Green development is at the heart of this project. Updating previous water infrastructure projects that were intended to support the indus- trial sector to meet modern standards represents a watershed moment for the region. Mocanu explains that, prior to this project, there was no vision of what an ecological status even meant for this region. Now, with monitoring systems and infrastructure in place, the region has taken an important first step in its ecological development and control. This is especially important when Galati County’s impact on surround - ing counties. The Siret River, which flows through the county from North to South before joining the Danube River, is not only an impor - tant county for Galati, but also many surrounding counties. Many of the older sewer and wastewater systems were designed to flow directed into the Siret, which had significant negative ramifications for the in - dustries that relied upon the water such as transportation and fishing. The Siret River is also a significant source of drinking water for much of Eastern Romania. As such, the improvements in Galati County have a wider impact on the health and economic status of a large swath of Romanian citizens. The ecological health of the Siret River is set to improve by 60 or 70 percent according to Mocanu. Prior to this project, Mocanu says “the ecological health of the county wasn’t even considered.” This project not only drastically improves the ecological health of Galati County, but it also provides an avenue for additional ecological funding through the EU.
Mocanu also points out that, in addition to improving quality of life, these improvements open up Galati County to the larger world. Galati County is a hotbed of discovery when it comes to the ancient and medieval worlds as well as being home to numerous beautiful histori- cal structures. Mocanu believes that tourism in this region has been largely hindered by the lack of access to waste facilities and clean drinking water. Now, with more standardized access to these facilities, Galati is poised to open itself as a tourist destination in Eastern Europe. Improvements are scheduled to continue for the next few years, with an anticipated completion date in August 2024. These improvements will continue to improve the lives of the people living in Galati County, and will positively impact the ecological health of the region and that of its neighbors. LUKE CAROTHERS is the Editor for Civil + Structural Engineer Media. If you want us to cover your project or want to feature your own article, he can be reached at lcarothers@zweiggroup.com.
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april 2022 csengineermag.com
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