The European Commission announced Monday that it had approved a 22 million euros investment from the Cohesion Fund for the construction of wastewater collection networks in the Kokkinochoria area in Cyprus.

The investment concerns the second phase of the Kokkinochoria Complex Sanitation System. The first phase of the project was completed during the 2007 - 2013 cohesion funding period with an EU investment of over 30 million euros.

The second phase of the construction of the Kokkinochoria Complex Sanitation System includes the installation of the Achna wastewater treatment plant with a capacity of 10,664 cubic meters/ day, which will serve eight communities and two municipalities. According to a past press release by the Cypriot Ministry for Agriculture, these are the Derynia and Sotira municipalities, the Xylophagou, Xylotymbou and Ormideia communities (Larnaca district) and the Agios Georgios Acheritou, Avgorou, Achna, Liopetri and Frenaros communities (Famagusta district).

The works will also integrate a drainage network that will direct treated wastewater for use in irrigation, as well as 13 pumping stations for the transport systems. Also, the treated water will be used in adjacent agricultural areas, thus reducing the consumption of drinking water.

The approval of the funds for Cyprus was announced together with that of a 77 million euros investment from the European Regional Development Fund for the construction of a tram line between Alcalá de Guadaíra and Seville, Spain, which will contribute to the promotion of clean transport in Europe.

Commission for Cohesion and Reforms Elisa Ferreira said that the two projects “combine direct benefits for local citizens and for the environment” and will contribute to “more sustainable economic growth in the future”.

The project that will be funded in Cyprus is a “modern and efficient sewage system”which “will reduce risks to human health and pollution of groundwater” the Commissioner noted. On the project in Spain, Ferreira noted that “a multimodal transport system will encourage citizens to switch to sustainable transport”.