A huge development has made Zalaszentgrót and its agglomeration more liveable

October 2021 saw the launch of a large-scale project to Zalaszentgrót and its agglomeration also underwent wastewater treatment renewal: the sewerage system in the town is now almost complete. At the event marking the completion of the project, guests and members of the press were given a tour of the completed developments, which will significantly improve the quality of life in Zalaszentgrót and the surrounding area.

The investment will provide a long-term solution for the safe disposal of municipal wastewater, eliminate groundwater pollution and threats to drinking water sources, and increase the protection of the quality of surrounding surface and groundwater.

The works were carried out by Szabadics Zrt while the existing treatment plant continued to operate. We previously reported on the investment process in a detailed article.

The project included the dismantling of the obsolete plant in Türje, the sewerage of the previously unserved parts of Zalaszentgrót and Türje, the entire village of Tekenye and the technological improvement of the reception plant in Zalaszentgrót.

Tasks carried out in the investment:

• The network development included the construction of nearly 11 km of sewerage network and 6 new transfer stations.
• Nearly 600 residential properties have been connected to the network, ensuring that the domestic waste water generated is collected in an environmentally friendly way.
• The existing wastewater treatment network of the Zalaszentgrót wastewater treatment plant has been expanded, increasing its treatment capacity.
• By modernising obsolete equipment and technological units, i.e. by introducing new technical solutions, more economical operation can be achieved.

The KEHOP project was implemented by the Municipality of Zalaszentgrót, the Municipality of Tekenye and the Municipality of Türje under the Széchenyi 2020 programme with a non-reimbursable EU grant of HUF 4.157 billion under the leadership of Építési és Közlekedési Minisztérium. The three municipalities received a further HUF 724 million in budget support for the successful implementation of the development.

The biggest environmental investment in recent years

The Zala River, and through it Lake Balaton, is one of the most sensitive areas in Hungary in terms of surface and groundwater. All the settlements of Zalaszentgrót and its surroundings are located in this priority catchment area, so water protection in the region is of utmost importance.

The extension and renewal of the system, owned by the municipalities and operated by Észak-Zalai Víz- és Csatornamű Zrt. (ZALAVÍZ Zrt.), is one of the biggest environmental investments in the region in recent years. The plant in Zalaszentgrót has so far disposed of wastewater from the city and 4 other municipalities (Zalabér, Zalavég, Batyk and Pakod), as well as from institutions and businesses.