WATER strategic large infrastructure project has started

Water is essential for life on earth. It means health, food, rest, energy… Unfortunately, groundwater levels are constantly falling. This also concern eastern Poland and border areas. Protecting water resources is key for improving the ecological situation in these areas. This is possible thanks to the projects implemented under the ENVIRONMENT priority of the Interreg NEXT Programme Poland – Ukraine 2021-2027.

One of them is the project ‘Sustainable Water Management: a Way to Revitalise Western Ukraine and Eastern Poland’ (acronym WATER), whose inauguration ceremony took place on 26^th February 2024 at the Community Cultural Centre in Skierbieszów. It is worth mentioning that this is one of two large infrastructure projects currently being implemented in the Lubelskie voivodeship.

The event was attended by representatives of local authorities, project partners from Poland and Ukraine and water management experts.

This is a big issue for the Skierbieszów local government. Why? – In recent years, in the area of the Skierbieszów commune there have been many investments, of various nature, aimed at improving the aesthetics, safety or functionality of public space. Through the implementation of this type of project and investment, we mainly want to improve the quality of the environment and the living conditions of the inhabitants of our Commune,

said Stanisław Sokal, Mayor of the Skierbieszów Commune

The project is being implemented jointly by 5 partners – the Department of Infrastructure of the Volyn Regional State Administration, the Department of International Cooperation and European Integration of the Rivne Regional State Administration, the Skierbieszów commune, the Svaliava Territorial Community and the Ternopil City Council. Its implementation will contribute to the ecologically rational use of water by providing the inhabitants of the project area with access to newly reconstructed water supply and sewage networks.

The project includes 5 major investments in water supply and sewerage infrastructure on both sides of the Polish-Ukrainian border:

– construction and modernisation of water supply infrastructure and wastewater treatment plants in Pulmo and Shatsk (UA),

– construction and modernisation of water supply and sewerage systems in Rivne and Kvasyliv (UA),

– construction of sewerage facilities and water management systems in Ternopil (UA),

– modernisation of the water supply and sewerage systems in Svaliva (UA),

– construction of sewage systems in Lipina Nowa and Zawodzie, in the Skierbieszów commune (PL).

In addition, the partners plan to provide trainings for professionals responsible for water resource management and to develop a Concept for sustainable water management and sanitation engineering in the Programme area. The assumptions of the Concept are to be incorporated into regional programmes. An important part of the project is also to launch of a joint web portal that will enable local authorities to monitor groundwater levels and water levels in rivers and lakes.

The total value of the project is 7 911 111.08 EUR, including Programme funding of 7 120 000.00 EUR.