| Summary: | Study region: The research was carried out in 38 rivers in the Oder and Vistula basins. They are located in various parts of Poland, which are geologically, geomorphologically and anthropogenically diversified. Study focus: The paper deals with the inconsistency and incorrectness of applied spatial data in water management. This is caused due to the lack of a unified method of creation and different data sources. The analysis covered three databases used in Polish water management: the digital Map of the Polish Hydrographic Division (MPHP), the Database of Topographic Objects (BDOT) and the Drainage System Database (EM). The Geographic Information Systems and statistical methods (Pearson’s, Kendall’s and Spearman’s coefficients) were used to study the occurrence and size of discrepancies in Polish databases of surface waters. New hydrological insights for the region: The study showed that in the analysed databases there are discrepancies in the nomenclature (47% cases) and watercourse lengths (geometric and attribute – 97% cases). The examined databases differ in the course and mileage of the same watercourse. The research results showed high consistency of BDOT and MPHP and the highest values of discrepancies when compared with EM. A significant statistical dependence of these discrepancies on land cover with dense vegetation was also found. The research proves that it is important to be careful about the certainty of using these data and shows how this can negatively influence water management system effectiveness.
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