WATER KNOWLEDGE NOTE Croatia Wastewater Pollution Reduction and Institutional Strengthening in Sensitive Coastal Areas of the Adriatic Sea Cities along the Adriatic coastline of Croatia boast a sizable and fast-growing tourism industry that is one of the key pillars of the country’s economy. However, the practice of discharging untreated sewage directly into the Adriatic Sea resulted in the serious threat of environmental degradation to coastal waters, in addition to constraining tourism-based economic development. From the project’s start in 2009 to the project closure in 2015, the Coastal Cities Pollution Control Project 2 (CCPCP) supported the elimination of untreated wastewater discharge, piloted innovative wastewater treatment solutions, engaged in institutional strengthening, and improved seawater quality monitoring in the coastal area. © World Bank. Challenge Results Tourism is a key pillar of the Croatian economy, The project (2009–15) strengthened water supply and representing around 20% of the country’s gross domestic sanitation (WSS) services across 23 municipalities by improving product in 2016. However, the inadequate disposal the provision of efficient and sustainable water services. and management of wastewater in the coastal area was threatening the quality of the Adriatic Sea coastal waters The following key results were observed during the life of and hindering sustainable economic development along the project: the Adriatic coastline. In line with this, it was essential to reduce the amount of wastewater pollution loads • The project contributed to successfully reducing the entering the Adriatic Sea. It was particularly necessary to wastewater pollution load entering Croatia’s coastal waters; eliminate coastal zone pollution to improve the quality • 14 new wastewater treatment facilities were of coastal waters, reduce eutrophication, and reduce the constructed and put into operation, alongside risk of water-related diseases. improved knowledge of alternative nutrient reduction wastewater treatment technologies; Importantly, wastewater services were far below European • 162 kilometers of wastewater treatment systems were Union (EU) standards (Croatia joined the EU in 2013) and constructed; EU directives requirements. In 2009, only 44% of Croatians • The percentage of households in participating cities had adequate access to wastewater collection systems, and that were able to connect to wastewater services less than 25% of the population had any form of wastewater increased from 26% in 2009 to 72% in 2016; treatment. The lack of efficient and sustainable wastewater • Capacity building of the Croatian government’s services in Croatian coastal municipalities posed a threat to wastewater management sector contributed to inclusive and sustainable economic growth, public health, improved sustainability; and environmental quality. • 12 submarine outfalls were constructed; • The project supported the strengthening of HV as the key institution for the management of wastewater Approach services in Croatia, resulting in more efficient planning The government of Croatia requested the World Bank to and project management of WSS services; help improve the sustainability of wastewater collection, • 5 documentation packages for investments to be financed as well as to advance treatment and disposal services for through EU structural funds were prepared, multiplying cities along the country’s coastline. To fulfill this request, the project’s financial and environmental impact; CCPCP was developed in 2004 to improve the provision of • The Croatian line ministries responsible for environmental efficient and sustainable wastewater services in participating protection and HV were supported to prepare and coastal municipalities. In addition, the project was designed implement a Water Management Strategy that aligned the to introduce innovative wastewater treatment solutions to Croatian wastewater sector with the EU’s water directives. support relevant coastal communities. We clean our water The project objectives were achieved by developing new wastewater treatment and collection systems, as strictly just with biological well as by developing the capacity of the Ministry of microorganism, nothing Environmental Protection, the National Water Agency (Hrvatske vode; HV) and participating municipal water else; it is a completely utilities in terms of project preparation, management, ecological type of cleaning and efficient operations of newly acquired collection and treatment systems. With local implementation partners of water. … There is no and strategic international support, CCPCP was created smell and no swimming with an approach shaped by the overarching goals of improving seawater quality monitoring, strengthening objects like we saw before. institutions, and substantially investing in wastewater —Branka Viduka, technologist at technology. the new wastewater facility in Zadar WATER GLOBAL PRACTICE | CROATIA 2 Bank Group Contribution Partners The World Bank provided the Republic of Croatia The Hrvatske Vode (HV) is the main institutional player in with an Adaptable Program Loan in the amount of the provision and management of wastewater services in US$87.50 million. The Global Environmental Facility Croatia, and served as a focal point for the project preparation (GEF) co-financed the project with a grant in the and implementation. In addition, the Croatian Ministry of amount of US$6.4 million to help further reduce the Environmental Protection was responsible for the implemen- nutrient loads entering Croatia’s coastal waters and tation of the seawater quality monitoring project component. to pilot  innovative wastewater treatment solutions in several smaller municipalities. The additional Beneficiaries GEF financing allowed for the preparation of project applications and documentation for much larger EU More than 230,000 people directly benefitted from the structural funds, resulting in significant downstream project’s interventions. Alenka Turkovic, a technologist at nutrient removal. The project is the second project the Opatija wastewater plant noted, “The biggest problems supported by a two-phase Adaptable Program Loan are buildings which are directly on the coast, but not (APL) to help Croatia improve the quality of its connected to the system, and which have their own outlets coastal  waters in line with  applicable environmental into the sea. With the construction of the wastewater standards. treatment system, those have disappeared and the quality of the water where people bathe is excellent.” © World Bank. WATER GLOBAL PRACTICE | CROATIA 3 The biggest problems are Moving Forward buildings which are directly The Croatian government continues its commitment to sustainable and reliable wastewater treatment, especially on the coast, but not given the strategic role of coastal cities in the country’s tourism connected to the system, industry. The sustainability of the development outcomes is also ensured by the government’s willingness and obligation and which have their own to meet agreed EU directives on wastewater collection and outlets into the sea. With the treatment related to the Adriatic Sea. HV continues to use the monitoring and benchmarking system developed under the construction of the waste project as a national benchmarking platform for improving WSS service quality and efficiency. This demonstrates strong water treatment system, ownership by the implementing agency and represents a those have disappeared and significant long-term benefit brought about by the project with regard to supporting institutional improvement for the the quality of the water where WSS utilities sector in Croatia. people bathe is excellent. —Alenka Turkovic, technologist at Opatija Waste Water Plant Connect with the Water Global Practice www.worldbank.org/water worldbankwater@worldbank.org   @worldbankwater blogs.worldbank.org/water © 2019 International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank. Some rights reserved. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this work do not necessarily reflect the views of The World Bank, its Board of Executive Directors, or the governments they represent. The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this work. 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