Water professionals, representatives of central and local authorities and businessmen have initiated a debate forum in exchanging experience necessary to ensure sustainable sector development. The suggested topics covered most interesting current topics related to strategies for water companies to reduce water losses, efficient management of assets, operational and commercial efficiency, management of failures and pressure, performance indicators, analytical tools, data collection, hydraulic models, efficiency of companies and capital investment planning in the medium term, high-impact projects for reducing water losses, best practices and case studies.

In this context, CALM representative, expert in local development projects, Octavii Ivanov, performed during 15-19 June 2015, a study visit toghether with WSS service operators, representatives of AMAC, GIZ, MRDC, Ministry of Environment, ‘Apele Moldovei’, at the Regional Water Forum Danube – Eastern Europe, IWA Regional Conference Water loss Management 2015 and International Exhibition EXPOAPA 2015. The visit was organized by GIZ and AMAC (‘Moldova Apa-Canal’ Association).

The main purpose of this visit was to exchange experience and study new technologies in water and sanitation (WSS), WSS service delivery models. This goal was achieved through three objectives:

  • Visiting International Specialized Exhibition of specific equipment and technologies for water and sanitation sector ‘EXPOAPA Bucharest 2015 ‘;
  • Participation in the seminar ‘Leading Technologies in WILO pumping systems equipment’;
  • Exchange of experience, new technologies, service delivery models in water and sanitation at APA NOVA Bucharest and RAJA SA Constanta companies.

The Delegation from the Republic of Moldova became acquainted with modern technologies in the field of international companies with successful practices implemented in Romania regarding regionalization of WSS services. Also within the IWA Regional Conference – Management of water loss in 2015 and the seminar ‘Implementation of investment projects’ were disseminated best practices and innovative solutions in the field.

The visit to the company APA NOVA Bucharest has targeted the following technological objects of the organization:

  • Drinking water treatment and production plant from Crivina;
  • Sewage pumping station Colentina;
  • Wastewater Treatment Station Glina.

Apa Nova Bucharest (company belonging to the French group ‘Veolia’) has as its main activity the operation of water supply and sanitation services in the municipality of Bucharest, being the concessionaire of public services of water supply and sanitation in Bucharest municipality, for a period of 25 years, since 2000. The concession of water supply and sanitation services is an opportunity for LPA in Moldova, thus Romania’s experience presents a valuable and practical recovery guide.
During the seminar ‘Leading Technologies in WILO pumping systems equipment’, the participants were familiarized with WILO’s modern equipment, the most modern technologies and  the company’s activity and cooperation manner with WSS operators.

The visit to RAJA SA Constanta began with a meeting with the company’s management and the visit of site Raja SA – Murfatlar, where was presented the remote management and monitoring system of SCADA technological equipment.

S.C. RAJA S.A. Constanta is the largest regional operator in Romania in drinking water supply and wastewater treatment; full member of the International Water Association (IWA); it has a shareholding consisting of 34 local and county councils; serves over 3,000,000 inhabitants in Constanta, Ialomita, Ilfov, Calarasi, Dambovita, Brasov and Prahova; during the summer season serves over 4 million beneficiaries.

During the visit to wastewater treatment plant Constanta Nord and water source Caragea-Dermeni, the participants were presented with modern technologies and innovative complex solutions achieved with the support of European investment grants. By the way, in recent years the company has received over EUR 50 million. EU grants, and in the company’s department of investment attraction and realization work about 130 people. The tariff for water and sanitation services is unique for all beneficiaries and forms:

  • • Water – RON 4 (about MDL 18)
  • • Sanitation – RON 2 (about MDL 9)

During the visit of site Raja SA – Fetesti and meeting with Fetesti city mayor was discussed the topic of regionalization of WSS service, problems faced by LPA in the area and benefits, risks and opportunities of regionalization. It has also been mentioned that there are LPAs, which invested its own resources and European grants in the modernization and refurbishment of WSS systems and are not part of the regional network and currently provide quality and affordable services, sometimes at lower prices.

The experience and the company’s work is relevant and valuable for regionalization of water and sanitation services in the conditions of RM. But this process should not be the only WSS solution and must be implemented in terms of efficiency, feasibility and, not least, in terms of endurance of tarrifs by beneficiaries.

During discussions, there were disseminated best WSS practices and models, technological and management solutions, etc. presented by the Romanian colleagues and there were initiated collaboration relationships.

This visit allowed the participants to know better the concept, mechanism and instruments for WSS service regionalization and concession, the most modern technologies and equipment in the field, exchange experiences and best practices with colleagues from Romania, but also to initiate contacts and potential joint projects.

The forum is organized annually by the Romanian Water Association. The event involved various local and international companies that demonstrate possibilities to reduce water loss in the distribution systems and the possibilities of aggregates, pumps, meters, modern technologies in the sector. Another part lies in organizing seminars on the implementation of investment projects with European funding, the workshop on the development of specific regulations to harmonize with the new European directives.