The most important information (click to go)
Serving tap water in restaurants and other catering outlets is commonplace in many countries, but this hospitable custom is still rarely seen in Poland. Officials in Wroclaw want it to become a standard in our city, so they encourage business owners to join the #PijKranówkę campaign.
Witold Ziomek, President of the Municipal Water Supply and Sewerage Company (MPWiK) in Wroclaw: ‘This is the next stage of our campaign, which we have been running for seven years now. We implement it for two main reasons: to protect our planet and to protect our inhabitants’ wallets. We are delighted that half of them already drink tap water, having resigned almost completely from non-eco-friendly plastic bottles. The people of Wroclaw know and appreciate our water, and we will now try to ensure that others – such as tourists visiting restaurants – learn more about it.
They already serve tap water. Who will join us?
So far, more than 20 outlets offering tap water to guest has taken part in the campaign (they are marked and listed on this map). Those willing to take part – and hotels are also encouraged to do so – need to complete the registration form and send it to [email protected]. The form can be found via this link and in the PDF file below the text.
Przemysław Gałecki, Deputy President of MPWiK Wroclaw: ‘Our partnership in the campaign involves providing our highly recognisable branding. The entrances to the premises offering free tap water are marked with stickers, and information leaflets are available inside. Moreover, staff are provided with training materials about the source and treatment of water or about the microelements and electrolytes contained in it.
To encourage restaurant owners and other interested parties even further, MPWiK’s personnel highlight the benefits of serving tap water, such as:
- an increase in customer satisfaction,
- the environmental aspect (e.g. less waste, including returnable packaging),
- the positive image of the outlet,
- joining the group of the campaign’s ambassadors,
- promotion on MPWiK’s channels.
Radosław Michalski, Director of the City Brand Department: ‘Water is a symbol and should be synonymous with hospitality. Therefore, we encourage the Polish catering industry to start serving it free of charge in an elegant form, for example in glass carafes. It is a small gesture, but a very meaningful one.
Katarzyna Szymczak-Pomianowska, Director of the Department of Strategy and Sustainable Development of the Wroclaw City Office, pointed out that it takes between 2 and 3 litres of water to produce a one-litre bottle and that one person can save 2,500 zlotys and 26 kilograms of plastic by switching from bottled water to tap water.
Katarzyna Szymczak-Pomianowska, Director of the Department of Strategy and Sustainable Development of the Wroclaw City Office: ‘Changing our habits does not always require a huge investment. Sometimes it all starts with the simple decisions we make every day. The increasing availability of tap water throughout the city shows that environmentally friendly solutions can also be convenient, natural and easily accessible to those who live or visit Wroclaw. Actions of this kind foster a culture of responsible consumption.
‘Wroclaw does not waste’ water, either
The programme forms part of the city-wide ‘Wroclaw Does Not Waste’ initiative, which promotes waste reduction and environmentally friendly habits. Thanks to partnerships with restaurants, cafés and hotels, local residents and tourists can put these rules into practice every day.
Jacek Sikorski, Director of Hotel ibis Styles Wroclaw: ‘For about two years now, we have provided our guests with tap water from Wroclaw via public water dispensers. They can choose between sparkling and still water, chilled water or water at room temperature, and there are carafes in their rooms which they can refill at any time. We have decided to replace bottled water with tap water, as this is a solution that benefits both the environment and the hotel.
Jacek Sikorski adds that the hotel reduces the amount of plastic waste, transport and logistics in this way, at the same time enhancing guests’ comfort. The hotel personnel also use tap water.
‘We are delighted that visitors can fill up their water bottles and take water along on a walk or an exploration of Wroclaw. ‘It is a simple way to combine convenience with an environmentally responsible approach,’ says the director of Hotel ibis Styles Wroclaw.
For restaurants and hotels, participation in the programme is an opportunity to highlight their commitment to environmental initiatives and to meet the expectations of guests, who increasingly often look for venues that operate in accordance with the principles of sustainable development.
Krzysztof Szczepański, Director of Concordia Taste: ‘For us, tap water is not a bonus, but a standard. It is used by guests of the Concordia Taste restaurant, event attendees, companies renting office space and people who work at Concordia every day. It is a simple solution that aligns well with the values of modern business: responsibility, convenience and care for the environment.
What is tap water like in Wroclaw?
The water supplied to taps in Wroclaw by MPWiK is drawn from the Oława River, which is fed by the River Nysa Kłodzka. The sources of these rivers are situated at the foot of the Sudeten Foothills and the Śnieżka Massif.
The laboratory of MPWiK takes 10,000 samples a year and carries out nearly 100,000 analyses. Independent quality checks are carried out by the Sanitary and Epidemiological Station. Tap water meets the criteria set by the Polish Ministry of Health and the guidelines of the European Commission and the WHO.
This means that tap water is one of the most frequently tested food products available to the public. In practice, this means that a new sample is taken or a further test is carried out more or less every few minutes to confirm the high quality and safety of water.
Before reaching inhabitants, it undergoes a multi-stage treatment process at MPWiK’s modern water treatment plants. Its quality is constantly monitored at every stage of the process – from the water intake, through the treatment process, to the water supply network.
Tap water contains naturally occurring minerals:
- calcium,
- magnesium,
- potassium,
- sodium.
It is neither fluoridated nor fortified with minerals. Chlorine is added to it, in doses that are completely safe and specified by the Ministry of Health, to protect it from contamination by viruses, microorganisms and bacteria in the pipes.
