Cohesion Policy supports the expansion of the wastewater infrastructure in Croatia

17 December 2024

Cohesion Policy Boosts Wastewater Infrastructure in Croatia
The EU is funding a major upgrade to sewerage infrastructure in Zadar and Petrčane, enhancing water quality and environmental protection on Croatia's Adriatic coast.

Impact: By 2026, 94% of the region’s 75,000 residents will be connected to an expanded wastewater network, reducing untreated sewage infiltration and safeguarding the pristine coastal ecosystem.
Funding: €54.8 million in EU support will modernize 50.8 km of pipelines, upgrade treatment facilities, and align with EU environmental directives.

This project ensures cleaner waters and supports sustainable tourism, benefiting locals and the 1.5 million annual overnight visitors.

The European Commission has greenlit an EU-funded project to upgrade sewerage infrastructure in Zadar and Petrčane, a tourist hotspot on Croatia’s Adriatic coast. The initiative aims to protect the region’s water and environmental quality while aligning with EU water and wastewater directives.The Zadar-Petrčane agglomeration, home to 75,000 residents and a destination for 1.5 million tourist 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%. In the first phase, supported by a €25.5 million EU contribution from the Cohesion Fund, the project will bring 50.8 km of new sewerage pipelines, reconstruct or rehabilitate 3 km of 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 in the second and final phase of the project.

The initiative will significantly reduce untreated sewage infiltration, safeguarding soil and sea quality. This is vital for preserving the pristine coastal ecosystem, which underpins the local tourism economy. Moreover, modernized infrastructure will contribute to compliance with the EU Water Framework Directive and 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. The completion of the project is expected in 2026.For more information on EU-funded projects in Croatia visit Kohesio.