250 million PLN allocated for eco-friendly investments in Szczecin

The Water Supply and Sewage Company is planning to spend over 250 million PLN on extending the water supply and sewage system, this amount being envisaged in the Multiannual Plan for Development and Modernisation of Water Supply and Sewage Equipment 2021-2024. The appropriate resolution will be adopted by the Szczecin City Council at the session to be held later this week.

The projects envisaged in the document, once completed, are expected to secure uninterrupted supplies of clean and safe potable water to Szczecin residents, together with the collection and treatment of sewage. The planned investments fostering urban development will supplement the current and upcoming municipal projects. They are compliant with the Multiannual Szczecin Development Programme 2021-2025 and perfectly correspond to the environmentally-oriented idea of metropolitan development. The plan was devised based on the technical and financial capabilities of the largest municipal company, and the subsequent investments, by utilising the latest water production and sewage treatment technologies, will serve the purpose of preserving the biodiversity of Szczecin. They will facilitate exploiting the natural environment in the least invasive way, while also contributing to the accomplishment of the Company’s strategic development objectives.

“The plan includes a range of investments to extend the network and facilities serving the purpose of water conditioning and supply”, remarked Tomasz Makowski, Spokesperson of the Water Supply and Sewage Company in Szczecin. “Among these, major investments provide for completing modernisation work in our biggest water supply line (commonly referred to as ‘Miedwianka’) and the ‘Miedwie’ Water Production Plant, as well as replacing the asbestos cement water network. The implementation costs of all these ‘water’ projects in 2021-2024 will amount to approx. PLN 125.7 million”.

Other projects concern the sanitary system and sewage treatment, the most important ones including the completion of modernisation work in the Zdroje sewage treatment plant, investments increasing the operational efficiency of the Pomorzany sewage treatment plant, and renovation of the Szczecin sewage networks. It is planned that all these projects will cost approx. PLN 126.8 million. Further investments in renewable energy sources are also planned, including the construction of new PV power stations to supply cheaper energy to the Water Supply and Sewage Company’s buildings. Currently, over 25% of the energy needed for the Szczecin water supply system operation is already secured from its own renewable sources.

“The Water Supply and Sewage Company’s investments will be financed from its own resources as well as from available subsidies and preferential loans”, said Tomasz Makowski. “The Company is systematically and efficiently optimising its own costs with the aim of maintaining the prices of its services at the lowest possible level. So, the planned investments and work will be performed by assuming that the water supply and sewage charges in Szczecin will remain unchanged”.

Water and ecology are among the crucial values consistent with the Szczecin Floating Garden 2050 brand which reflects the richness of nature around Szczecin. It highlights the idea that, while pursuing development, one should not lose the natural wealth which derives from nature. In line with the concept of a floating garden, on its growth path Szczecin will combine its characteristic features with the qualities of a place that is good for living, thus proving that a modern metropolis does not need to be overwhelming. All this makes Szczecin pay great attention to a responsible approach to natural resources management, while coming closer to water, taking care of the environment and implementing investments to raise the living standards.

Through such an approach, Szczecin is becoming a more eco-friendly (through the construction and start-up of the Eco Generator waste incineration plant, and investments in the Water Supply and Sewage Company infrastructure), open (through road investments and reconstruction of main Szczecin arteries) and water-oriented city (through the establishing of the North East Marina yacht port).