Płaszów II
Water Project of the Year
What is it?
Płaszów II treatment plant in Krakow, Poland, is a 656,000m3/d wastewater treatment plant covering 55 hectares of land. It will cut the levels of organic compounds discharged by the town of Krakovia into the Vistula river by 97%.
Who is responsible?
The client is Municipal Waterworks and Sewer Enterprise of Krakow (MPWiK S.A.). The contractor was a consortium of Hydrobudowa Włocławek S.A. and Maxer S.A. Engineers. On the project were Ove Arup & Partners Ltd. and Ekocentrum Consultants Ltd.. The project was financed by the European Union, the Municipality of Krakow and an EBRD loan.
Why is it shortlisted?
- Płaszów II is one of the first schemes implemented in Poland financed with the application of EU cohesion funds in cooperation with the EBRD. Since commissioning in October 2007, it receives and treats combined municipal and rain flows.
- Its successful completion resulted in reduced pollution for the Vistula River, with beneficial effects for the Baltic Sea ecosystem.
- The project is an example of how European integration is bringing wider environmental benefits to the EU as a whole.