Support for the advancement of water management is designed to achieve the development of public water supply and sewerage systems for the provision of water infrastructure and sewerage services for citizens that meet all requirements. Karin Kroon, the director of the Ministry of the Environment’s Water Department, says that during this programme period the European Union is supporting the construction and renovation of drinking water supply systems for settlements of 2000 or more residents and the construction and renovation of the public sewerage system in waste water collection areas where the pollution load is the equivalent of 2000 or more people. Should the budget for the measure allow, the renovation of drinking water supply systems serving areas with between 50 and 1999 residents will also be funded as well as the renovation of public sewerage systems in waste water collection areas whose pollution load is less than 2000 pollution equivalents. “This funding will give Estonia a lot,” Kroon said. “Firstly, high quality drinking water, which will significantly reduce the risks to people’s health; secondly, a reduced pollution load throughout our water and living environments thanks to properly developed waste water collection, which will also see less pollutants flowing into the Baltic Sea; and thirdly, recognition for us getting our house in order in terms of water management, which was an obligation we took on in joining the European Union.” Estonia is required to be collecting and treating waste water in accordance with requirements in all collection areas with a population equivalent of more than 2000 by the end of 2010. “Approximately 933,000 people – around 70% of the population – live in these areas in Estonia,” Kroon explained. “As things stand today, 89% of them are connected to the sewerage network, and we plan to increase this figure to 95% by the end of 2010. Drinking water that meets all standards must be available to every settlement with more than 50 residents by the end of 2013. Around 86% of people in the country currently get their water from the public water supply. Our aim is to increase that to 90%.” The maximum rate of European Union funding is 85% of the eligible costs of an application, with funding being given to projects for whom such costs come to a total of at least 15 million kroons. “The funding that is allocated and the project’s own financing must together cover the total cost of the project and ensure that it is economically sustainable,” Kroon added. The first round of applications for funding will begin within four months of the regulation entering force, with local governments and water companies owned 100% by one or more local governments able to apply for grants. The draft regulation of the measure was produced by the Ministry of the Environment in association with the Environmental Investment Centre and the Ministries of Finance and Agriculture, and is currently being reviewed through the e-law system by the Ministries of Justice, Economic Affairs and Communications, Agriculture, Finance and Social Affairs and the Regional Minister. The draft will also be distributed to the Association of Estonian Cities, the Association of Municipalities of Estonia, the Estonian Water Association and the Association of Estonian Water Companies for their views. 25,149 billion kroons of funding has been provided within the framework of the implementation plan for the development of the living environment, with a total of 7 billion available to Estonia for the advancement of water management. In addition to developing infrastructure, support for water management is also designed to eliminate the focal points of residual pollution and to improve the biochemical and biological condition of watercourses. For further information please contact: Liina Laastik (19.02.2008) |
