Note: the texts under all the headings, with the exception of 'Results achieved', describe the situation before the start of the project.
Wastewater treatment in Dlhé nad Cirochou
Project completed
Only 65% of households in Slovakia are connected to a sewer system. The situation is particularly precarious in eastern Slovakia. ©
SECO
Only around 65% of the population of Slovakia live in houses connected to a sewer network. Switzerland has supported the municipality of Dlhé nad Cirochou with the construction of a 6.9 kilometre sewer network. This will give more than 1,100 inhabitants access to the municipality’s wastewater system. In addition, the wastewater treatment system will be expanded, allowing wastewater to be treated for a further 1,400 residents.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Slovakia |
Protecting the environment
Wastewater treatment
|
14.06.2012
- 31.07.2016 |
CHF 2’798’203
|
- Extension of the sewage system (waste water collection).
- Extension of the waste water treatment plant.
- Technical expertise to support the municipality of Dlhé nad Cirochou in subjects such as tendering and procurement, technical supervision, external project management and audits.
- Awareness raising and training.
- Efficient waste water collection system is in place and operational.
- Efficient and affordable waste water treatment plant is in place and operational.
- Increase of awareness of the population for environmental issues.
- National Coordination Unit
- Government Office of the Slovak Republic
-
Project number UX00404
| Background |
The overall project objective is to contribute to a sustainable socio-economic development in Dlhé nad Cirochou by improving the capacity of the municipality to provide good quality public services and increasing the awareness of the population for environmental issues. More specifically, this project aims to implement an adapted and affordable waste water collection and treatment infrastructure and improve the quality of the underground and surface waters in the region. |
| Objectives |
The goal of the project is to improve the municipality’s capacities by implementing adapted and affordable wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure. Besides these technical issues, the project shall also achieve socio-economic and environmental objectives. |
| Target groups |
The direct beneficiaries are the municipalities of Dhlé nad Cirochou and Modra nad Cirochou. The indirect beneficiaries are the 2'100 inhabitants of the municipality of Dlhé nad Cirochou, of which about 95% shall be connected by the end of project implementation (2016) to the waste water collection and treatment system. These include domestic customers as well as small commercial enterprises and public institutions (e.g. schools, medical centre). |
| Activities |
|
| Results |
Achieved results: |
| Directorate/federal office responsible |
SECO |
| Credit area |
Swiss Contribution to the enlarged EU |
| Project partners |
Contract partner Implementing partner Municipality of Dlhé nad Cirochou
|
| Budget | Current phase Swiss budget CHF 2’798’203 Swiss disbursement to date CHF 2’790’863 |
| Project phases |
Phase 1 14.06.2012 - 31.07.2016 (Completed) |
Water pollution remains a major environmental issue in the new EU member states. One of the reasons for this is the lack of wastewater systems. Only 65% of the population of Slovakia live in houses connected to a sewer system. A wastewater system was established in the municipality of Dlhé nad Cirochou in 2002. However, this only catered to half of the population.
Protecting water and improving living conditions
Switzerland has invested CHF 2.8 million into the expansion of the sewer system in Dlhé nad Cirochou.
6.9 kilometres of sewer network have been built.
The capacity of the wastewater treatment system was almost doubled, allowing wastewater from a further 1,400 inhabitants to be treated. The neighbouring community of Modra nad Cirochou also stands to benefit.
An information campaign informed the people about the project and raised their awareness of the importance of protecting waterways.
The project helped Slovakia in its efforts to meet EU standards in terms of water protection. It also improved living conditions in the municipality.
Other wastewater treatment projects
Within the framework of six projects, the enlargement contribution served to build or modernise some 90 kilometres of sewer network in eight Slovakian municipalities. 7,000 inhabitants had been connected to the sewer network by the end of 2016.
Switzerland has invested around CHF 27 million in wastewater projects in Slovakia. Three of the six projects were implemented in the focal regions of Swiss support, Prešov and Kosice in the east of the country.
With the implementation of this project, the public sewage system in Dlhé nad Cirochou, including secondary sewage channels, is to be completed, and the capacity of the existing sewage treatment plant is to be increased. We have waited 15 years for this. For the population, this means that the high cost for the periodic emptying of the existing and often leaky cesspits has been reduced and that wastewater no longer seeps away into the ground. Thus the pollution of the groundwater in wells, which the population still uses for irrigation, is decreasing. As a smaller quantity of untreated and polluted water flows into the River Cirocha, it is now possible to maintain the quality of surface water. From the perspective of the municipality and companies operating within its territory, the attractiveness of the region for housing and business has increased, as a result of which public revenues are increasing and jobs are being created. The expansion of the sewage system and the sewage treatment plant has also given rise to new business opportunities in the area of rural tourism. Jan Kniz, Mayor of Dlhé nad Cirochou |
