The Solina commune in Poland, which includes the spa town of Polańczyk, and Skhidnytsia in Ukraine, are well-known holiday destinations where visitors can recharge their batteries and look after their wellbeing, fitness and health. One of the most important resources of both resorts is water – the Solina commune is famous for one of Poland’s largest artificial reservoirs, whilst Skhidnytsia boasts a unique microclimate resulting from its location in a Carpathian valley surrounded by a network of mountain streams. The purity of the water is therefore essential to the proper functioning of both centres, and in particular to their status as health resorts.
Thanks to funding from the PL-UA Programme, the two local authorities are jointly implementing the project ‘Improvement of the transboundary environmental protection system of the Carpathians through the development of water and sewage infrastructure – integrating the spa communes of Solina and Skhidnytsia in the fight for a clean environment’ (EcoLinks). This is already the third joint project by these local authorities, which take particular care to ensure the cleanliness of Lake Solina and the Carpathians. They have carried out similar initiatives in previous rounds of the Programme, which have resulted in the construction of 8 km of new sewerage network around the Solina Reservoir and in Skhidnytsia, and the connection of nearly 200 households and buildings on both sides of the border to the sewerage system. These measures have improved the quality of the environment in both spa towns.
In the EcoLinks project, the partners have once again decided to join forces to tackle the problem of insufficient access to water and sewerage infrastructure. In the Solina commune, many households are not connected to the sewerage system, and wastewater is discharged into septic tanks or leaky cesspits. Irresponsible behaviour on the part of tourists and holiday home owners is also a problem. Skhidnytsia, meanwhile, is unable to ensure an uninterrupted supply of high-quality drinking water, and over half of the network is overloaded and suffers numerous breakdowns, resulting in the loss of up to 70 per cent of the water during distribution.
The answer lies in further investment. Thanks to the project, a sewerage network is being built in the village of Werlas on the Polish side, whilst the water supply network in Skhidnytsia is to be upgraded.
In addition, the partners plan to organise joint workshops on environmental protection and the sustainable use of water, as well as two conferences aimed at exchanging experiences and developing best practices in the field of water resource management. A promotional video highlighting all the above-mentioned issues will also be produced.
The project’s outcomes will bring long-term benefits: they will protect and safeguard the Carpathian rivers, including the San, and groundwater, improve the health and well-being of local residents, and enhance the region’s appeal to tourists.
You can read more about the project HERE.
