The European Commission approved the allocation of $440 million to Romania to increase the provision of safe drinking water and the collection and treatment of wastewater.
The European Commission has approved the investment from the Cohesion Fund.
The project will improve and extend water supply and sewerage infrastructure in six Romanian counties, according to SeeNews.
The six counties are the following: Constanta, Calarasi, Dambovita, Ialomita and parts of Ilfov and Brasov, according to the European Commission in its press release.
This drinking water and wastewater treatment project is expected to create 156 permanent jobs. The anticipated date for it to be operational is July 2023.
“The project will reduce pollutants in drinking water and the resulting health risks, stimulate biodiversity and development of industrial, commercial and recreational activities,” said the European Commission.
This project complements previous EU measures aimed at modernizing water and wastewater infrastructures in Romania, reported SeeNews.
“The goals are to ensure continuous access to safe drinking water and to reduce pollution of rivers and groundwater in line with the Commission’s Green deal objectives,” said EU Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira.
Overall, the European Commission approved an investment package of more than 335 million from the EU budget for over 120 new LIFE programme projects. 47 LIFE environment and resource efficiency projects will cover issues in a few areas: air, environment and health, resource efficiency and circular economy, waste, and water.
According to the Borgen Project, many native Romanians living in rural areas still struggle with wastewater management. This is largely in part due to pollution from sudden economic development between the 1960s and 1980s.
