The administration of SA “Apa-Canal Chisinau” (ACC) promises that the unpleasant smell emitted by the Wastewater Treatment Plant in Chisinau will disappear in less than three years. It will happen thanks to a renovation project launched on January 29 within which new sludge treatment facilities will be put into operation. Thus, the sludge will no longer be processed in geotubes, which was a temporary solution to which the company resorted, but in dehydration centrifuges by which wastewater will be discharged in accordance with the European standards, IPN reports.
In the event held to launch the rehabilitation works at the Wastewater Treatment Plant, ACC director general Veronica Herta said the project will last for about 900 days. “2017 was the year when the financial assistance was unblocked and we witnessed the first results. We speak about the 51 units of intervention equipment and the signing of contracts within the project financed by the EBRD and EIB. 2018 is important for the water supplier as the elements of the Development Program started to be implemented forcefully. There will be initiated the rehabilitation of 140 km of water pipes and 7 km of sewer pipes, the SCADA supervisory system and the rehabilitation of the Wastewater Treatment Plant starts,” stated Veronica Herta.
Attending the event, EU Ambassador to Moldova Peter Michalko said the success of this initiative will depend on all the sides involved in the process. “We bank on the involvement of civil society as this investment is vital not only for the municipality of Chisinau, given that it will improve the ecological conditions near the Byk River, reducing pollution,” said the diplomat. The representatives of the EBRD and EIB expressed their conviction and hope that the renovation of the Wastewater Treatment Plant will improve the living conditions of the residents of Chisinau municipality.
The contract envisions the rehabilitation of the facilities existing along the line of water, construction of a new wastewater treatment station and of new sludge treatment facilities. The works were estimated at €24.2 million and will be performed by the consortium PASSAVANT ENERGY and Enviroment Ludwing Pfeiffero. According to the group’s representative Nino Foti Rossito, designing works are being carried out and the renovation will start in several months.
The contract is implemented within the Chisinau Water Development Program that is financed with loans totaling €61.8 million provided by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) and with an investment grant from EU’s Neighborhood Investment Facility (NIF).
