The European Investment Bank has agreed a € 250 million loan with Hydrobru to finance Hydrobru’s new program for sewer rehabilitation, renovation of distribution lines and construction of storm water ponds in the Brussels Capital Region.
Hydrobru , Brussels Intermunicipal distribution and sewage water company, will renovate 125km of sewers and double the capacity of storm drains in the Brussels region over the next five years under its new operational programme. In total, € 500 million will be invested for the works, which are essential for Brussels and its inhabitants.
The EIB is the largest donor to the water sector in Europe and beyond. This second EIB loan, amounting to € 250 million, will cover almost half of the planned investments until 2019. The five-year plan will be in part of a vast program of approximately $ 1.5 billion to renovate a quarter of Brussels sewers, some 500 km of pipelines by 2034.
The EIB has allocated €100 million funding to the SBGE - Brussels Society of Water Management - the public regional operator primarily responsible for cleaning waste and also active in the fight against flood waters. The water distribution network in the Brussels region stretches to some 2,300 km of pipes.
The Brussels drainage network has over 1,900 km of pipes that carry wastewater and stormwater to two wastewater treatment plants, located south and north of Brussels. Developed in the late 19th century, the network is now severely degraded.
In 2007, the Board of Directors of Hydrobru realized the gravity of the situation and instructed partner VIVAQUA to report on the status of the sewer system which the company is responsible for. To date, a total of over 500 km of sewers have been inspected and analyzed to determine the degree of dilapidation. Based on these studies, since 2010 Hydrobru has significantly increased the pace of pipeline renovation to 25 km per year via a dedicated program with an annual budget of € 75 million.
The high level of urbanization experienced by the region in recent decades means some sewer sections are now inadequate to deal with the influx of large amounts of water during heavy rain; lack of capacity of stormwater is a major cause of frequent flooding in several towns.
As part of its first Five Year Plan 2010-2014, Hydrobru has built three storm water basins which are now operational and has started work on four others which are now currently under construction. Other projects currently under consideration should now get the go-ahead thanks to the new EIB funding announced today.
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