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Energia - Środowisko
Dodatek promocyjno-reklamowy do "RZECZPOSPOLITEJ".
21 grudnia 2005 r.
Co-financed by the European Union, this project helps to reduce social and economic disparities within the Community.
Wastewater treatment and water supply in Poznań
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Interview with Raszard Grobelny, Mayor of Poznań
Was it easy to obtain EU funding from the European Commission?
 At the time Poznań applied for the pre-accession ISPA fund, Poland didn't know much about the rules of EU aid programmes. While preparing our application we were assisted by a consulting company. Despite our scarce experience, the application was well prepared and subsequently approved by the ISPA Executive Committee which later led to the signing of the financing memorandum by the European Commission. Naturally, the situation is now much easier, as the "old" beneficiaries, which had to cope with strenuous EU procedures, have paved the way for new applicants, and the rules for obtaining EU funding are now generally known. What is more, EU grant beneficiaries are now exchanging experiences gained while applying for funds or implementing projects.
The city decided to modernize water and sewage system with the use of EU funding and Aquanet SA resources. Before, however, it considered capitalizing the waterworks and sewage company in Poznań by means of privatisation. Preparatory works for privatisation were already advanced, you have even announced a tender which, by the way, met with big interest from European leaders of the sector. Why did you change your mind?
The Poznań project was to be implemented by means of public-private partnership (PPP). The purpose of the tender was to select a concessionaire - a company which would be granted a concession for operation of the water-sewage system in return for financing and implementation of investments consisting in modernization and extension of the city's water intakes, water treatment stations and water supply network. In May 2002, the City Council of Poznań made a resolution not to enter the PPP. This decision was made mainly due to lack of legal regulations on this kind of investments and because of new opportunities to obtain EU grants.
How important is the project for the city?
The project will develop capacities of wastewater treatment plants in Poznań and modernize sewage disposal system in Poznań and the municipality of Tarnowo Podgórne.
Implementation of this one of the largest environmental projects in Poland will not only bring about environmental benefits, such as reduction in the volume of wastewater released into the river Warta and improvement of river water quality, but it will also help the city gain further experience in execution of this type of investments. We are also happy of the improved water quality in lake Kierskie, which is a popular recreation destination for many of the inhabitants of Poznań.
What problems do you encounter while implementing the project?
Implementation of such a large project is a very complex process. We have to provide both technical supervision over construction works and financial service for the project while at the same time comply with a number of complicated procedures required by the Cohesion Fund. We have, therefore, established a Project Implementation Unit consisting of professionals who take care of proper project execution. Many problems stem also form often changing procedures and a complicated decision-making system in central-level institutions. Nonetheless, each day brings us more experience which we will undoubtedly use for future projects co-financed by the EU.
EM
www.city.poznan.pl
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In October 1999, Poznań submitted an application to the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management for co-financing of the "Wastewater treatment and water supply in Poznań" project. The application was prepared jointly by Poznań City Office and Poznańskie Wodociągi i Kanalizacja Sp. z o.o. (Poznań Waterworks and Sewage Company Ltd) - currently Aquanet SA. On 16 July 2001, the Executive Committee of the European Commission approved the application which led to the signing of the Financing Memorandum by the European Commission on 7 September 2001 and by the Government of Poland on 12 February 2002.
 The total project budget amounts to 104.4 million euro, of which 59.9 million euro, (representing 57% of the project value) will be financed by the Cohesion Fund and the remaining 44.9 million euro (43% of investment costs) will come from national resources. Under the project, Aquanet SA will also carry out investments worth over 43 million euro (non-eligible costs) in water supply system. All investments, including both eligible and non-eligible expenses, will ensure fulfillment of environmental objectives identified in the application for funding.
Together with Aquanet SA, the city of Poznań established a Project Implementation Unit (PIU), which cooperates with Contract Engineer, the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management, the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Finance.
The overall purpose of the project is to reduce untreated wastewater discharges into the river Warta to enhance water quality in its tributaries and lake Kierskie. It will be achieved through extension and technological modernization of the Left-bank Wastewater Treatment Plant, the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant and sewage disposal system in Poznań and its neighboring areas.
The "Wastewater treatment and water supply in Poznań" project will allow for full utilization of both plant's treatment capacity of 250 000 m3/d in accordance with the EU and national standards. This capacity will be sufficient to serve the whole Poznań agglomeration. Moreover, thanks to the project, the coverage by sewage disposal system will rise from 83% in the year 2000 to 99.6% in 2020, and the current wastewater discharges into the river Warta will be reduced by 33 000 m3/d.
The modernization will allow for reuse of nearly 100% of sludge. This will be possible thanks to the application of sludge as landfill top cover or as bio-fuel for power production.
Additionally, the project will bring about reduction in odour emissions which will significantly improve living conditions near the Left-bank and the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant and restore attractiveness of these areas. As well as that, the project will improve water based recreation opportunities in Poznań and its surrounding areas.
The project is divided into the following three parts: "Modernization and extension of the Left-bank Wastewater Treatment Plant", "Modernization and extension of sewage disposal system", "Sludge management in the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant", and is being implemented through six works contracts:
1. Modernization of the Left-bank Wastewater Treatment Plant at Serbska Street in Poznań.
Contract No. 1 is now in the tender phase. It includes modernization of the existing mechanical wastewater treatment plant without interruption of the plant's operations, which will provide mechanical and biological treatment capacity of 50 000 m3/d.
2. Modernization and extension of sewage system - Poznań, Phase 1
The contract includes three tasks:
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Task 1 - Modernization of overflow structure in combined sewer system in Poznań. Apart from capacity development in the sewage system, this task will eliminate sanitary wastewater discharges into the Warta river in dry periods and reduce the frequency of discharges of sanitary wastewater mixed with storwater during heavy rains.
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Task 2 - Renovation and modernization of pressure sewers linking Garbary pumping station, the Left-bank Wastewater Treatment Plant and the right-bank sewer collector. This task will allow for delivery of 157 000 m3/d of sewage to both wastewater treatment plants and nearly complete elimination of untreated wastewater discharges into the river Warta.
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Task 3 - Construction of sanitary collector sewer at Żarnowiecka Street, from Przelot Street to Polska Street in Poznań. This task will allow for creation of adequate sewage system linking Tarnow Podgorny with the existing sewage disposal network in Poznań.
The contract is being executed by a consortium: Hydrobudowa 6 SA - consortium leader, Hydrobudowa 9, Per Aarsleff Polska Sp. z o.o.
3. Modernization and extension of sewage disposal system - Poznań, Phase 2
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Task 1 - Construction of right-bank sewer collector II linking the existing Górna Strefa sewer collector with the existing pressure sewer. Construction of a new sewer will improve delivery of sewage by gravitational system to the Central Wastewater Treatement Plant.
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Task 2 - Construction of combined sewer "A" linking Kościelna Street and Niepodległości Avenue including modernization of overflow structure in the area of Kościelna Street in Poznań. The new sewer collector will allow for delivery of sewage from the western part of the city, elimination of raw sewage releases into the receiver (Bodganka) as well as for sewage collection from new residents of Smochowice, the eastern part of Tarnowo Podgórne and Kiekrza municipality.
The contract is being executed by consortium: Maxer SA and Hydrobudowa 9 Sp. z o.o.
4. Sanitary sewer with network pumping stations and pressure sewers in the municipality of Tarnowo Podgórne.
Contract No. 4 is in the tender phase. The contractor will have 30 months from the signing of the contract for its execution. The investment will create sewage disposal system in the eastern part of Tarnowo Podgórne municipality and will reduce ecological degradation of lake Kierskie.
The contract will be executed in accordance with FIDIC Conditions of Contract.
5. Biogas management and thermal drying of sludge in the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant.
 Application of biogas for power generation as well as thermal drying of sludge will improve energy and sludge management in the wastewater treatment plant. This will help save 21 900 MWh of electricity annually. The volume of sludge will be reduced from around 73 000 m3 per year to 24 000 m3 per year. Nearly 100% of sludge will be reused.
The contract will be executed by consortium: Budimex SA - consortium leader, Cadagua SA, Ferrovial Agroman SA.
6. Modernization of two separated fermenting chambers in the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant.
 The works will include construction of two new fermenting chambers with the capacity of 5000 m3 as part of sludge management in the plant. The new fermenting chambers will process sludge delivered through pressure sewers from both the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant and from the Left-bank Wastewater Treatment Plant. Biogas produced during the sludge fermentation process will be used for heat and power generation (Contract no. 5). The thus produced energy will be used for the plant's needs and its surplus will be sold.
The contract will be executed by Mitex SA.
Moreover, the beneficiary signed two service contracts - one for project management and supervision and one for technical assistance.
Jaromir Mikołajczak
Filip Nowak
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