Residents of Podgorica near the current Wastewater Treatment Plant should prepare for heightened emissions of unpleasant odors in the upcoming weeks, as reported by the company “Wastewater Collection and Treatment Podgorica” (OVPG) today.

The statement notes that “the existing issue is exacerbated during August and September because of the grape processing season at ’13. jul Plantaže’, which is the primary industrial polluter tied to the Podgorica sewage network.”

According to OVPG, wastewater from “Plantaža” carries a significant organic pollution load, raising concerns about the proper functioning of the facility.

“During this period, industrial wastewater equivalent to 40,000 to 60,000 residents is being processed by the sewage system, reaching the maximum capacity of the existing city plant. This indicates that a second plant of the current scale is necessary solely to meet the demands of Plantaži,” stated OVPG.

They further mentioned that “Vodovoda i kanalizacija” doo Podgorica observed that “this increased influx puts significant stress on the already burdened sewage system and results in the elevated discharge of untreated wastewater, which directly leads to heightened unpleasant odors along with a further decline in the water quality of the Morača River.”

“During times like these, when seasonal industrial output doubles the load, the effects are both visible and palpable. This reinforces the argument that without a new wastewater treatment plant, a long-term solution remains elusive,” remarked “Vodovod i kanalizacija” doo Podgorica as reiterated in the OVPG announcement.

The management addressed that improving wastewater handling at the “13. jul Plantaže” winery forms part of the “Wastewater Collection and Treatment in Podgorica” project (Component 7).

“The firm Vodovod i kanalizacija Podgorica, in collaboration with the consulting company ‘Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG’ from Stuttgart, Germany, has prepared and submitted the final drafts of the main projects and FIDIC tender documentation for the separation of internal networks and the construction of a pre-treatment plant for industrial wastewater. Timely execution of these procedures is anticipated. The existing system, operational for over fifty years, was designed to accommodate 55,000 residents, yet approximately 180,000 currently reside in Podgorica. Reports indicate that nearly 60% of Podgorica’s wastewater is still released into the Morača without treatment,” reads the OVPG announcement.

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