Organized by the Regional Development Agency Srem (RRA Srem), a working meeting was held on March 27 within the framework of the EU project D-CLEAN, which is implemented through the Interreg Danube Region Program, where representatives of the municipal sector in the field of water supply and wastewater treatment from the territory of Srem, as well as other relevant actors involved in the development of water infrastructure and environmental protection, gathered.
The meeting was held in the premises of JP “Vodovod” in Rum, and during the meeting the main goals of the D-CLEAN project were presented, which is aimed at improving the quality of water in the Danube basin through the promotion of sustainable solutions for waste and stormwater management, with a special focus on small settlements. The project is implemented through a partnership of organizations from several countries of the Danube region (Slovenia, Austria, Romania, Croatia, Hungary and Serbia), and includes capacity building activities, knowledge exchange, pilot activities and the development of practical tools that should help decision makers and professional services in planning sustainable water management systems.
A special part of the meeting was dedicated to the presentation of the conceptual solution of the wastewater treatment plant based on natural solutions (Nature-Based Solutions – NBS) for the Hrtkovci pilot area, which is being developed as part of the project. In this context, the basic technical concept of this solution, the principles of plant operation based on natural processes, the expected ecological effects, as well as the advantages of applying such systems in smaller settlements in terms of construction costs, maintenance and long-term sustainability are presented.
The participants were also presented with the next steps in connection with the investigation works in the pilot area, especially in the part of geomechanical and hydrogeological analyses, which are important for the safe positioning of the future plant in relation to the existing water resources, bearing in mind the importance of protecting the source within the Regional Water Supply System “Eastern Srem”, as one of the key infrastructure projects for the long-term water supply of this area.
Also, during the meeting, it was emphasized what all local partners and utility companies can expect from the D-CLEAN project in the coming period. This includes:
- organization of professional trainings (including the train-the-trainers concept);
- development of GIS tools for better planning and decision-making;
- creation of practical guidelines and manuals (Handbook) for the selection of optimal technologies;
At the end of the meeting, it was pointed out that the D-CLEAN project represents an important opportunity to strengthen the capacity of local institutions and utility companies, as well as to implement innovative and sustainable solutions that can contribute to better protection of water resources and improvement of the quality of life in Srem.
In the coming period, RRA Srem will continue to involve relevant local actors in project activities, with the aim of providing quality and long-term sustainable solutions for the improvement of water infrastructure in the region through joint work.
