In autumn 2023, two utility partnerships between German and Moldovan municipal companies were initiated as part of the Utility Platform. One of these partnerships is between Apa Canal Chişinău (ACC), the municipal water company of the capital of the small south-east European country, and Stadtentwässerung Dresden GmbH (SEDD).

ACC is the main provider of water and wastewater disposal services in Chișinău, the capital of the Republic of Moldova. Selected company key figures indicate the massive challenges ACC is facing:

• Sewerage networks: A total of 921.7 km, consisting of materials such as ceramic, asbestos cement, concrete, steel, cast iron and polyethylene. The networks have a wear rate of 62.2 %.
• Employees: ACC currently employs 2,237 people.
• Supply: The company supplies around 97,000 consumers in Chișinău and 35 neighbouring municipalities with (waste) water services.

The wastewater treatment plant at Apa Canal Chişinău (ACC) was modernised as part of a renovation project. This project was launched in January 2018 and was intended to eliminate the unpleasant odours emanating from the wastewater treatment plant in less than three years. The renovation included the repair of existing facilities such as primary and secondary clarifiers as well as aeration tanks for activated sludge. In addition, new structures such as a wastewater pumping station and desanding facilities were to be built. A new sludge treatment line was also built. The goal of operating the wastewater treatment plant in accordance with European standards and reducing odour pollution could only be achieved in its basic form due to serious problems with the engineering and planning company, which primarily worked with subcontractors. ACC is looking for a new investor to connect the built parts of the plant with each other and to generate a constant process of wastewater treatment according to modern standards.

Stadtentwässerung Dresden GmbH (SEDD) has been internationally active for many years and has valuable experience as a partner company in operator partnerships. The company readily offers support in areas such as wastewater disposal and sewage sludge management.

A kick-off visit to Chişinău took place in February 2024, during which initial ties were forged between the partners ACC and SEDD. The aim was to explore the situation on the ground and analyse the challenges facing ACC. These findings were deepened in discussions. An initial workshop on the process flow and sewage sludge took place in a spirit of honest trust and lively dialogue.

A trip to the Utility Platform network meeting in Dresden followed in April 2024. Here, the utilities of the entire Utility Platform network had the opportunity to exchange ideas. The diverse mix of international utilities provided a broad basis for discussion on similar challenges, previous results and creative ideas. In addition, the new partnership with the municipal company of the capital Chişinău was presented in a short session.

Impressions