Montenegro, Pljevlja Sewerage Network Phase 2: Feasibility Study, Detailed Design, Tender Documentation

The Municipality of Pljevlja is located in northern Montenegro and covers an area of 1,346 km². Pljevlja’s sewerage network, long around 56 km, serves about 80% of the urban population. Only 10% of the total length of the sewerage network has separate sanitary and stormwater sewers. Storm and wastewater effluents are discharged into the Ćehotina River and its tributaries in the Danube River Basin.

The feasibility study for the water supply, sewerage system and wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) for Pljevlja, developed in 2007, envisaged the construction of WWTP in two phases.

• Phase 1: 28,000 population equivalent with sequence batch reactor technology was built in the period 2014-2018 on the right bank of River Ćehotina, approx. 5 km from the urban area.
• Phase 2: 14,000 p.e. should be built by 2030.

Even though Phase 1 has been completed, it cannot be tested due to the lack of adequate wastewater. The influent load to the WWTP does not meet quality and quantity design parameters since sewage and stormwater have not been separated.

To ensure the optimum operation and functioning of the sewerage system and of the WWTP, improvement works will be implemented in two phases:

• Phase 1: Short-term measures to improve the quality of the influent and ensure minimum functionality of the WWTP. These include the construction of approx. 3.4 km of sewerage and stormwater network, construction of six overflow structures on existing collectors with the largest flow capacity, separation of some of the existing sewerage and stormwater network, detailed control of the existing open canal collector, and connection of 17 households to the network.
• Phase 2: Long-term measures to ensure full operation of the WWTP and protection of surface and groundwater in the area in accordance with EU directives, national legislation and regulations. These should include works on the repair and extension of the sewerage system for full operation of the WWTP: i) System of protection against torrential water; ii) Stormwater network upgrade; iii) Municipal sewerage network upgrades; and iv) Separation of the existing mixed stormwater and sewerage network.

WBIF supports the implementation of Phase 2 through technical assistance for an update of the Feasibility Study with Conceptual Design and Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA), development of the Detailed Design and preparation of the Tender Documentation for construction works and supervision of works.