EU invests in better drinking water and wastewater systems in Croatia

The Commission approved two cohesion projects, together worth €156.6 million from the Cohesion Fund, to upgrade water and wastewater infrastructure in Croatia. €105.6 million is invested in the Kaštela-Trogir area in the Split-Dalmatia County, southern Croatia, and €51 million is invested in the Zaprešić area, near Zagreb. Both projects should be operational in 2023. Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs, and Fisheries, Karmenu Vella said: “These EU-funded projects in Croatia show that Cohesion Policy can do so much: improve everyday life by giving people access to quality drinking water, protect the sea and the environment and boost tourism and the local economy.” InKaštela-Trogir, the upgrade will increase the water supply connection rate, allowing almost the entire population of the project’s area (63,000) to be connected to the network. It will also increase the connections to the wastewater system, from 45% to 97% of the population. In addition, this project aims to tackle sea water pollution. This will improve the quality of bathing water in this area where tourism accounts for 3,500 jobs. 350 km of water supply and waste water network will be built or refurbished, in addition to the extension of the Divulje wastewater treatment plant and the construction of a similar plant on the island of Čiovo. In Zaprešić, almost 7,000 inhabitants will get access to better drinking water service as the result of EU-funded works on the network, which will see reduced water losses. More than 19,000 people in the area will now be connected to the wastewater network, thanks to 135 km of additional pipeline. Cohesion investments in Croatia over the period 2014-2020 will allow 2 million people to have access to better water supply and wastewater treatment.