Water supply and sanitation in Serbian medium-sized towns VI - grant component

active

The aim of the open program Water Supply and Wastewater Disposal in Serbian Medium-Sized Cities VI (WV and AE in Serbian Medium-Sized Cities) is to ensure environmentally friendly and hygienically safe disposal and treatment of wastewater in selected Serbian medium-sized cities. Like the previous programs, the project is to be carried out in two phases. In a first phase, the cities will be supported by a consultant in program preparation. The support includes the preparation of feasibility studies on the one hand and institutional support to meet defined performance criteria to improve commercial performance on the other. In addition, planning documents for the investments (up to tender documents), ESIA/ESMP, cost-benefit analysis and a sewage sludge study are to be prepared as part of the project preparation. Those municipalities that meet the performance criteria qualify for the second phase, the investment phase. The focus here is on the rehabilitation of the wastewater collection systems and the renewal, expansion and new construction of sewage treatment plants. Overall, this two-phase approach is intended to ensure that the water companies improve their financial and operational performance in competition to such an extent that they are able to operate the wastewater treatment plants sustainably. The costs will be determined during the first phase. The German government has made a grant of EUR 3.5 million available to prepare the investments in the currently pre-selected programme locations.