Quality drinking water to reach hundreds of households

Press release of the Ministry of Internal Affairs
5 May 2008

The Minister for Regional Affairs Siim-Valmar Kiisler signed the support programme that allows to improve availability of drinking water in sparsely populated areas.

In the budget of the regional field of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, MEEK 33 will be allocated for the execution of the water programme this year. Local governments will also support the improvement of the availability of drinking water with the same amount. Applicants are the third party to fund the projects.

According to the Minister for Regional Affairs Siim-Valmar Kiisler, it is a very important programme as people will get high quality drinking water. “At the moment, there are thousands of households in Estonia with no clean drinking water,“ the Minister noted. “The programme will help hundreds of rural families to improve their quality of life and give up the thought of moving to towns for the reason that water from the well is not suitable for drinking, or that families with children cannot use a washing-machine. This programme will definitely help to decrease health risks as well.“

Last year, the pilot project for improving the availability of quality drinking water was launched in Võru County, where the state allocated mEEK 2.2 for support. “This allowed to supply 164 households with clean drinking water. As the experience turned out to be good and indicated a great need, we decided to expand the water programme to all counties this year,“ Kiisler said.

The water programme supports the establishment and cleaning of bore wells and dug wells, and construction or reconstruction of drinking water ducts from wells. The furnishing of wells with technical equipment and accessories for pumping and cleaning water is also supported.

The programme will be implemented by Enterprise Estonia. On county level, the implementation of the programme will be coordinated by the county governor who will declare the programme as open in the county. Applications for support must be submitted to the rural municipality that makes decisions on funding the projects.

According to Kair Tammel, Director of the Living Environment Division of Enterprise Estonia, as the first step, Enterprise Estonia will enter into contracts for the implementation of the programme in all counties. “After that, the county governments will compile a plan for allocating programme funds in the county, and enter into contracts with the rural municipalities that wish to join the programme. After the signing of contracts, the county governor will declare the programme as open in the rural municipality\", Tammel said.

On Friday, 9 May, an information day will be held at Enterprise Estonia, at which the representatives of county governors will be given an overview of the implementation of the programme, and the fields in which county governments need help will also be identified.

Natural persons, non-profit associations and foundations the activities as specified in the statutes of which include the provision of drinking water for their members or inhabitants or that perform the duties of an apartment association or water association can apply for support from the programme.

Interest towards the programme has been remarkable and in addition to the Ministry of the Environment, Harju County Environmental Department, Health Protection Inspectorate and county governments, the preparation of the programming document is contributed to by county government associations, several rural municipalities and individual persons.
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