Expanding Kuldīga's water network requires heavy investment
Jānis Blūms, the new chair of the board at the water utility SIA Kuldīgas ūdens, explains how water tariffs are set and why network expansion is costly. About 20 kilometres of pipes are still needed, and the company hopes for EU funding.
Extending centralised water supply and sewerage in Latvia's Kuldīga municipality requires large funds, Jānis Blūms, chair of the board of the water utility SIA Kuldīgas ūdens, said in an interview with the regional newspaper Kurzemnieks. He has led the company since March this year, replacing long-time head Andris Kļaviņš. Blūms has worked in the sector since 2010 and previously served as production director and board chair at Saldus komunālserviss. Since September the company has also served Skrunda and four surrounding parishes, which has increased the amount of network that must be managed.
What makes up the tariff
Most of the tariff consists of fixed assets: water mains, treatment equipment and wells. The company finances its largest projects with loans, and the loan costs are included in the tariff, so consumers ultimately pay them. Part of the costs can be covered by European Union fund support. Electricity is another significant item. The company has solar panels at its water treatment and wastewater treatment facilities in Kuldīga, but they cannot cover round-the-clock needs.
Construction volumes and costs
About 20 kilometres of network in total should be built. A water main could cost around 150 euros per metre and sewerage around 250 euros. There is hope of EU funding for Skrunda, but it is intended for a narrow range of places, since one criterion is population equivalent. For Ābeļciems and the Rumba garden plots, funding in the next planning period is so far only a possibility, not a promise.
Where no network is nearby, a deep well is an alternative, but it is expensive and may require extra filters. For sewerage, options include wastewater removal by tanker or small treatment plants, which must be properly maintained.
Water quality and winter risks
Blūms says water quality across the municipality is generally uniform. The exception is an area near the Kuldīga radio station, where equipment belongs to a state institution and new installations are planned soon. The most common issues are iron content and water hardness. Where consumption is low, water stands longer in pipes and can deteriorate in warm weather.
Last winter water pipes froze in many places. Building regulations in the Kuldīga area require a depth of 1.7–1.8 metres, but some pipes were laid too shallow. The largest settlements have automatic generators at their facilities, while elsewhere mobile ones are used. Blūms believes state support would be needed to buy generators for small villages.
