The background
Arges county, in southern Romania, gets its name from the Arges River. The name "Arges" likely meant "shiny" and dates back to the ancient Dacian period, when the river was known as “Argessos”. Today, Arges County is restoring the "shine" to its waters.
With EIB Advisory support under JASPERS, the regional water operator, S.C. Apa Canal 2000 S.A., has prepared a project aimed to provide continuous clean drinking water and effective wastewater management for over 200,000 residents.
The challenge
Residents in Arges County experience problems getting clean water and access to wastewater disposal.
The water supply requires modernisation to meet everyone's needs and keep the water clean.
In some places, the wastewater network does not reach all residents; thus expanding the network and treatment plants is essential to handle more wastewater in the future and improve water quality. Older sewer pipes and pumping stations need to be renovated to stop leaks, reduce environmental hazards, work more efficiently and be sustainable.
The action
The proposed strategic investments will extend and rehabilitate water pipelines, construct and modernise treatment and chlorination stations, and expand distribution networks. Three wastewater treatment plants in Pitesti, Costesti, Stolnici will be modernised and a new one will be constructed in Mares. This increases their capacity, improves treatment performance, and ensures they meet stricter environmental rules.
Nearly 390 kilometres of new wastewater and water networks will provide complete coverage to everyone in the project area. To keep the wastewater flowing, 148 new pumping stations will be built, along with the rehabilitation of 4 existing ones.
In this project, the European Investment Bank ( EIB) has collaborated closely with various stakeholders. The EIB advisory support encompassed various critical areas, to help ensure the project's overall success.
The expert advice covered the project's feasibility and sustainability, including eligibility and compliance with the relevant EU environmental directives, the operator's capacity for effective implementation, the adequacy and efficiency of the proposed engineering measures, climate proofing, and financial and economic analysis.
By leveraging EIB 's expertise, the Romanian authorities have been able to refine the project's scope and execution, which will lead to efficient resource utilization and, ultimately, better outcomes for the residents of Arges County and the environment.
The estimated eligible project costs amount to over €150 million. The project will receive about 80% of its funding from the European Union, with the remaining costs covered by national public contributions and the beneficiaries.
The results
Once the investments will be realized, over 200,000 people will have reliable access to quality drinking water and upgraded wastewater treatment plants will provide better treatment, reducing pollution, saving resources, and protecting water bodies.
The project will significantly expand water infrastructure, achieving over 50% increase in water transmission mains and over 40% increase in the wastewater collection network. This expansion will allow for over 9,130 new connections to the wastewater network and 1,980 water network connections, bringing more households and businesses into the updated system.
A reliable and efficient water and wastewater system is essential for adapting to the evolving challenges of a changing climate. Enhanced water resource management builds resilience against climate change impacts, such as droughts and altered precipitation patterns.
As part of the European Investment Bank's advisory services to Romania under JASPERS, expert support has been provided to date for more than 30 completed and ongoing regional water infrastructure projects across the country.