Measure: Improving the productivity and competitiveness of the area’s economic, rural, cultural and environmental resources
Project Title: Reduction of losses and optimization of water supply system
Project Budget:
| Project Value | EU Contribution | |
| Republic of Serbia | € 190,168.00 | € 159,741.12 |
| Montenegro | € 188,600.00 | € 160,310.00 |
| TOTAL | € 378,768.00 | € 320,051.12 |
Beneficiary of funds in Montenegro: Public enterprise “Vodovod i kanalizacija” Nikšić
Beneficiary of funds in the Republic of Serbia: Public utility “Vodovod” Užice
Area of implementation:
• Montenegro: Municipality of Nikšić
• Serbia: Municipality of Užice
The target groups of the project: all users of the water supply and sewage system, local authorities and small and medium enterprises.
Project duration: 1/12/2010 – 30/11/2012
Project objectives:
The overall objectives:
– To bring together the people, communities and economies of the border area to contribute to the efficient use of water resources and preservation of the environment through joint incentives
– To establish long-term cross-border cooperation strengthening the joint incentives for sustainable development of the border area and creating the conditions for SME development, production of healthy food and promoting tourism
The specific objectives of the project:
– To reduce losses in water supply systems to acceptable levels
– Optimization of the water supply process
– Improving water quality in the systems
– Savings by reducing water production costs
– Modernization and rationalization
Activities and results of the project:
By the implementation of the project, the reduction of losses in the water supply systems in Nikšić and Užice were achieved, which caused significant improvement related costs effectiveness of these two systems. To achieve this goal numerous preparatory activities and meetings have been organised including collection of 14 analogue and digital technical documents by the Public enterprise “Vodovod i kanalizacija” Nikšić and 15 preparatory documents by the Public utility “Vodovod” Užice. Both companies created detailed data bases on all users, which in Nikšić include information on 19.978 users and in Užice data on 23.156 users. After development of database of the users “Vodovod i kanalizacija” Nikšić and “Vodovod” Užice jointly participated in development and implementation of the GIS system that included data on: the position of water works, valves, gauges, water meters, etc.; data on the position of the facilities connected to the water supply network; data on water supply system routes; profiles, materials and classes of pipes. The introduced GIS system allowed to both companies identification of new measuring zone, so 6 new zones were defined in Nikšić water supply system and 53 in Užice.
Taking into consideration lack of funds and out of date equipment the project supported procurement of new vehicles, measuring equipment and other equipment that will improve services within both utility companies. The new equipment was procured for “Vodovod” Užice worth 133.612 EUR and equipment for “Vodovod i kanalizacija” Nikšić worth 134.749 EUR. Both procurement procedures were followed with training for staff on proper usage and installation of new equipment.
Other activities include: collection of data from newly installed water meters, development and installation of hydraulic model for the entire water supply system, identification of water losses and illegal users, fixing observed deficiencies and water supply systems reconstructions. As a result of performed activities there were 1252 failures and 228 illegal users identified within Nikšić water supply system and 1011 failures and 493 illegal users in Užice water supply system. After the conducted procedures, all illegal users were legalised and registered while failures were recorder and fixed. New and modern way of measuring of water consumption was implemented within the project by procurement and installation of electronic water meters which enables remote reading of quantities of spent water by consumer. Totally 200 electronic water reading meters were procured and installed in Nikšić and 250 in Užice water supply system.
Finally all implemented activities and achieved results lead to savings, new water quantities were obtained and water supply system towards of all users in Nikšić and Užice was improved. The project improved technical capacities of two companies through procurement of newly and up to date equipment as well as to improved skills of workers through capacity building activities performed within the project.
