Summary:

The paper presents results of analyses concerning influence of water/ wastewater objects and infrastructure on the landscape. Foundations for the carried out research were on one hand formally-legal and technical requirements regarding location of water/wastewater infrastructure objects, and on the other hand – valuation of their influence on the landscape. In order to prove this argument, that such influence exists, review of systems of rural water/wastewater infrastructure was made, especially on the area of South Poland, using photographic documentation collected in the Department, and also performing additional local view in order to complete it. The paper also shows examples of objects’ location with positive or negative influence on the landscape. Beneficial influence on the landscape was found in the case of surface waters’ intakes and located reservoirs of raw water in their neighbourhood. In the case of supply – equalising reservoirs, pressure on the landscape is dependent on their sizes and the applied solution (water towers or water reservoirs). The most unfavourable influence on the landscape have sewage treatment plants situated in exposed places. The research showed, that while choosing location of water/wastewater infrastructure objects on the areas of high touristic and landscape qualities, and also in the neighbourhood of existing buildings of historical character, consultation with landscape architectures is advisable. In the situation of already existing objects, to a large degree it is possible to improve its aesthetics by planting properly chosen coppice and standard flora which acts as decoration as well as masking. While designing new water/ wastewater infrastructure elements in Poland the pressure should be put on building them correctly, not only concerning technical regards, but also on the full harmony with the landscape and Polish village’s architecture.