At the bottom of Europe: Less than 20 percent of wastewater is treated in Serbia

U Serbia less than 20 percent of the total produced is currently being refined waste water, which is far below the European average.

The situation on the ground presents an even worse picture than the statistics, writes Dr. Đurđa Kerkez from the Faculty of Science and Mathematics in Novi Sad for the Klima 101 portal.

He states that out of about 50 wastewater treatment plants, a third is not in operation, while most of the others do not achieve satisfactory results either from the aspect of environmental protection or from the economic aspect.

In addition, the sewage infrastructure is insufficiently developed, which further complicates wastewater management.

What is the state of water treatment plants in Serbia?

At the end of 2023, a group of experts concluded that many water treatment plants are in various stages of operational readiness, and that some require complete reconstruction.

There are problems with infrastructure, technological deficiencies, as well as difficulties related to equipment, construction and administrative-financial management. Also, industrial waste water and the lack of a suitable sewage network have a great influence on the work.

Among the shortcomings are inadequate planning, uncoordinated investments, lack of trained experts and the absence of a clear development strategy.

Funding for new plants comes from different sources and is often not coordinated, which leads to problems in the implementation and maintenance of the system.

What is the solution?

In order for Serbia to solve this problem, it is necessary to invest in the modernization of existing facilities, infrastructure improvement, personnel training and solving environmental and operational challenges. Also, the support of local authorities and strategic planning are key to sustainable management, Klima 101 writes.

The approximate cost of building a wastewater treatment plant and supporting infrastructure at the national level is estimated at 4,5 billion euros, but the exact price will depend on the volume of investments and the size of projects in individual local self-government units.

Source: Air Conditioning 101