Bucharest wastewater treatment plant, Glina

The Dâmboviţa river flows lazily through Bucharest but this postcard-perfect scene hides a disturbing truth.

The waterway is one of the most polluted in Romania and flowing into the Danube, it adds to the pollution of this great river. The Danube delta – the largest in Europe – was declared a World Heritage site in 1991, reflecting its diverse ecosystems. As a result of air and water pollution, however, many of the bird, fish and reptile species that inhabit its lakes and marshes are threatened with extinction. Bucharest needed a wastewater treatment plant to ease the threat.

Video produced 2011

Construction began on the The Glina wastewater treatment plant in 1985 but progress came to an abrupt halt with the overthrow of former dictator Nicolae Ceausescu in 1989. The site lay dormant until a large cash injection revived it in 2007 and as part of a joint venture, Halcrow was awarded the technical assistance contract for phase one of the project – the largest environmental scheme in south-east Europe.

“We’ve been carrying out a range of tasks including project management support, master planning, handling funding applications, and monitoring supervision and works contracts,” said project manager Horia Galoiu. “We’re now working to prepare the feasibility study and financing application for EU cohesion funds that will pave the way for the project’s second phase.”

The project tapped into Halcrow’s global skills and proven experience of delivering large wastewater treatment plants around the world – an advantage keenly recognised by the client, Bucharest Municipality. “We’ve largely benefited from the assistance provided by the Halcrow team,” said the client’s project manager, Sanda Trăşculescu, “the fact that all experts involved in the project have had extensive experience was of great importance."

The project will cut pollution into the River Danube and the Black Sea in compliance with national legislation and EU directives.