Brussels, 17 December 2024
The European Commission has greenlit a Cohesion Policy-funded project to upgrade sewerage infrastructure in Zadar and Petrčane aiming at protecting the region’s water and environmental quality while aligning it with EU water and wastewater directives.
The Zadar-Petrčane agglomeration in Croatia’s Adriatic Coast, home to 75,000 residents and a destination for 1.5 million touristic overnight stays annually, faces challenges with wastewater management. Currently, only 70% of the population is connected to a 185 km-long wastewater network, with the rest relying on semi-permeable septic tanks that leak untreated sewage into soil and coastal waters.
This two-phase project, which spans two EU programming periods (2014-2020 and 2021-2027), will address these issues by connecting an additional 13,152 residents to the sewerage network, boosting the connection rate to 94% of the population. The project will add more than 50 km in new sewerage pipelines, reconstruct or rehabilitate parts of the network, and upgrade one wastewater treatment plant to a modern processing level. These improvements will ensure cleaner water discharge and better environmental protection. The total EU co-financing will reach €54.8 million at the end of the project, expected in 2026.
The initiative will significantly reduce untreated sewage infiltration, safeguarding soil and sea quality. This is vital for preserving the pristine coastal ecosystem, the environment and biodiversity as well as the local tourism economy. Moreover, modernized infrastructure will contribute to compliance with the EU Water Framework Directive and the Urban Wastewater Directive, setting a benchmark for environmental standards in the region.
By reducing pollution and enhancing wastewater treatment, the project will deliver long-term environmental and public health benefits for residents and tourists alike.
For more information on EU-funded projects in Croatia visit Kohesio.