The Polish Supreme Audit Office (NIK) warns that a repeat of the 2022 Odra River ecological disaster is likely unless regulations on mine wastewater dumping are tightened.
Causes of the Odra River Disaster
The NIK has identified that the mass discharge of saline water from Silesian coal mines contributed to the 2022 Odra River ecological disaster, which killed millions of fish and damaged the ecosystem.
The audit office found that current regulations allow mines to dump wastewater with high levels of chlorides and sulfates into rivers, posing a significant risk to aquatic life.
Inadequate Regulations and Enforcement
The NIK criticized the Polish authorities for failing to effectively regulate and enforce wastewater dumping from mines, allowing the practice to continue despite its devastating environmental impact.
In 64% of analyzed water permits, conditions for wastewater discharge were unclear, and in 36%, no conditions were specified, giving mines considerable latitude.
Environmental and Health Consequences
The NIK warned that the situation is likely to worsen due to climate change and increased mining activities, which could lead to another ecological disaster not only on the Odra but also on the Vistula River.
The office also highlighted that the costs of environmental damage and cleanup are often shifted to the public, while mines benefit from lax regulations.
Recommendations for Change
The NIK recommended changes to the fee structure for wastewater discharge, making it less profitable for mines to dump untreated wastewater into rivers.
The authorities are also considering a pilot program to desalinate mine wastewater, with a planned investment of around 5 billion PLN over 10 years.