Aqua-M

Aqua-M: “Joint actions for efficient urban water management in the cross border area” is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and the participating countries (Greece, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) within the European Territorial Cooperation Programme “Greece- the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 2007-2013” (Priority Axis 2. “Enhancement of the environmental resources and cultural heritage of the programme area” – Measure 2.1 “Promote and protect the environmental resources of the area”). The project is implemented by the Municipality of Paionia (as Lead Partner), the municipality of Paionia and the Municipal Enterprise for water supply and sewerage of Paionia with significant results:

1. the active reduction of the amount of sediments and pollutants that reach river Axios, through the formation of Raul stream which concentrates rainwater of the Municipality of Gevgelija,
2. the improvement of the efficiency of the Sewerage Processing Facilities of the Municipality of Paionia, through the installation and function of a SCADA management system and the procurement of modern technological equipment in the laboratory of chemical analyses,
3. the protection of the aquatic environment and the improvement of the conditions of the water ecosystems within the area of river Axios.

The added value of project Aqua-M emphasises on the practical improvement of life quality for the citizens of the cross border area in the framework of a systematic protection and improvement of its water resources. Additionally, on a long-term basis, AQUA-M will contribute to the enhancement of the cooperation among the involved bodies as well as to the sensitisation of the citizens of the cross border area regarding the protection of water resources. Also, the project will contribute to the exchange of expertise and practical experience for the maximum protection of Axios river.

The three partners of the project Aqua-M proceeded to actions and activities aiming in the development of an environmental cooperation network for the precaution, protection and confrontation of environmental risks concerning the water quality of Axios river and the quality assurance of the protected are of River Delta.
Action I) Formation of Raul stream in the Municipality of Gevgelija
The municipality of Gevgelija has undertaken technical procedures for the reform of Raul stream. The objectives of such actions include:

• the active reduction of the amount of sediments and pollutants that reach river Axios and
• the protection of parts of the city of Gevgelija from floods mainly caused by the current stream flow.

Action II) Procurement of modern technological equipment in the laboratory of chemical analyses of the Sewerage Processing Facilities of the Municipality of Paionia.
The Municipal Enterprise for water supply and sewerage of Paionia proceeded to the upgrade of the operations of the laboratory of chemical analyses of the Sewerage Processing Facilities of Polykastro, through the procurement of modern technological equipment. This equipment includes machines of high analytical capacity, providing additional means to perform the necessary chemical analyses on a daily basis, which will secure that the overall quantity of processed sewerage flowing into Axios river meets the relevant legislation and does not spoil the river water quality. This equipment in particular, includes:

• 1 single atomic absorption device
• 1 device of sample digestion
• 1 Gas chromatography / mass spectroscopy
• 1 colony counter
• 1 microscope
• 1 Incubator
• 1  incubator with cooling properties
• 1 device for the production ultraclean water
• 1 UV-visible Spectrophotometer
• 1 Apparatus for measuring BOD
• 1 BOD incubator chamber
• 1 COD digestion device
• 1 Drying oven
• 4 vertical laminar flow chambers
• 10 Beakers
• 4 measuring cylinders
• 5 conical flasks
• 4 volumetric flasks
• 5 vacum bottles
• 1 refrigerator
• 1 filtration device for SS
• 1 water bath
• 1 vertical laminar flow chamber

Furthermore, the laboratory will conduct relevant analyses of the processed sewerage of the Sewerage Processing Facilities of Evropos and Toumba.
Meanwhile, the Municipal Enterprise for water supply and sewerage of Paionia proceeded to the procurement of important quantity of consumable materials and reagents for the operation of this laboratory. The upgrade of the laboratory equipment contributes significantly to:

• The protection of water and the wider ecosystem of river Axios,
• The systematic improvement of aquatic resources of the cross border area,
• The precaution and prevention of future pollution problems, as well as the timely monitoring and confrontation of such possibilities and
• The creation of an environmental cross border network for the immediate development of parallel actions for the protection of river Axios.

Action III) Upgrade of the operations of the laboratory of chemical analyses of the Sewerage Processing Facilities of Polykastro in the Municipality of Paionia through the installation and function of a SCADA management system.
The Municipal Enterprise for Water Supply and Sewerage of Paionia proceeded to the installation of a SCADA management system at the Sewerage Processing Facilities of Polykastro. The new system will allow the constant monitoring, inspection and recording in computer systems of all the critical parameters of operation of the Sewerage Processing Facilities. Particularly, through the operation of the SCADA system there is an acceleration in:

• The upgrade of safety operations of the network facilities,
• The upgrade of reliability of the provided services of sewerage and processing of sewerage, through the incorporation of automated systems,
• The exact localisation of a leakage and its immediate response by the technical department,
• The collection of statistics in order to plan and program the network operation on a medium and long-term basis,
• The reduction of the consumed electrical power through the constant monitoring and automated seasonal operation of all the pressure pumping stations and
• The optimization of the services towards the end-users.

Finally, by the operation of SCADA, the Municipal Enterprise for Water Supply and Sewerage of Paionia acquires an integrated management of the Sewerage Processing Facilities which is affiliated in the general agenda to modernise and improve the Municipality’s provided services.
Action VI) Publicity
The information and publicity activities of the project include the organisation of conferences and events aiming to:

• Promote and disseminate the projects objectives, actions and results,
• Prevent, protect and deal with the environmental risks and dangers concerning the quality of Axios water and the quality assurance of the protected area of Delta River, by the participation of experts from Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Meanwhile, a web portal has been developed in order to inform and promote the projects activities, while printed material (brochures, posters) has been designed and produced for all the project’s activities. Additional means of project publicity were selected, such as the media (Press releases, radio spots, etc.). Finally, all of the project’s publicity actions emphasised on the promotion of the contribution of the European Regional Development Fund and its practical assistance to the improvement of citizens’ life quality in the cross border area, as well as the assurance of transparency regarding the project financing.
Overall, the project includes nine main actions allocated in the following three Work Packages:
WP.1. Management & Coordination
1.2. Project Management
1.3. Project Meetings (minutes)
WP.2. Information & Publicity
2.1. Multilingual communication material (project logo, information kit, printed material etc)
2.2. Infodays / Roadshows / Conferences
2.3. Mass media publicity (press – radio – TV)
2.4. Web Portal
WP.3. Equipment & infrastructure for the protection of Axios River
3.1. Equipment Procurement
3.2. Software Procurement
3.3. Regulation of the canal

The Cross Border Programme “Greece – the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 2007-2013” constitutes part of the European strategic approach to optimise the coordination of activities and agendas between the member-states and the candidates for EU accession countries, encouraging the cooperation among public authorities, institutions and non-profit organisations in 71 Municipalities in the cross border area. The general goal of the programme is to strengthen the convergence in the administrative regions of the programme area through the promotion of sustainable local development. Particularly, the programme aims at:

1. Strengthening the cross border economic growth through joint interventions for the enhancement of human resources, the promotion of entrepreneurship, the tourism development and the protection of public health.
2. The promotion and development of the environment, the natural and cultural resources through joint initiatives for the protection of the environment and the improvement of the natural and cultural heritage.

The programme’s total budget exceeded 31,5 million euro for the programming period of 2007-2013. The new programming period 2014-2020, IPA Cross Border Programme “Greece – the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 2014-2020” is aiming to “strengthen the territorial cohesion through the improvement of living standards and the increase of employment opportunities, with respect to the environment and by utilizing natural resources for the upgrade of the tourist product. Specifically, the programme aims in:

1. The development and strengthening of local economy and
2. The protection of the environment and the upgrade of transport infrastructures.

The overall budget of the programme exceeds 45 million euro, 22 of which will be allocated to actions for the protection of the environment, concerning waste management, the protection of ecosystems and biodiversity, precaution and management of natural risks and hazards, as well as the improvement of energy efficiency in public buildings and infrastructures.