28 this year a scientific conference was held on the use of the potential that area located in the Lower Vistula presented. Experts discussed, among other issues on further necessary investments that will allow for continuing development of various branches of the economy. They also emphasized the importance of building the Włocławek Barrage, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
The conference was opened by Anna Moskwa, Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Maritime Economy and Inland Waterw. In her speech, she emphasized the role of the Włocławek Water Barrage and announced further investments.
– We are glad that it has been 50 years. At the same time, on this occasion, we emphasize how seriously we treat this difficult to use facility and thank everyone who works on it. The construction and utilization of barrages fits into the idea of a comprehensive approach to water management. This idea is especially important for our ministry and for Polish Waters. The Włocławek barrage is an example of complexity, which includes anti-flood functions, transport developement, as well as hydropower and green order of the European Union. The construction of another barrage on the Vistula River is upcoming – SW Siarzewo – announced the Deputy Minister.
The President of Polish Waters – Przemysław Daca also emphasized the significant role played by the water barrages.
– The Barrage of Water in Włocławek was established 50 years ago as part of larger Stepped Falls of the Vistula Project. It was built quite efficiently at that time and is still used today. It serves, among others as a water reserve in the Włocławek Reservoir, it also provides flood defences. The Włocławek Barrage is also effectively used by an energy company to obtain the so-called blue energy. The facility is part of a larger project that we are currently starting to implement – explained Przemysław Daca.
Experts gathered during the conference “Potential of the Lower Vistula” discussed how to achieve the intended goals, ie sustainable development of transport, energy, flood protection, water management, agriculture, forestry and tourism in the Lower Vistula area. They emphasized the importance of building the Włocławek Barrage, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Among the invited guests was prof. Jan Żelazo, Editor-in-Chief of “Gospodarka Wodna” magazine, which also has its jubilee this year and celebrates its 85th anniversary.
Włocławek Barrage
SW Włocławek was the first constructed barrage of the planned Stepped Falls of the Lower Vistula and was the largest comprehensive water management investment in the times of the Polish People’s Republic. This huge investment was to activate the region economically, and the hydropower plant built on the occasion was to produce cheap mid-merit energy and play an important role as an emergency and intervention reserve in the Northern Energy District. The Włocławek Barrage was also supposed to limit both the effects of drought and locally – reduce the risk of flooding.
The construction of the facility began in 1963, and in 1970 it was put into operation. It was created as the first step of the Lower Vistula Stepped Falls, assuming that in the next 10-15 years another barrage would be built in the vicinity of Ciechocinek. However, the construction of the remaining 7 barrages was abandoned, which was important because the construction solutions for the barrage in Włocławek were closely related to the water damming level on the next, planned barrage, which was to guarantee the maintenance of the water table in the lower position.
Unfortunately, the water level in the lower position has not been “supported” by the construction of the next barrage until today, but the representatives of Polish Waters announced that this will change soon.
– We are currently in the planning cycle and we will continue to consistently implement this project. Although the facility is half a century old, it fits perfectly into modern trends, because the Włocławek Hydroelectric Power Plant produces ecologically clean energy using the full hydroelectric potential of the Vistula in Włocławek – said Przemysław Daca, President of National Water Management “Polish Waters”
Experts gathered during the conference emphasized that further investments in the Lower Vistula area are also necessary for security reasons.
– Włocławek has been operating as a single barrage for fifty years, and due to the lack of a ‘supporting’ barrage, a progressive erosion process of the river bottom is observed, which threatens its stability. In order to prevent a potential construction disaster, it is necessary to build a barrage downstream of Włocławek – emphasized Krzysztof Woś, Deputy President of National Water Management “Polish Waters”, Flood and Drought Protection Departament.
Investments in the area of the Lower Vistula are also announced by representatives of Energa, part of the Orlen Group. – We are convinced that the Włocławek Barrage will serve us for the next decades. At the same time, however, we are working on creating modern facilities in its vicinity that will contribute to the sustainable development of transport, energy, flood protection, water management, agriculture, forestry and tourism – said Piotr Meler, President of the Management Board of Energa OZE.
Honorary Committee of the conference “Potential of the Lower Vistula”: Minister of Maritime Economy and Inland Waterway Marek Gróbarczyk, Governor of Kujawsko-Pomorskie Province Mikołaj Bogdanowicz, Marshal of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Province Piotr Całbecki, President of Włocławek City Marek Wojtkowski and President of the Federation of Scientific and Technical Associations of the Supreme Technical Organization Ewa Mańkiewicz –Cudny.
Marek Gróbarczyk, Minister of Maritime Economy and Inland Waterway, in his cover letter, described the significance of the Włocławek Barrier: “This is an example of investments that enable us to develop the Lower Vistula so that it serves important social and economic interests. The construction of dams has great potential – not only does it help to prevent disasters such as floods, droughts or fires – it also allows for free waterways, which is important for many areas of the economy. The Włocławek Barrage allows the maintenance of the Va class waterway today. The next water barrages planned by us, as part of the construction of the Lower Vistula Stepped Falls , will allow for the extension of this waterway, which will stimulate further economic development of the region and the whole country, and will also provide new routes for goods flowing to Polish seaports in increasing numbers.”
The organizers of the “Lower Vistula Potential” conference are the National Water Management “Polish Waters”, Energa / Orlen Group, the scientific and technical journal “Gospodarka Wodna”. The honorary patronage over the conference was taken by the Ministry of Water Economy and Inland Waterway, while the media patronage over the event was taken by TVP3 Bydgoszcz.
The most important facts about the Włocławek reservoir.
It is the largest reservoir in central Poland. The facility with an area of 75 km2 and a capacity of 370 million m3 is a flow-through type. The low-lying areas on the left bank of the reservoir are protected by 30 km long side earth dams. Levees on both river banks are located above the reservoir. The average width of the reservoir is 1.2 km (maximum 3 km) and the average depth is 5.5 m (the maximum is 15 m). The Water Barrage consists of: a shipping lock with avanports, a hydroelectric power plant, a fish pass, a weir, a front earth dam, a sill stabilizing the lower position of the weir, an emergency dam and side dams with eight pumping stations (discharges drainage waters from 2,830 ha).