Craiova completes 500 million euro mountain water project

The city of Craiova has begun supplying residents with mountain spring water following the completion of the Isvarna water pipeline project. The investment, which includes sewage works, exceeds 500 million euros and is described by Mayor Lia Olguța Vasilescu as the largest water supply contract in the European Union.

The project took 13 years to implement, involving four years of design, four years of construction, and five years dedicated to administrative tasks, permits, and technical resolutions. Implementation faced several challenges, including approximately 7,000 expropriations, environmental permit delays regarding local habitats, and rising material costs during the pandemic.

Mayor Vasilescu stated that the new infrastructure is expected to guarantee the city's water supply for at least 100 years, addressing previous reliance on lower quality water from the Jiu river.