Located on the river Odra, the port city of Szczecin (population 420 000) is a major contributor to pollution in the Baltic Sea. At present, the city has only one small, mechanical wastewater treatment plant, located on the east bank. There is no treatment plant at all on the west bank, and only thirteen percent of the total wastewater generated in the city is currently being treated.

The quality of drinking water in Szczecin is also poor, well below EU standards. The city’s water supply is largely dependent on a single pipeline from one main water source at the Miedwie lake, to the south east of the city. The rate of leakage in the water distribution system is also high.

In March 2000 the city completed a master plan to implement a major programme of investment, which includes two new wastewater treatment plants on the west bank, the up-grading of the plant on the east bank, and a major programme of sewerage extension and rehabilitation. The overall aim is to enable the city to achieve compliance with EU standards, in particular the Urban Wastewater Directive and the Drinking Water Directives.

Total cost: 288 million euros 
EU contribution: 190 million euros

Polish National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management
Mr N. Slowik (Head of the Cohesion Projects Department), tel. +48 22 8490079

01/03/2000

case

Urban Policy > Urban environment > Environmental sustainability

Water quality