According to the latest information provided by the services, the situation on the Bóbr River is currently being monitored on an ongoing basis. On September 3, Polish Waters conducted monitoring of the river along the section from the Pilchowice Dam to the Rakowice Small Hydroelectric Power Plant. No obstructions impeding the free flow of water were found there.

No accumulation of sediment restricting the river channel’s flow capacity was recorded either. This means that, in terms of water flow, the situation remains stable.

New water test results

At the same time, the services received the results of tests of samples collected on August 31, 2026. The State Sanitary Inspection indicates an improvement in the microbiological quality of the water.

At the sites in Nielestno, Rakowice Małe and Włodzice Małe, the recorded levels of Escherichia coli and enterococci did not exceed the permissible values for bathing waters and sites occasionally used for bathing.

This does not yet mean, however, that the Bóbr River has been deemed safe for use.

The ban remains in force

Despite the improved results, the ban on using the waters of the Bóbr River remains in force along the section from the crest of the Pilchowice Dam to the boundary of the Rakowice Reservoir.

The ban includes, among other things:

  • entering the water and bathing,
  • watering animals,
  • recreational and commercial fishing,
  • using the water for commercial purposes,
  • using watercraft.

The ban was introduced by an ordinance of the Lower Silesian Voivode dated July 4, 2026.

The Bóbr River is still being tested

In parallel, the Chief Inspectorate for Environmental Protection is monitoring the quality of the Bóbr River’s waters at four measurement points on a two-week cycle.

The latest published results indicate that elevated levels of total suspended solids and total phosphorus occur primarily in the area of the Pilchowice Dam and in Marczów. Lower values for these parameters were recorded in Wrzeszczyn and Lake Rakowickie.

Polish Waters are also continuing activities related to identifying water facilities that may have been constructed without the required water-law permits.

What does this mean for Bolesławiec residents?

For Bolesławiec residents, the most important point is that the situation on the river has no impact on the water supplied through the municipal water network. PWiK “Dolina Bobru” uses deep-water intakes, and the quality of tap water meets all requirements. Water from the water network is safe and under constant supervision.

The latest information therefore brings partly good news: the Bóbr River channel is unobstructed, there are no new indications of problems with water flow, and microbiological tests show improvement. At the same time, the services continue their monitoring, and the ban on using the river remains in force.

The Bóbr River in Bolesławiec: