Racibórz was the first city in Upper Silesia to have a water supply system. The first confirmed water supply is considered to be the artificial canal, mentioned for the first time in 1258. Currently, the city's water supply network spans 235.7 km. The majority of Racibórz uses the municipal network, which is managed by Wodociągi Raciborskie, while only residents of use the water supply network of Gmina Rudnik. The water infrastructure in Racibórz is now modern and environmentally friendly, meeting the strictest standards set by the European Union. The city, one of the few in Poland, benefits from three efficient groundwater sources, ensuring that the water delivered to consumers is of high quality and does not require complex treatment processes.
History The water supply in Racibórz has a long history. The canal dug in the mid-13th century by settlers from the Netherlands is considered the first water supply system in Upper Silesia. In 1564, Ferdinand I granted a privilege allowing the residents of Racibórz to build a water wheel that transferred water to a reservoir functioning as a water tower. This was the first such device in Upper Silesia, and at that time Racibórz was still the only Upper Silesian city with a water supply system. A map of Racibórz from 1831 shows a wooden pipeline bringing water from sources in the . In 1874, the municipal waterworks facility was established. In 1906, a water intake was opened in . Subsequent years saw the development of the water supply network. Between 1933 and 1936, a new water tower was built, although it was ultimately not used as intended.
After World War II, the city’s water network was rebuilt under new administration. From 2005 to 2010, with the support of the European Union’s Cohesion Fund, a major project called Water and Wastewater Management in Racibórz was implemented, significantly advancing the city’s water infrastructure.
First water supply
The residents of Racibórz, first mentioned in 1108, drew water from the Oder river, its mill streams, local brooks, and numerous wells until the early 20th century. An additional supply was also provided by an artificial canal built by Dutch settlers in the mid-13th century (the first mention of it dates back to 1258). This canal, later called , was 12 km long and was a unique hydraulic engineering solution for its time in Silesia. It started near Bieńkowice, fed by the river, ran parallel to the Oder, irrigating surrounding fields, passed through Racibórz, and emptied into the river. Within modern Racibórz, it ran through Studzienna, then through what is now the neighborhood by Kosmonautów Street, along Polna Street, crossing Opawska and Ocicka streets, later running parallel to Warszawska and Klasztorna streets, turning onto Kasprowicz Street, and ending at . A dam and water reservoir were located on the site of the school for the deaf, which could be used for firefighting. Water was also delivered to the city through the . At the square at the intersection of Wojska Polskiego and Karol Miarkia streets, there was a pumping station consisting of eight main and six side tanks. Water was pumped into the municipal water supply using a wheel powered by Psinka. The canal then flowed northwest, crossing Stalmach and Londzin streets, reaching the mill of . It was then a short distance to the canal's outlet to the Oder, located near today's Śląska Street.
In Studzienna, a branch of the canal ran through the city center and emptied into the Oder beyond Odrzańska Street. Traces of this branch were found in 1829 during the construction of the school at the site of today's fountain in front of the parish church. This branch likely split before the market square. The second branch probably bypassed the market square from the west and then reconnected with the canal crossing Odrzańska Street. Although it was merely a water ditch, it is recognized as the first confirmed water supply system in Upper Silesia.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Psinka within Racibórz was filled in, and its channel was enclosed in sewer pipes. Remnants of the dry ditch are still visible on the southern outskirts of Racibórz. However, the side canal from Studzienna to the sluice area on the Oder remains active, currently carrying water from streams in Studzienna. A 1306 reference mentions a water supply canal fed by the Oder running along the moat, from the mill in Nowe Miasto to Racibórz.
Privilege of Emperor Ferdinand On 12 January 1564, Ferdinand I issued a privilege in Vienna allowing the residents of Racibórz to install a water wheel on a mill stream branching off from the Oder river, which transferred water to a reservoir functioning as a water tower. This tower, located on an island separated by the mill stream, was not dismantled until 1815, during the riverbed reconstruction. It was the first device of its kind in Upper Silesia. The castle urbaria from between 1566 and 1567 include information about a tax paid by Racibórz residents for water from the pipelines. Such information is not found in the urbaria of other Upper Silesian cities from this period, indicating that in the mid-16th century, Racibórz was still the only city in Upper Silesia with a water supply system. At that time, a weir on the Oder, near the castle, diverted part of the water to two mill streams. One of these streams supplied the municipal waterworks.
Wooden water supply from Obora The exact date of the water intake in the Obora Forest is unknown, but it was mentioned in 1815. Water from this intake was brought to the city via a wooden pipeline that branched before the bridge on the Oder, which was then slightly east of the present . One branch led to the castle, where it also supplied the Racibórz brewery. The main line crossed the bridge into the city, where it circled around St. Jacob's Church, through Dominikański Square, and reached the market square to the so-called rorkastla.
The rorkastla was a reservoir where water brought by the pipelines collected. It consisted of a well measuring 2.5 × 4 m and 15 cm deep, with two side troughs measuring 1.6 × 1.6 m placed on the east and west sides of the main reservoir. The side walls of the rorkastla were lined with boards, and the bottom was fitted with cobblestones. A two-step staircase led into the reservoir from the southern side. The rorkastla was located in the southern part of the market square, between the Marian column and the present-day Bolko department store. Early 20th-century postcards show a low, ornate column with a water tap at the location of the rorkastla. The exact date of the rorkastla’s construction is unknown, and there are no traces of the former structure today. Remnants of the rorkastla were discovered during excavations in the market square in 1996, suggesting it may have existed in the medieval period.
Two branches of the water supply system ran from the rorkastla. The first headed towards the intersection of today's and Mickiewicz streets, where it split into two parts. One branch ran along Mickiewicz Street to the former Zborowy Square, where a water reservoir was located; the other led to the New Market (now the northern part of Długosz Square), where there was a water collection point, ending at the former malt house at the intersection of Piwna and Zborowa streets. The second branch ran from the rorkastla through Długa, Browarna, and Solna streets (with a water collection point at the intersection of Solna and Browarna streets), reaching near the current Primary School No. 4. Another water supply began at the square at the intersection of Wojska Polskiego and Karol Miarka streets, where a water pumping station collected water from Psinka. This water was pumped into a pipeline running through Freedom Square to the , then along a section of , Father Ofka Square (where a water reservoir was located), and further along Chopin and Kowalska streets to the former city mill located at the now-defunct Wagi Młyńskiej Street, which once connected Kowalska and Odrzańska streets.
The condition of the city's pipelines was maintained by a pipe master, who, with the help of hired workers and carpenters, performed repairs and inspections.
Establishment of the municipal waterworks
The dynamic growth of the city in the 19th century increased the demand for water. To create a municipal waterworks, land and a shooting house were purchased from the shooting fraternity in 1838 on what is now 1 Maja Street. In 1862, additional land was acquired. However, the waterworks was not established until 1874. It included a water pumping station drawing from the Oder river with two pumping units, a filter unit, a clean water reservoir, a clean water pumping station with two steam units, and a water tower with a capacity of 500 m3.According to the inventory records of the municipal waterworks, the tower was built in 1898; however, this is likely the date of its major renovation. Previously, there was also the turret clock of the Racibórz prison serving as a water tower, which the correctional facility used for its own purposes.
As the city developed, so did the water supply network. In September 1902, it was decided to extend the pipeline to . In February 1904, a decision was made to connect to the water supply. The water supply and gas pipeline were routed via the former bridge along today's Piaskowa Street.This bridge was blown up in 1945, but a new one was built in its place. At that time, the water supply also operated in Brzezie, which was still an independent settlement (it was incorporated into Racibórz only in 1975).
The increasing pollution of the Oder prompted city authorities to search for alternative water sources. In 1870, the city purchased several plots in Brzezie with the right to extract water from those areas. However, this initiative was protested by the authorities of Brzezie, who feared a depletion of water resources for the village. The idea of extracting water from sources in Brzezie was revisited in 1895, when water searches were commissioned in the . Further searches began in 1897, but no significant resources were found. In 1904, larger sources were discovered in Studzienna, leading to the initiation of work to establish a new intake.
In 1905, 12 deep wells were dug to a depth of up to 15 m, yielding 6,300 m3 of water per day. The area was fenced off. The water was directed to a collection well, which was 12 m deep and 7 m in diameter, and then to the municipal waterworks via a pipeline 2.2 km long. The entire system was put into operation at the end of September 1906. The water resources in Studzienna are of Quaternary origin, with good quality but susceptible to pollution, requiring monitoring and purification.
In 1909, it was decided to include the northern part of Płonia in the water supply network. Construction of the pipeline, running along today’s Bosacka and Fabryczna streets, began in 1912.
Interwar period
Initially, Racibórz's main water consumer was its industry, primarily the railway, which was connected to the waterworks by a dedicated pipeline. However, over time, the existing infrastructure could no longer meet the city's growing needs. Moreover, the existing water tower was unable to supply water to the higher-lying areas of . As a result, the decision was made to build another water tower on a hill near the present-day Starowiejska Street. Today, this tower houses offices and a production plant for the candy manufacturer, .
The tower was designed in 1926 and constructed between 1933 and 1936. It was connected to the waterworks by a three-kilometer pipeline. After its completion, it was discovered that the tower produced excessive water pressure, leading to frequent network breakdowns. Consequently, the tower was used only to supply Ocice with water.