Author(s)

J. Chudzicki

Abstract

Water supply systems play an extremely important role in the technical infrastructure of settlement units, ensuring efficient and reliable supply of drinking water to consumers.

There are many different threats to uninterrupted water supply, such as equipment failures, natural disasters or catastrophes. Provision of water supply is especially important nowadays, given the increasing terrorist attack threat to the modern world.

Stoppage of water supply to a large urban area or contamination of drinking water poses a real threat to the health and life of hundreds or even thousands of inhabitants.

Paradoxically, in the case of the Polish water supply systems, the aforementioned risks can be realised with relative ease.

The paper identifies the critical points of risk to water supply systems, in particular to point structures and linear structures. It discusses the legal aspects of the control over and the public disclosure of sensitive technical information concerning the hydro-engineering structures.

Keywords

water supply systems, hazards, water supply in crisis conditions