“The goal is that by the end of 2013 all local governments in Estonia would have access to clean drinking water and the opportunity to join with a modern sewerage system. The above opportunity has been provided to 26 000 residents of Saaremaa and Hiiumaa thanks to the project completed today”, said Minister of the Environment Keit Pentus. “The deal with water works is, for the most part, that when everything is in working order – clean water flows from the tap and dirty water flows to a collection point –we don’t pay much attention to its importance. In places where the condition of the waterworks is not yet in such good condition, the importance of its correct operation is perceived quite clearly,” added Pentus. The Western Islands water management project was divided into two sub-projects – the Saare and Hiiu County sub-projects – and encompassed 17 local governments. 14 local governments participated in the Saaremaa sub-project: The city of Kuressaare, Orissaare Rural Municipality, Muhu Municipality, Pöide Municipality, Valjala Municipality, Pihtla Municipality, Kaarma Municipality, Leisi Municipality, Kärla Municipality, Mustjala Municipality, Kihelkonna Municipality, Lümanda Municipality, Salme Municipality and Ruhnu Municipality. The Hiiumaa sub-project encompassed three local governments: The city of Kärdla, Käina Municipality and Pühalepa Municipality. As a result of the project 88 km of water piping, 87 km of sewers, 100 sewerage pump rooms, 29 drinking water bore wells and 27 sewage treatment plants were constructed and updated in two rural counties. Thanks to the project, 22 000 residents of Saaremaa and more than 4000 residents of Hiiumaa now have the opportunity to join public water supply and sewerage, in order to consume clean, safe drinking water. Effluent directed to the environment is cleaned in accordance with requirements and does not pollute the Baltic Sea. The total cost of the project was EUR 29.2 million, of which Cohesion Fund support was EUR 17.2 million, Estonia's contribution was EUR 9.3 million and the contribution of local governments was EUR 2.9 million. The implementers of the project were regional water works AS Kuressaare Veevärk and AS Kärdla Veevärk, which are owned by the local governments that participated in the project. At the same time, the Ministry of the Environment and the Estonia Water Works Association concluded a voluntary agreement, the goal of which was to strengthen the partnership between the Ministry and water undertakings and to thereby help with ensuring quality drinking water and a clean environment. The agreement will be signed by Minister of the Environment Keit Pentus and Veiko Kaufmann, management board member of the Estonia Water Works Association. “The success of projects currently in the works depends, to a large extent, on the sense of responsibility and correctness of water undertakings. It is important for the Ministry that cooperation with businesses runs smoothly, which we hope to ensure with the agreement entered today," stated the Minister of the Environment. The voluntary agreement encompasses, among other things, the regular exchange of information and cooperation in developing water economy related legislation. The Estonia Water Works Association assumes the obligation to encourage its members to improve the quality system, to implement the best possible technologies and to promote an environmentally conscious way of thinking. |
