Investment in water and sewerage system set to improve public health and the environment

prospective

The project involves the rehabilitation and extension of the water distribution and wastewater sewerage networks and the upgrade and extension of water transmission pipes, water and wastewater treatment plants and the refurbishment of a surface water capture system in Covasna.Project manager Aba Mikó said that, when the project is completed towards the end of 2015, 26 900 inhabitants of Covasna County whose properties do not currently have access to the wastewater sewerage system, will have been connected.  This will bring the number of households whose wastewater is treated prior to discharge from an average of 71.5 % to 100 %.  In addition, a further 16 485 people living in the county are being connected, for the first time, to a safe drinking water supply system, bringing the number of households connected to the drinking water network from 81.45 % to 100 %.Drinking water and wastewater treatment standards to be improvedInhabitants of the towns of Sfântu Gheorghe, Târgu Secuiesc, Covasna and Întorsura Buzăului are benefiting from the investment, which sees the creation of around 150 jobs during the construction phase - which is scheduled to run from April 2013 to December 2014 - and approximately 12 jobs during the operational phase.The improvements bring the quality of drinking water and the treatment of wastewater in the municipality into compliance with Romania’s obligations under the EU Accession Treaty.  Public health in the municipality is expected to improve from the improved hygiene that access to running water normally brings.  In addition, the environment benefits from the fact that all wastewater from households and businesses is being treated prior to discharge.Total investment and EU fundingTotal investment for the “Extension and modernisation of water and wastewater systems in Covasna County” project is EUR 86 531 920, of which the EU’s Cohesion Fund is contributing EUR 67 057 478 through the “Environment” Operational Programme for the 2007-2013 programming period. The national contribution is EUR 10 255 850, the beneficiary’s contribution, EUR 7 640 769 and the local contribution, EUR 1 577 823.