OREANDA-NEWS. February 01, 2011. The water and wastewater network extension program works were finished on schedule last year under AS Tallinna Vesi’s guidance, altogether 6828 properties have been given access to the the public water and wastewater network. In total 326 kilometres of new pipes were laid in Tallinn during the nine years of the program.

AS Tallinna Vesi’s CEO Ian Plenderleith said that the completion of the network extension program is the delivery of one of the most important promises the company committed to after the privatisation in 2001. „In addition to providing excellent quality drinking water and environmentally friendly wastewater treatment, it was important to ensure access to water services for all the residents of the city,“ said Plenderleith.

In total 214,65 kilometres of new sewage pipes; 33,04 kilometres of new water pipes and 78,42 kilometres of new stormwater pipes have been laid in Tallinn since 2001. Most of the new pipes have been laid in Nomme, Pirita and Kristiine – respectively 158,41 kilometres; 67,99 kilometres and 34,89 kilometres.

Construction activities in 2010 were impacted in the beginning and the end of the year by the wintery weather conditions, but AS Tallinna Vesi’s and its construction partners managed to construct the full 2010 programme in spite of extreme weather conditions. Some landscaping works had to be postponed on some sites due to the early winter season, but these works will be completed by spring. The majority of the works were carried out by AS Tallinna Vesi and its construction partners Esmar Ehitus, Water Ser, Terrat, Akronto and Viimsi Keevitus.

The objective of the EU urban waste water directive is to protect the environment from the damaging effects of urban wastewater being discharged into receiving waters, therefore the wastewater must be collected from the wastewater collection area and treated. Compliance with the requirements of the directive must ensure a safe living environment and help people achieve a higher living standard as well. „Tallinn committed to meeting the directive’s requirements by the year 2011 and this objective has now been achieved,“ noted Plenderleith.

Of the nearly 7000 properties given access to public water and wastewater system, 4843 properties have joined the system as at the end of last year. „Across Tallinn there are still a few properties who may not join the public water and wastewater network yet, but the city of Tallinn and AS Tallinna Vesi shall continue seeking possibilities for granting access to these properties as well,“ promised Plenderleith.

The City of Tallinn and AS Tallinna Vesi concluded an agreement in 2007, according to which the network extension program was coordinated and financed by AS Tallinna Vesi and the City of Tallinn assumed the obligation to compensate the construction costs to the water company over the next ten years. AS Tallinna Vesi additionally assumed a 20 million euro loan from the Nordic Investment Bank to finance the project.