EU funding is making possible the implementation of extensive upgrades to drinking water supply and waste water collection and treatment systems in Galați County, part of the South-East development region within Romania’s Macroregion two. For drinking water, the project covers 20 water supply zones grouped into four supply systems. As regards waste water collection and treatment, it involves 14 agglomerations grouped into two clusters and four independent agglomerations with populations of over 2 000.
Major developments in water and waste water infrastructure in Romania’s Galați County
- 01 June 2018
Work on drinking water supply systems consists of construction of five wells, three water treatment plants in Liești, Berești and Cosmesti-Vale, four chlorination stations, 20 pumping stations, 13 storage tanks and 163.1 km of distribution network.
Twelve chlorination stations, 14 pumping stations, seven storage tanks and 20.1 km of distribution network are undergoing rehabilitation, while a total of 65.3 km of water main is being either laid or upgraded. Acquisition of 20 supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems will enable network processes to be controlled remotely.
Construction of collection and treatment facilities
In terms of waste water collection and treatment, the project includes construction of two treatment plants in Movileni and Berești, two temporary storage facilities for dewatered sludge at the Galați treatment plant and 152 pumping stations, while one pumping station is being rehabilitated.
Gravity sewers and pressure pipes totalling 421.4 km and 102.4 km in length respectively are being laid, and a further 10.9 km of gravity sewer is being upgraded. This part of the project also entails the acquisition of 20 SCADA systems and operational equipment including a leak detector, a combined sewer-cleaning unit, two tankers and a suction excavator.
The overall budget is just under EUR 180 million, of which close to EUR 112 million comes from the EU’s Cohesion Fund. The work is scheduled to be completed by October 2022.
Clean water and improved services
Main objectives of the project include the continuous provision of clean drinking water for the people living in the area, who number 375 366, and the reduction of water losses from the drinking water distribution network. The work should also prevent infiltration into the sewage system. In addition, the risk of uncontrolled discharge of untreated waste water will be minimised, thereby reducing risks to human health and environmental pollution.
As a result of the work, an additional 129 671 inhabitants will benefit from access to higher-quality drinking water, with the connection rate in the area increasing from 85 % to 97 %. As far as the waste water element is concerned, collection services will be improved for 334 634 inhabitants.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Regional project for water and wastewater infrastructure development in Galați County in 2014-2020 period” is EUR 179 965 477, with the EU’s Cohesion Fund contributing EUR 111 947 754 through the “Large Infrastructure” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period.