Left calls for law guaranteeing free tap water in restaurants in Poland

Sep 26, 2025 | Business, Law, Politics, Society

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Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and is published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support.

The Left (Lewica), which is part of Poland’s ruling coalition, has proposed legislation that would require restaurants to provide free tap water to diners. “Water is a right, not a commodity,” says the group.

However, its proposal has already been met with opposition from a government minister hailing from a different part of the ruling coalition, who says that it is “not the right time yet” to introduce such an obligation.

While in many countries it is standard for restaurants to offer tap water if requested – or sometimes even to simply bring it to tables unrequested – in Poland the practice is rare. Indeed, many people remain suspicious of drinking tap water in general.

On Wednesday, deputy infrastructure minister Przemysław Koperski, who hails from The Left, announced that his group had submitted proposed additions to a planned amendment of Poland’s law on water supplies and sewage disposal, which is already intended to further improve drinking-water standards.

Among the newly proposed measures is the introduction of a requirement for restaurants to provide half a litre of tap water for free to every person who orders food.

 

Other elements include ensuring free access to drinking water in public places, improving the quality of tap water, introducing a rapid warning system if any contamination of water supplies is detected, and helping provide access to running water for those who do not currently have it.

Announcing the measures in parliament, Piotr Kowal, a Left MP, said that it is important to promote drinking tap water because it is more environmentally friendly than consuming water from plastic or glass bottles, reports the Polish Press Agency (PAP).

A number of cities in Poland have in recent years run campaigns encouraging residents to drink tap water, which they note is safe, as well as being cheaper and more environmentally friendly than bottled water.

The Left’s proposals were, however, rejected by infrastructure minister Dariusz Klimczak, who comes from the centre-right Polish People’s Party (PSL), another member of the ruling coalition.

“I don’t think it’s the right time yet, and I won’t support this type of solution,” Klimczak told Radio Zet. “Not all places in Poland have tap water. I wouldn’t want to impose on businesses that you have to give it away for free from now on.”

“We currently have bigger problems on our hands with water: flood control measures, drought control measures, decentralisation of [state agency] Polish Waters,” he added. “Once I’ve dealt with that, I’d be happy to discuss free water at restaurants.”

The entire draft amendment to the water law – including The Left’s proposed additions – has now passed to the parliamentary committee on local government and regional policy, which will continue work on the legislation, reports the Dziennik Gazeta Prawna daily.

Among other measures included in the bill – which is intended to bring Poland in line with the EU’s Drinking Water Directive – are more stringent quality parameters for drinking water and requirements for water companies to provide customers with clearer data on prices and consumption.

There will also be greater responsibilities for property owners to conduct periodic risk assessments of water supplies and easier online access to up-to-date water quality information for residents.


Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support.

Main image credit: Candace McDaniel/StockSnap

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