An EU-funded project is upgrading wastewater collection and treatment systems in and around Velika Gorica, Croatia. The project will help to ensure compliance with EU legislation for urban wastewater and water quality and quantity.
- 15 April 2024
The project will be phased between the 2014-2020 (phase A) and 2021-2027 (phase B) programming periods. The total investment for both phases is EUR 104 million. The total eligible investment for phase A is EUR 45.7 million, to which the EU will contribute EUR 38.9 million.
A lack of connections
Currently, the project area has around 68 000 permanent residents. The sewerage network is 86 km long and includes 17 pumping stations. The connection rate to the public drainage system stands at 83 %, but many settlements outside the city of Velika Gorica are not connected to it.
Collected wastewater undergoes primary mechanical treatment at the Velika Gorica wastewater treatment plant. Built in 1973, the plant lacks the capacity to handle current flows. Much of the wastewater discharged into the Sava River has therefore not been treated in line with national and EU requirements.
Network modernisation
Under the project, 106 km of gravity sewer and 18 km of pressure sewer will be laid, and 39 pumping stations will be built. Also, 20.2 km of gravity sewer and 400 m of pressure sewer will be replaced, and nine pumping stations will be rebuilt. Equipment to be acquired includes one vehicle each for sewer cleaning, CCTV inspection and water monitoring.
The capacity of the Velika Gorica wastewater treatment plant will be almost doubled, enabling it to handle the volumes of wastewater generated in the area. The existing treatment facilities will be redeveloped, while new solutions such as biological treatment and anaerobic digestion will allow for tertiary wastewater treatment. In addition, reed beds will be created for sludge management.
Environmental protection
Installation of new sewerage pipelines and construction of new pumping stations will increase the share of the area’s wastewater collected in accordance with EU requirements to at least 90 %. The upgrades to the Velika Gorica wastewater treatment plant will ensure adequate treatment of the collected wastewater.
Repairs to the existing sewerage network will reduce infiltration into sewers. Combined with connection of new users to the network and improvements to wastewater treatment, they will also prevent discharge of untreated wastewater into the environment, thereby protecting water bodies.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Wastewater collection and treatment systems: Velika Gorica agglomeration” is EUR 104 078 963, with the EU’s Cohesion Fund contributing EUR 38 905 169 through the “Competitiveness and Cohesion” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Environmental protection and sustainability of resources”.