Summary:

The quantitative and qualitative state of water resources in Poland were presented in the paper. Discussed were selected factors shaping changes of water quality, including: improvement in sewage treatment balance, increase in the sewage system length, increase in the population number using sewage treatment plants, diminished outflow of organic substances and biogens in treated sewage. Presented state of water purity in Poland indicates, that despite improving quality, their state is still bad and the date when the desired state may be reached is still distant. The needs of municipal economy were presented against the state of water management, including the characteristics of selected systems of waterworks and sewage disposal systems development during the period of the last two decades, indicating the specific character of these systems in rural areas.