As the Swiss Cooperation in Albania celebrates 15 years of its work and presence, one of its major contributions in the country was highlighted in a conference held in Switzerland. The rehabilitation of water supply systems in Pogradec, Shkodër and Lezhë was the theme for an annual conference focusing on Swiss assistance towards the water sector in Eastern Europe.

Clean Water Round the Clock in Albanian Homes Thanks to Swiss Expertise and Assistance

Swiss contribution to the water sector in Albania was highlighted during the Annual Conference on Swiss Cooperation with Eastern Europe organised jointly by SDC and SECO. Experts and officials discussed achievements and future challenges in the water sector during the conference which was held in Neuchatel, Switzerland, on 25 November 2011.

Clean water was the topic of the annual conference on Swiss cooperation with Eastern Europe that was held in Neuchatel, Switzerland, on 25 November and jointly organised by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, SDC, and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, SECO. Examples of water sector rehabilitation projects from Albania and Moldova were presented to participants.

A short video documentary was shown to participants describing the changes taking place in Albania’s water sector as a result of Swiss intervention. The video contains footage and interviews shot in Pogradec and Shkodër, where the Swiss Cooperation has rehabilitated water systems, and in Lezhë where work has just started for improving water and sewerage systems. Please click here for viewing the short video.

Since 2001 Switzerland has invested financial resources and expertise in reviving water supply and sewerage systems in Albania. The first successful intervention was in 2005 in Pogradec, where a Swiss grant of 7.2 million Euros together with KfW contribution enabled the rehabilitation of the water supply and institutional strengthening of the water utility.

The result was impressive: 55,000 inhabitants now enjoy for the first time non-stop clean running water in their homes, while the city’s new sewerage system allows proper treatment of wastewater and environmental protection for Lake Ohrid. In addition, the water and sewerage utility became a financially sustainable enterprise that is now able to fully recover all its costs.

It did not stop there: the same success story was repeated in Shkodër where Switzerland provided a 7.5 million Euro grant which resulted in 110,000 Shkodër citizens enjoying clean water round the clock in their homes. Like in Pogradec, an important side benefit is the protection of Lake Shkodër’s environment and the consolidation of the water utility as a commercially viable enterprise.

After Shkodër, Lezha is the third city where Switzerland is contributing with a €10,5 million Euro grant that will benefit 45,000 inhabitants of Lezhë and Shëngjin. The work has just started and eventually both towns and some surrounding villages will have clean running water for 24 hours a day, a proper sewerage treatment – particularly important for Shëngjin’s touristic potential – and a functional water utility able to serve citizens and cover its costs.

O verall, the Swiss contribution in Albania’s water sector is making reality the dream of around 200,000 citizens of Pogradec, Shkodër and Lezhë, to have 24 hours clean water supply at home. This basic service allows for other tangible improvements in living conditions as well as in economic development and tourism.

Switzerland works in close cooperation with the German Development Bank - Kreditanstalt Für Wiederaufbau (KfW), Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC) and relevant ministries, local government and water utilities for improving urban water supply. In a broader context, the Swiss Cooperation supports the decentralisation process in Shkodër and Lezhë and the water projects complement the efforts to strengthen local government in order to improve the quality and sustainability of public services.