“Thanks to rapid construction and renewal of water and sewage systems and establishment of water purification systems, high-quality drinking water is available to almost three quarters of the Estonian population,” said Minister of the Environment Jaanus Tamkivi. “Establishment of sewers and reconstruction of sewage plants has also significantly decreased the danger of environmental contamination.” The largest water projects were initiated during the previous EU programming period, that is, in the years 2004–2006 when public water supply and sewerage projects were funded in the amount of almost EUR 281 million (EEK 4.4 billion). EU support forms 85% of this sum. By today, most of these projects have been completed or are in the last stages of completion. For example, last year, renewal of the Kohtla-Järve area sewage treatment, which cost almost EUR 40 million, was completed. Construction and reconstruction of water and sewerage systems was also completed on Hiiumaa and Saaremaa. This took place under the framework of the Läänesaarte sub-river basin water and sewerage systems programme, the total cost of which was almost EUR 28 million. One of the largest projects completed in 2010 was the Matsalu sub-river-basin water project (almost EUR 53 million). The works of the projects were concentrated in seven local governments: the city of Haapsalu and the rural municipalities of Ridala, Risti, Taebla, Oru, Noarootsi and Vormsi, where 40 km of water pipes and 46 km of sewerage pipes were reconstructed and constructed. Under the Emajõe-Võhandu basin water management project (total cost of almost EUR 64 million), 47 km of water piping and 52 km of sewerage piping was constructed last year in Põlva and Põlva County, Tartu and Jõgeva County. The large-scale construction of water and sewerage systems in Elva was completed, as well as restoration works in Ülenurme, Tõrvandi and Nõo urban communities. This year, reconstruction of Võru water treatment plant will be finished. The main funder of all of these projects is the EU Cohesion Fund. “In this and the next year, the design and construction works of an additional 36 public water supply and sewerage projects, in the total amount of EUR 430 million, will be completed,” Tamkivi said. He added that another 22 eligible projects are about to start very soon, with 24 applications for the financing of different projects having been submitted to the Environmental Investment Centre. In total, together with the cost-sharing of beneficiaries, approximately EUR 543 million (EEK 8.5 billion) will be invested in the development and reconstruction of public water supply and sewerage systems by 2013. |
