Sharon Moran

Abstract

The costly task of maintaining a safe public drinking water supply in an industrial society is explored, and both technical and social aspects of the challenge are considered. Advances in testing and treatment techniques have positive health benefits but make the provision of safe drinking water increasingly expensive. These costs are differentially higher for residents of smaller cities and towns. The Polish case is presented; stresses on the resource are discussed; the approach to ensuring drinking water quality is outlined; and new institutions for water resource management are reviewed.

Keywords: Water supply-Poland; urbanization-environmental issues; water supply management; drinking water regulation

Sharon Moran, Graduate School of Geography, Clark University 950 Main Street, 01610-1477, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA