpathian rivers, including the San River, which belongs to the Baltic Sea basin, and its right-bank tributary, the Vyshnia River, flowing mostly through Ukraine.
The project demonstrates that effective protection of water resources requires cooperation and joint action – regardless of administrative borders. Initiatives such as WaterWise show that cross-border cooperation can translate into concrete and lasting results, bringing benefits both today and in the future.
Learn more about the project HERE.
