On 14 August 2017, the European Commission approved the financing of a major cohesion project Waste water collection and treatment in the area of the aquifer of ljubljansko polje.

The project was defined as one of the priority projects within the Operational Programme for the Development of Environment and Transport Infrastructure for the period 2007-2013 for environmental protection in the water sector.

Within the financial perspective 2007-2013, the whole project was divided into two lots:

Lot 1 consisted of two phases:

• Phase I: upgrading of the collection system of the municipal waste water in the municipalities of Medvode and Vodice and the construction of the connection channel C0 in the City Municipality of Ljubljana and - Phase II: construction of the phase III. Of the CWWTP Ljubljana and upgrading of the existing capacity of the CWWTP (capacity of 555.000 PE) and tertiary treatment.
• Lot 2 included the upgrading of the sewage system in the City of Ljubljana in agglomerations above 2,000 PE.

Within the financial perspective 2007-2013, the applications for the approval of assistance from the Cohesion Fund for Lot 1 were prepared for both Phase I and II. The application for the Lot 1 (Phase I) was submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning in November 2011. The application for the Lot 1 (Phase II) was submitted to the aforementioned ministry in November 2012.

On the basis of applications, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia, by resolution of 10 June 2014, adopted a declaration on the priority treatment of 11 projects, including the projects:

• Wastewater Drainage and Treatment of the Ljubljansko polje aquifer area - Strand 1 - Upgrading of the system for urban wastewater drainage in the municipalities of Medvode and Vodice and the construction of the C0 connecting canal in the Municipality of Ljubljana and
• Wastewater Drainage and Treatment in the area of the Ljubljansko polje aquifer - Strand 1 - Phase II – construction of Phase III of the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant Ljubljana.

Based on a business meeting with the representatives of the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Slovenia, the Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy and representatives of the JASPERS group, a merger of projects was proposed (Upgrading of the system for urban wastewater drainage in the municipalities of Medvode and Vodice and the construction of the C0 connecting canal in the Municipality of Ljubljana, Construction of Phase III of Central Wastewater Treatment Plant Ljubljana and Upgrading of sewerage in agglomerations in Municipality of Ljubljana) into one project. By merging the projects and moving them into the 2014-2020 time period, the project got the status of a ‘Major Project’, which needs to be approved by the European Commission after prior review and approval by JASPERS (independent European institution). In addition to technical, financial and economic content, environmental documentation was prepared as part of the preparation of the documentation, such as the Expert Assessment of Possible Significant Environmental Impacts, the Environmental Impact Assessment Report, the Impact Assessment of Climate Change including a Sensitivity Assessment, a Vulnerability Assessment and a Risk Assessment, all in accordance with the instructions and recommendations of the European Commission and JASPERS. A review of the documentation by JASPERS was concluded with the final Action Completion Note report, issued on December 20, 2016. In January 2017, the Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy submitted the Application for the confirmation of the project to the European Commission.

The whole project consists of 3 parts:

- Part 1: Upgrading of the collection system of the municipal waste water in the municipalities of Medvode and Vodice and the construction of the connection channel C0 in the City Municipality of Ljubljana,

- Part 2: Construction of Phase III of the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant Ljubljana,

- Part 3: Upgrading of sewerage system in agglomerations in the Municipality of Ljubljana,

Part 1: Upgrading of the collection system of the municipal waste water in the municipalities of Medvode and Vodice and the construction of the connection channel C0 in the City Municipality of Ljubljana

In the Municipality of Medvode, the construction of sewerage system in the agglomerations of Medvode and Spodnje Pirniče is planned in the areas of Vikrč, Spodnje Pirniče, Zgornje Pirniče, Verje, and the upgrading of the sewage system in Preska, Medvode (Čarmanova ulica), Ladja, Goričane and Vaše. The total length of the planned sewerage network in the Municipality of Medvode is 22 km.

In the Municipality of Vodice, the construction of a connection canal from the settlement of Vodice to the existing sewerage system in Ljubljana (Zgornje Gameljne) and three connecting canals to the settlements of Bukovica and Utik (Bukovica pri Vodicah) are planned. The total length of the planned sewage in the Municipality of Vodice is 9.1 km.

In the Municipality of Ljubljana, the construction of the C0 connecting canal from the eastern bypass to the wastewater treatment plant Brod is planned, including connecting and secondary canals from the pumping stations of Mala vas, Tomačevo, Jarše, Ježica, Sneberij and Trbež in the total length of 12.1 km. At the location of the wastewater treatment plant Brod, a retention basin with a capacity of 800 m3 and accompanying facilities are planned to be build. Existing wastewater treatment plant Brod and 3 pumping stations will be closed after the construction of C0 the connection canal.

Approx. 3,600 inhabitants in the municipality of Medvode and 1,100 inhabitants in the municipality of Vodice will be connected to the new public sewage system. The construction of the C0 connecting canal will significantly reduce the load on the existing central sewage system in Ljubljana.

The value of works excluding VAT: EUR 27,980,451.

The contractor selected in the public procurement procedure in 2013 is the company JAVNA RAZSVETLJAVA d.d.

The construction will be carried out according to the principles of the red FIDIC book. Projects for obtaining a building permit have been prepared, building permits have mostly been acquired by investors. Public procurement procedures for construction, supervisor’s services and public information on the implementation of the project were carried out in 2013, contractors were selected, the signing of contracts is linked to the acquisition of funds for the implementation of the tendered works, which was fulfilled with the received Decision on the assistance of the EU Cohesion Fund Contracts, so there are no longer any obstacles for signing the contracts. The construction will be carried out in accordance with the tender documentation until the end of 2019. At the same time, supervisor’s services and public information on the implementation of the project will be carried out.

Part 2: Construction of Phase III of the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant Ljubljana

The construction of Phase III thus includes an increase in capacity to 555,000 PE and an upgrade with tertiary treatment.

The load of the existing Central Wastewater Treatment Plant Ljubljana, which was designed for a capacity of 360,000 PE, has been increasing over the years. It is, therefore, necessary to increase its capacity, taking into account the planned connection of new users to the sewage system and the anticipated elimination of some existing treatment plants. In accordance with the legislation, the existing Central Wastewater Treatment Plant Ljubljana also needs to be upgraded with tertiary treatment (removal of nitrogen and phosphorus compounds) since the plant is located in the water area of the river Danube. It is also planned to increase the capacity of the sludge line and modernize the existing sludge line with a advanced technological process for the treatment of sludge, which will provide more biogas production and a significantly lower quantity of sludge for the final disposition.

The anticipated upgrade and modernization of the existing Central Wastewater Treatment Plant Ljubljana will ensure sufficient cleaning capacity in the future. In accordance with applicable legislation, a tertiary treatment stage for all already and newly connected PE will be carried out. The state of the art equipment and advanced technological processes will be installed at the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant Ljubljana, which will enable lower operating costs. An increased quantity of biogas produced will replace the use of natural gas and thus a higher level of energy self-sufficiency will be achieved.

The construction will be carried out according to the principles of the yellow FIDIC book. Procurement procedures for construction, supervisor’s services and public information on the implementation of the project were carried out in 2013-2014, and individual contractors were selected. The signing of contracts was linked to the acquisition of funds for the implementation of tendered works. With the received Decision on the assistance of the EU Cohesion Fund, the contract will be signed with the contractor. The preparation of projects for the construction and acquisition of a building permit will begin, and then the construction of facilities. The construction of the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant Ljubljana is foreseen to be in progress until 2020, including trial operation and a one-year reclamation time. At the same time, supervisor’s services and public information on the implementation of the project will be carried out.

The value of works excluding VAT: 40,188,630 EUR.

The contractor selected in the public procurement procedure in 2013 is corporation RIKO - industrial, civil engineering and leasing company, in cooperation with OTV France.

Part 3: Upgrading of sewerage in agglomerations in the Municipality of Ljubljana

The project is intended to construct a sewage system for the municipal waste water in 39 areas in the Municipality of Ljubljana, which are located within 4 agglomerations larger than 2,000 PE: Ljubljana, Gameljne, Tacen and Sadinja vas.

The total length of the planned sewage system is 88.3 km of urban waste water sewerage. The construction of 13 wastewater pumps and 3 vacuum stations is also planned. Approx. 17,500 inhabitants will be newly connected to the public sewage system. In the area of the largest agglomeration of Ljubljana, the degree of connection to sewage system will increase to 98%.

The construction will be carried out according to the principles of the red FIDIC book. In this and the following year, projects for the acquisition of a building permit will be elaborated; the legal formalities will be regulated regarding the easements on the routes and the acquisition of building permits, which are expected to be obtained by the end of 2018. Given the large scope of work, the implementation of up to 7 public works contracts is planned, therefore the procedures for preparing the tender documentation, certification in the ministries and the implementation itself will be in progress until 2019. The implementation of the works will be in progress until 2020 within the schedule.

All the necessary documentation for the first set of public procurement has been obtained; thus the public procurement will be carried out in the autumn of 2017. Strand 1 will presumably cover the following areas: Stožice, Šmartinska cesta, Hrušica and Litijska cesta, Gornji Rudnik, Glinice and Dolnice, Zalog, Zaloška - Studenec , Slape, Kamnogoriška cesta, Cesta dveh cesarjev, Kalinova ulica, Cesta Andreja Bitenca, Na Trati, Novo Polje, Ježica, Kleče, Medveščkova ulica, Ogrinčeva ulica, Mire Miheličeve in Brdo vzhod.

The construction will take place in almost 250 streets in the City of Ljubljana.

The estimated value of works excluding VAT is EUR 39,233,825.

Overall project results

As the result of the project, approx. 22.200 inhabitants will be newly connected to the sewage and wastewater treatment system. In the area of ​​the largest agglomeration of Ljubljana, the degree of connection to sewage will increase to 98%. The regulated and controlled collection of waste water will contribute to the protection of the quality status of groundwater. The construction of the C0 connecting canal will significantly reduce the load on the existing central sewage system in Ljubljana.

The anticipated upgrade and modernization of the existing Central Wastewater Treatment Plant Ljubljana will ensure sufficient cleaning capacity in the future. In accordance with applicable legislation, a tertiary treatment stage for all already and newly connected PE will be carried out. A higher degree of energy self-sufficiency of the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant Ljubljana will enable lower operating costs.

There will be 131.5 km of sewage channels, 3 vacuum stations, 16 pumping stations and a retention basin built. Existing small treatment plants, that are overloaded, and 3 wastewater pumping stations will be closed.

The total value of the investment excluding VAT is estimated at EUR 111,167,201.

Sources of funding: EU Cohesion Fund, state budget and municipal budget.