The second phase of a two-phase project to extend and modernise water supply and waste water treatment systems in Vâlcea County, in the South-West Oltenia development region of Romania' serves the agglomerations of Băbeni, Bălceşti, Călimănești, Drăgăşani and Olănești, as well as the county seat, Râmnicu Vâlcea.
- 20 December 2017
Work under the project’s second phase related to water supply systems includes the rehabilitation of catchments and wells in Drăgăşani, Olănești and Râmnicu Vâlcea, and extension and repair of a total of 7.8 km of water mains in Olănești and Râmnicu Vâlcea.
Distribution networks in Bălceşti, Drăgăşani, Olănești and Râmnicu Vâlcea of an overall length of 10.6 km are being extended or rehabilitated, and two pumping stations and five reservoirs are under construction in Drăgăşani and Olănești.
A pumping station, treatment plants and new equipment
The project also entails reconstruction and refurbishment of a pumping station in Râmnicu Vâlcea, extension and rehabilitation of water treatment plants in Drăgăşani, Olănești and Râmnicu Vâlcea, and the purchase of 1 171 meters to monitor water consumption.
Installation of three supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems is another aspect of the work. These comprise software and hardware allowing water companies to control network processes locally or remotely, monitor, gather and process real-time data, interact with devices through interface software and record events.
Tasks related to waste water collection and treatment systems include the extension by a total of 28 km of waste water networks and discharge pipes in Bălceşti, Drăgăşani, Olănești and Râmnicu Vâlcea, and the repair of a further 3 km of the networks in the same places. Construction and fitting out of 18 pumping stations and three treatment plants in Bălceşti, Drăgăşani and Râmnicu Vâlcea is also to be carried out.
Reduced public health and pollution risks
The objectives of the project are the continuous provision of clean drinking water for as many as possible of the 163 000 people living in the areas it covers and a consequent reduction in risks to human health. The work is also aimed at cutting environmental pollution.
The total value of the second phase comes to around EUR 28.6 million, of which just under EUR 18.6 million is supplied through EU funding. EU contributions for the first phase, in which the majority of the work was done, amounted to around EUR 56.3 million.
Following completion, about 97 % of the local population will be connected to the drinking water network and able to access drinking water which meets relevant quality standards. As far as connection to the sewerage system is concerned, this will reach around 92 % of the inhabitants. Thanks to the work carried out over both phases, the risk of the uncontrolled discharge of untreated waste water will be minimised.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Extension and modernisation of water supply and waste water treatment systems in Vâlcea County - Phase II” is EUR 28 609 073, with the EU’s Cohesion Fund contributing EUR 18 572 475 through the “Large Infrastructure” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period.