Improving the quality of shared assets by reducing their pollution load from utility sewer systems of towns and rural areas in the programme territory (Pskov area and south Estonia).

The largest population center of the program area is Pskov (204 thousand people) with the longest sewage network (330 km). Wear of networks is 70%, which leads to leakages, sewage pipe breakdowns, blockages and outflows of untreated sewage. In addition, during the peak of storm loads, sewage collectors are overflowed, untreated waste water gets into the Velikaya River and further into Lake Peipsi. Waste accumulated in the sewage collectors also leads to blockages of sewage pipes and environmental pollution by untreated wastewater. As the enterprise operating with the sewerage system (Municipal Enterprise of the Pskov city “Gorvodokanal) has no modern system for monitoring and managing the sewage system, recording and forecasting contingencies, planning and cleaning sewage networks, the number of accidents on networks resulting in disposal of untreated wastewater into Lake Peipsi has significantly increased. In recent years the number of accidents which cause sewage overflows has increased by 3 times in 2016 in comparison with 2012. As a result untreated sewage gets into the Velikaya River and further into Lake Peipsi that leads to the worsening of ecological situation in the transboundary basin. Similar situations occur on the Estonian shores of the lake, that is why the problems concerning the operation of sewage networks and risk management on pollution of Lake Peipsi are transboundary and should be resolved through joint efforts and actions. The overall objective of the project is to reduce the negative impact on the environment resulted from the operation of centralized sewage system, to improve urban environment and living standards, to ensure the sanitary and epidemiological welfare of population living on the program area , to improve the ecological situation in the ecosystem of Lake Peipsi. As a result of the project, the accident rate on sewage networks will decrease 3 times, the blockages, sludge settling in networks and overflows of untreated sewage will be completely eliminated. The result of the project is to create an electronic map of Pskov sewage networks for monitoring the sewage system of the city, forecasting possible accidents on networks, taking measures to prevent the discharge of untreated wastewater into the Peipsi lake. In addition, the current monitoring system of Emajõe Waterworks Ltd will be modernized in order to obtain the maximum amount of information and management of sewage systems in 12 municipalities in Estonia. As the project activities will be implemented on border territories of Russia and Estonia, the final beneficiaries of the project will be population of both countries living on the coast of the Peipsi lake. The main activities of the project: - conducting of the monitoring of sewage networks operation will allow to obtain information on sewage networks location, to forecast its overflow on maximum loads, record of the most worn out sections of sewage networks, forecasting possible accidents, preventing leaks in sewer networks and sewage overflows - upgrading of the monitoring system of Emajõe Waterworks Ltd and obtain complete information of sewage systems in 12 municipalities in Southern Estonia to reduce the potential risks of pollution from sewage systems. For the successful and accident-free operation of sewerage networks in Pskov, it is required to create an electronic monitoring system for the city's sewage networks. In Russia there is no experience in creating and operating network monitoring systems of the same length and configuration. In Emajõe Waterworks Ltd a similar system has been designed and operated for several years, and ME of Pskov city "Gorvodokanal" needs experience to create the most effective sewage monitoring system. During the implementation of the project, Emajõe Waterworks Ltd introduces ME of Pskov city "Gorvodokanal" specialists to the existing monitoring system, its operational experience and plans for upgrading the monitoring system. ME of Pskov city "Gorvodokanal" based on the received information creates its own monitoring system and purchases equipment for washing networks. Emajõe Waterworks Ltd upgrades its monitoring system for sewer networks. After the implementation of the project, the partners introduce colleagues from other enterprises operating the sewerage system with the established and upgraded monitoring systems and the experience gained in participating in cross-border cooperation projects. Practice of creation and operation of monitoring systems of sewer networks in Russia is almost absent. The monitoring system created in Pskov will be unique for cities in Russia with a population of up to 500 thousand people, will help spread the experience of creating such systems in a large part of the country. The modernized monitoring system of Emajõe Waterworks Ltd will become one of the most advanced in the region.

As a result of the project, the accident rate in the Pskov sewerage network will be reduced by 3 times, the leaks will be completely eliminated and preventive cleaning of the Pskov sewerage networks will be carried out. In addition, the sewerage system of the municipalities located on the Estonian coast of Lake Peipsi will be stable and accident-free.