A European Union financed project to further develop waste water networks in Bauska, a municipality in the Zemgale region of southern Latvia, has increased the level of coverage of centralised sewerage services in the area from 59 % to 87 % as of 2016. By the same year, 90 % of the area was connected to the drinking water supply infrastructure in line with requirements — up from 67 % prior to the launch of the project
- 25 September 2017
The project gives residents good quality, well-installed water and sewerage services, and ensures provision of necessary water and sewerage infrastructure for the next 20 to 50 years. It also has the potential to reduce levels of pollution in the area and infiltration and leakages in the water and sewerage networks. Among the benefits, it should be mentioned that the infrastructure facilitates entrepreneurial possibilities, as well as reduction of health hazards in the project area.
The new water supply and sewerage networks allow locals to connect to the system more easily. Since the old networks have been replaced, there have been fewer leakages reported from water mains.
Less rainwater is now seeping into sewerage networks thanks to clearer separation between the rainwater drainage and sewerage systems. The waste water treatment plant and the main sewerage pumping station have been modernised recently, to ensure that they’ll be working efficiently for years to come.
A wide range of important challenges
The principal challenges which the project aimed to tackle included leaks from the existing water mains and incomplete coverage of the region by the water and sewerage networks. The weaknesses of the sewerage network presented a water pollution risk and rainwater flowing into the sewerage system constituted a considerable problem.
Provision of good quality water and sewerage services is extremely important and the project has brought numerous benefits to the Bauska area. The most obvious is the improvement in the supply of a vital public utility for local residents, along with the reduction in the risk of pollution which comes from the strengthening of the sewerage network.
This results in better conditions for both public health and the environment. As another benefit, better infrastructure helps to facilitate entrepreneurial activity and promote inward investment, thereby creating new jobs and fostering economic development.
The second phase of a three-stage project
Work under the project began in October 2010 and ended in October 2014. The overall budget came to more than EUR 5.8 million, of which close to EUR 4.2 million was provided through European Union co-financing.
The project represents the second stage in a three-stage undertaking and the infrastructure installed is expected to last for 20-50 years. As the centralised sewerage services do not cover the whole area, the third phase is now in the pipeline. Documents are being prepared for the construction of further sewerage piping which will connect the remaining residents of the area to the network.
Up to 10 000 people in the Bauska municipality have benefited from the project.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Development of wastewater networks in Bauska” is EUR 5 858 714, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 4 196 308 through the “Infrastructure and Services” Regional Operational Programme for the 2007-2013 programming period.