Sewage network expands in Copceac through European Village program
The sewage network in Copceac village, located in the Gagauzia autonomy, is undergoing a significant expansion thanks to a project implemented under the "European Village" national program.
The initiative represents a 7.5 million lei investment and will connect six additional streets to the central system.
In total, 250 households in Copceac are set to join the new sewage network. Authorities faced little difficulty convincing locals to contribute their own funds for the connection, marking a shift away from reliance on backyard septic tanks that required regular emptying.
"We are installing the sewage pipes ourselves now. The City Hall installs the central pipeline, and we connect to it," shared a local resident. "Before, there was no sewage here; we had a septic tank in the garden. Now we have running water in the house and have set up a bathroom."
Another resident highlighted the improvement in living standards: "Before, there were no indoor bathrooms or toilets. Now they have been built, and naturally, there must be sewage. We will also repair the road; we were promised gravel to keep it clean."
Since 2018, the village has benefited from a modern wastewater treatment plant constructed with the support of the European Union. At that time, only 5% of the population had access to sanitation services. Today, nearly 30% of the commune's streets are connected to the network.
"The most important thing is to collaborate with the locals so they realize the importance of these works," says Oleg Garizan, the mayor of Copceac. "The quality of well water, which previously posed no health risks, can unfortunately be harmful today."
Thanks to these ongoing investments, six more streets in Copceac will gain access to the sewage system.
"Under the 'European Village II' project, we received 7.5 million lei, and we intend to obtain approximately 4 million lei from the regional component," the mayor noted. "The total will be approximately 12 million lei. It is comparable to 'European Village I'. These are the two largest and most important projects implemented in Copceac in recent years."
Copceac is home to 9,500 inhabitants.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
