Sustainability and protecting the environment are some of today’s biggest challenges. Industrial, agricultural, and residential activities put a lot of strain on our waterways, so properly treating wastewater is essential. That’s why Bélapátfalva has undertaken a major upgrade of its sewage system and wastewater treatment plant.
The original treatment plant was built back when the local cement factory was operating, designed to meet the needs and standards of that time. Since then, technology and community needs have changed a lot. The old system had become outdated — its machinery, control systems, and buildings all needed serious renovation. Plus, rising maintenance costs made the upgrade even more urgent.
With funding from the European Union, the project reinforced the plant’s concrete structures and completely overhauled the mechanical and electrical systems. The modernized facility now runs on advanced, mostly automated technology, making operation much easier. It uses a proven activated sludge process with continuous flow, combined with mechanical pre-treatment, gravity sludge thickening, and mechanical dewatering. This new system is not only more efficient but also kinder to the environment and more energy-saving.
The upgrade brought many important benefits. Environmentally, it helps protect surface and groundwater, improves the local ecosystem, and stops further damage. It creates a cleaner, healthier environment and supports long-term climate goals. Thanks to the modern technology, operating costs have also gone down, making the plant more cost-effective.
Bélapátfalva’s example shows that modernizing wastewater treatment isn’t just about technology — it’s an investment in the community’s future that benefits both people and nature for years to come.
The development was implemented from EU funding in the project KEHOP-2.2.2-15-2016-00093 under the Environmental and Energy Efficiency Operational Programme.
Find out more about the project in the Project Finder:Details
