wodkan

WOD-KAN, short for wodociągi i kanalizacja, is a Polish term used to refer to the sector responsible for the supply of drinking water and the collection, transport, and treatment of wastewater. The term denotes both the physical infrastructure—water and sewer networks—and the public utilities that operate and maintain them. In everyday usage, WOD-KAN describes the systems and services that ensure water supply, water quality, wastewater collection, treatment, and the related customer and billing activities.

The WOD-KAN system is typically organized as a municipal utility. In many municipalities it is implemented through an own company owned by the gmina, such as a Gminny Zakład Wodociągów i Kanalizacji (GZWiK) or Zakład Wodociągów i Kanalizacji (ZwKi). These entities own the assets, manage operations, and set service standards, while tariffs and major investments are approved by local authorities or municipal councils. The networks include treatment plants, pumping stations, distribution mains, and sewer lines, as well as metering infrastructure and customer service.

WOD-KAN activities are subject to public regulation and standards aimed at protecting public health and the environment. Water quality, wastewater treatment, and discharge are monitored by relevant authorities, with compliance enforced through licenses, inspections, and reporting. The field has undergone modernization and organizational changes since the 1990s, with a continued focus on reliability, efficiency, and infrastructure renewal.

In essence, WOD-KAN describes the Polish water and sewerage sector at the local level, its infrastructure, and the public services that ensure safe drinking water and proper wastewater management.