Soil drought, dry wells and rising water bills mean that more and more owners of single-family houses are looking for a way to retention of rainwater on your own property. The answer to this problem is a nationwide program Microretention 2026, i.e. a co-financing program individual water micro-retention – under it, you can obtain a subsidy for the purchase, installation and commissioning of a collection installation, rainwater storage and their use. In this article we explain what it is micro-retention of rainwater in the release of the government program - based solely on official information published by the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management on the gov.pl website - and then we present six submersible and submersible pumps of different brands IBO and IPRO, which can be used for rainwater management collected in a home tank.
What is the Microretention 2026 program?
Program Microretention aims to increase the retention of rainwater and snowmelt water in single-family buildings. In other words, it supports rainwater retention directly on the property, instead of discharging them into the storm sewage system. According to the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management, water micro-retention contributes to the protection of local water resources, mitigating the effects of drought and preventing flooding. The program is financed by the European Funds for Infrastructure, Climate, Environment (FEnIKS) 2021–2027 program, and its total budget is PLN 173 million.
Key dates and amounts:
- Maximum grant amount: up to PLN 8,000 for one project
- Funding level: up to 90% of eligible costs
- Announcement of recruitment by WFOŚiGW: June 1, 2026
- Start submitting applications: June 22, 2026
- Eligible costs: incurred from July 1, 2024
Applications are submitted directly to the Provincial Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (WFOŚiGW) competent for the location of the property - call for applications Micro-retention announces and manages each regional fund separately, within the framework of the national program.
Who can benefit from funding
Eligible applicants are natural persons being owners, co-owners or perpetual usufructuaries of real estate on which there is a single-family residential building intended for permanent or temporary residence. So the program supports, first of all individual water micro-retention on private properties and does not include installations used for business or agricultural activities. In other words, individual water micro-retention in this program it means an investment carried out independently by the home owner, and not as part of a community or commercial investment.
Important limitation: the program works in a formula refund – applies only to already completed investments. The agreement concluded with the grantee is also the settlement of the project. It is also not possible to obtain co-financing for installations or their elements that were previously financed from WFOŚiGW or NFOŚiGW funds, e.g. under the "Moja Woda" program.
What does the grant cover?
According to the program description on the gov.pl website, the funding covers the purchase, assembly, construction, expansion and launch of installations in four areas - from rainwater collection, through its storage, to use of rainwater on the property:
- Rainwater collection – installations collecting water from roofs, sidewalks and other impermeable surfaces.
- Retention in the ground – absorption wells, drainage, infiltration boxes, open tanks, unsealing of the surface.
- Storage in tanks – tight tanks with a total capacity of at least 2 m³ for collecting rainwater.
- Use of rainwater – pumps, sprinklers and central water distribution systems for garden and domestic irrigation.
This is the fourth point of the program - use of stored water – is the place where properly selected submersible pump or deep water becomes an element of the entire installation water retention. The system must enable the retention or use of water on the property without the need to discharge it to the sewage system (except in emergency situations).
Note: detailed lists of eligible costs, regulations and required documents are established by each WFOŚiGW individually for its voivodeship. Before purchasing equipment, it is worth checking the current recruitment regulations in the relevant regional fund.
How to submit an application – step by step
- Make the investment – install a rainwater collection, storage or retention system and keep all invoices and documents confirming costs incurred since July 1, 2024.
- Check recruitment in your province – visit the website of the Voivodship Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management appropriate for the location of the property and read the recruitment regulations and the list of required documents.
- Submit an application to the Voivodeship Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management – complete the documents and submit the application in accordance with the recruitment rules announced by the provincial fund.
- Sign the contract and receive the subsidy – after a positive assessment of the application, you sign an agreement with the WFOŚiGW, which also constitutes the settlement of the investment; the subsidy is paid after document verification.
Full information about the program, including contact details of individual WFOŚiGW, can be found on the official website: gov.pl/web/nfosigw/mikroretencja.
IBO pumps i IPRO to use collected rainwater
Since pumps are one of the installation elements covered by the Microretention 2026 program, we present six models from the Dambat offer that are suitable for watering the garden, supplying the house with water from a tank or a ring well, and in other applications related to rainwater management.
NEPTUN 50/60 – submersible pump for circular wells
NEPTUN is a series of submersible pumps intended for circular wells, equipped with a cooling jacket - thanks to this, the pump does not require full submersion or the use of a casing pipe. It works with clean water in the pH range 6.5–8.5, with a permissible sand content of up to 40 g/hl.
NEPTUN 50/60 model parameters: power 0.5 kW, Power supply 1~230 V/50 Hz, maximum lifting 50 m, capacity up to 60 l/min, 1" connector, protection level IP68, insulation class B, approx. 2850 rpm, maximum immersion 7 m, H07RN-F power cable 10 m long. The pump has a built-in Float protecting against dry running, but there is no start/stop automatic system - in a system with a hydrophore tank, it is worth using a pressure switch or an appropriate controller. Warranty: 24 months.
Application: Power supply home water installation from a ring well, watering the garden from the intake, cooperation with a hydrophore tank.
Multi DIVE 6-45 – central submersible pump with float switch
Multi DIVE 6-45 is a central pressure unit designed to supply water to households, irrigation systems, and rainwater collection systems. It is equipped with a float switch that protects it against dry running.
Parameters: power 0.75 kW, Power supply 1~230 V/50 Hz, maximum efficiency 115 l/min, maximum lifting 45 m, engine speed approx. 2850 rpm, current consumption 5.5 A, weight 15.2 kg.
Application: installation in a rainwater tank as a central pump supplying home and garden installations, including pumping water containing small amounts of chlorine.
IBOPROM 1000 INOX – compact submersible pump
See the product: IBOPROM 1000 INOX
The IBOPROM series is compact Submersible pumps for pumping clean water, operating in full immersion, with a high degree of tightness IPX8. Version INOX uses stainless steel elements, which increases corrosion resistance and allows for intensive use.
IBOPROM 1000 INOX model parameters: power 1000 W, Power supply 230 V, maximum lifting 37 m, maximum capacity 100 l/min, connector 1", S1 operating mode (continuous), speed approx. 2800 rpm, maximum medium temperature 35 °C, maximum immersion 7 m, weight 20.6 kg.
Application: Power supply water intake points, garden irrigation, emptying rainwater tanks and ponds, periodic drainage of flooded rooms. The pump is not intended for domestic sewage, flammable or chemically aggressive liquids, oils, fats or thick suspensions.
Dive INOX 1300 – high pressure submersible pump
See the product: Dive INOX 1300
Dive INOX 1300 belongs to a series of high-pressure submersible pumps designed for pumping clean and slightly polluted water, not containing grinding elements such as sand. The cooling jacket design means the pump does not have to be fully submerged.
Parameters: power 1.2 kW, Power supply 1~230 V/50 Hz, current consumption 5.5 A, motor speed approx. 2850 rpm, weight 10 kg. The pump is equipped with a float switch that controls its operation and protects against dry running, as well as thermal protection built into the motor winding. Warranty: 24 months.
Application: watering the garden, Power supply house into water from a ring well, pumping clean water from flooded rooms - also in combination with a rainwater tank.
IBO MULTI IP 1200 INOX – submersible pump for professional use
See the product: MULTI IP 1200 INOX
MULTI IP 1200 INOX is a high-pressure one submersible pump with an AISI 304 stainless steel housing and a motor cooling jacket that allows operation even when partially submerged. It works well in power supply and irrigation systems based on ring wells and natural water intakes, and the built-in float switch automatically protects the unit against dry operation.
Parameters: power 1.2 kW, Power supply 1~230 V/50 Hz, current 4.8 A, maximum lifting 44 m, maximum efficiency 105 l/min, speed approx. 2850 rpm, insulation class B, protection class IPX8, Connection 1×1½″, power cable 10 m. Warranty: 24 months.
Application: irrigation installations in horticultural farms, Power supply from open reservoirs and ring wells, drainage of flooded rooms, circulation circuits and water cascades.
RQE AUTO-C (IPRO) – automatic watering pump
RQE AUTO is a series of premium high-pressure pumps IPRO, intended for watering, with a built-in automatic device controlling the operation of the device. Unscrewing the valve or tap starts the pump, and closing it switches it to standby, maintaining constant pressure in the installation. The cooling jacket used means that the pump does not have to be completely submerged. The model also has an anti-blocking system - if it is not used for more than a day, it turns on automatically for two minutes every 24 hours, which prevents it from getting blocked by sediment.
Parameters: power 1.0 kW, Power supply 230V
Application: installation directly in the rainwater tank to supply the garden with water, Power supply house from a ring well, watering installations, work in ponds and at intakes where the water table is close to the surface of the reservoir. Thanks to the automatic start/stop function, RQE AUTO-C is a particularly convenient solution for people who want to use collected rainwater without manually turning on the pump.
How to choose a pump for a rainwater tank
When choosing a pump for an installation reported in the Microretention program, it is worth paying attention to several parameters:
- Lifting height – should take into account the difference in levels between the tank and the water intake point and losses along the length of the installation.
- Capacity (l/min) – depends on the number of water intake points (e.g. several sprinklers working simultaneously) and the purpose of the water (watering the garden, Power supply toilets, washing machines, etc.).
- Automation – models with a built-in automatic device, such as RQE AUTO-C, turn on and off themselves in response to opening/closing the valve, which is convenient for home installations. Models without automation, such as NEPTUN, require an additional pressure switch or controller.
- Material of construction – INOX versions (AISI 304 stainless steel) increase corrosion resistance and are suitable for intensive, long-term use.
- Dry-running protection – built-in Float (present in all models presented) protects the pump motor when the water level in the tank drops.
Frequently asked questions
Is a rainwater pump an eligible cost in the Microretention 2026 program?
According to the program description on gov.pl, the scope of the subsidy includes, among others: pumps for using collected rainwater. However, a detailed list of eligible costs and the conditions for their settlement are determined by the territorially competent WFOŚiGW, so before purchasing, it is worth checking the current recruitment regulations in your voivodeship.
From when can applications for funding be submitted?
Submission of applications began on June 22, 2026. Recruitments are announced by the Provincial Funds for Environmental Protection and Water Management, each on its own terms and conditions within the rules of the national program.
Can I report an installation I've already done?
Yes - the program operates in a refund formula and covers only completed investments for which eligible costs were incurred from July 1, 2024.
What is the maximum funding amount?
Up to PLN 8,000 for one project, which may constitute up to 90% of eligible costs.
Information about the Microretention 2026 program comes only from the official website of the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management: gov.pl/web/nfosigw/mikroretencja. Before submitting an application, check the current recruitment regulations applicable to your voivodeship WFOŚiGW.
