Liepâja Environmental Project "The city's sewage water is now almost cleaner than the sea. " Sandra Dejus, Project Manager
Liepâja was once a major pollutor of the Baltic Sea
The chilling February wind blows just as hard around the city, and the waves still pound its coastline. A decade after making a name for itself in the early 1990s as a major polluter of the Baltic Sea, Liepâja now proudly displays a Blue Flag on its beach.
The ecological designation—symbolizing clean sand, water, and coastline—was awarded after the upgrading of the city's wastewater treatment facility.
Sewage is now treated before it enters the sea
|  | All Photos by Arnis Straume |
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Approximately 1,300 meters from the beach, the plant discharges the treated waters of the city's sewage system. "It is almost cleaner than the water of the sea," jokes Sandra Dejus, the project’s manager.
 The Liepâja Environmental Project was the first of its kind implemented in Latvia. The project has not only produced tangible results but also been an excellent lesson in project management.
"It is not a secret that regions are in competition. This project gave us an advantage over other Baltic states—it taught us how to attract and use financing," admits Gunârs Ansiòð, Director of the Liepâja City Council's Development Department.
As a result of this cooperation with the World Bank, it became easier to raise additional resources for other plans. For instance, Liepâja managed to improve the quality of its drinking water as well.
Drinking water too is now tasty and clean
 In addition to being able to swim in clean water, the residents can count on drinking water that is both tasty and clean. Two facilities for removing iron from the drinking water have been built under the Liepâja Environmental Project. "We are experiencing such luxury for the first time,” notes Sandra Dejus.
The city's drinking water comes from underground wells rich in iron. "We had to spare coffeemakers and washing machines from breaking down all the time," says Agris Dumpenieks, manager of the plant that removes iron from the water. The new facilities have reduced water system breakdowns as well, since iron sediment is no longer clogging the pipes. |
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