Municipalities go shopping for flexible water tanks. This is what the new provisions on the protection of civilians say
Local governments will have to have, among others Flexible drinking water tanks and portable fire water magazines. This is part of the proper preparation of resources in the event of crisis situations, cataclysms or a conflict outbreak, introduced by new provisions on the protection of the population. Experts emphasize that such solutions are innovative products that not only facilitate logistics in crisis situations, but also can significantly reduce the reaction time of emergency services.
– We have new solutions on the market that can support the operation of rescue services, and they are indicated in the Population Protection Act. It is primarily products based on coated fabrics, i.e. flexible tanks for drinking water, portable water tanks, flood sleeves or floating dams. Some of these products are already used on the market in various forms, while for the first time we are dealing that they apply in the protection of population, i.e. civil defense, and for the first time they were indicated as typical flexible tanks – emphasizes in an interview with Newseria Przemysław Domagalski agency, president of the board of Exflo, a company specializing in solutions based on technical fabrics.
The Act assumes that each commune must maintain appropriate water resources, which can be used both in crisis situations and during the daily activities of emergency services. In practice, this means creating local water warehouses using mobile, flexible tanks. The intake of flexible tanks in the government regulation is also a breakthrough because their logistics are simple and does not require large expenditure on warehouse infrastructure.
– Flexible tanks can be transported very easily, their warehouses do not require a huge surface, because such a tank occupies a very small area when it is complex – indicates Przemysław Domagalski.
The obligation for municipalities to have flexible water reservoirs that can be quickly used in crisis situations, corresponds to the risk of water shortages during drought or breaks in deliveries, as well as fires explosion. Mobile water warehouses can become a key element of local crisis response plans, supplementing preventive activities carried out by institutions such as Polish Waters, which in 2024 carried out 708 water management inspections and issued 317 post -control recommendations.
Pursuant to the Act, the communes will have to include in their strategies not only access to water under normal conditions, but also emergency scenarios. In the context of the low water resources of Poland and fluctuations in their level in individual seasons, this tool may be decisive to ensure the safety of residents.
– Such products have been theoretically in the regulation so far, while this technology was not available as it is now. I think that the ease of this technology, i.e. logistics of flexible reservoirs, facilitates and improves the operation of rescuers in the field. Thanks to such solutions, they can create local water warehouses, water supply, combine forces in the field of using, for example, aviation, i.e. set such tanks at airports. Therefore, they can realistically contribute to faster response of these units – argues the expert. – We see in such tanks a chance to increase fire safety when the units are not equipped with the central budget.
The importance of such solutions increases in the context of the hydrological situation of Poland. Our country remains in a group of countries with the smallest resources of fresh water in the EU – on average below 1.6 thousand. m³ per capita per year, at the security limit specified by the UN at 1.7 thousand. m³.
– Flexible tanks can also be used by ordinary residents who can accumulate water in a home version. In addition, such solutions can be used by industrial companies, which in the absence of water on the web can quickly create a water buffer to ensure safety when it comes to fire protection – emphasizes Przemysław Domagalski.
The solutions indicated in the Act on the protection of civilians and the regulation of the Ministry of Interior and Administration are crucial not only in the fight against fires, the effects of dried or flood, but also in the case of humanitarian and military crises. During damage or cutting off the water supply networks, mobile tanks can provide drinking water for the population, field hospitals and services. Thanks to fast transport and easy spacing in the field, they support the logistics of troops, evacuation points and humanitarian aid centers.
– This is a good direction to protect citizens with various resources to protect against various cataclysm or war, armed conflict, drought or flood. We need such protection. Education is also necessary so that we know how to use this equipment – argues the president of Exflo. – Most decision -makers on the level of municipalities have not heard of something like flexible flexible tanks for fire -fighting purposes or flexible tanks for drinking water. Their use will only develop. They can increase their presence and effectiveness as much as possible, but it is still a matter of years.
According to an expert, crisis management and rescue and fire-fighting units should regularly conduct exercises with new products, and comments from their use should go to producers to improve the structure.
