On July 1, 2025, the Cabinet of Ministers approved a regulation draft by the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development (VARAM) regarding the investment of European Union funds to promote the efficiency of water management services, ensuring the effectiveness of wastewater treatment infrastructure operations and reducing anthropogenic pollution in the Riga agglomeration. The investments are focused to improve the efficiency and quality of wastewater treatment facilities, the equipment for sludge treatment, as well as the creation, reconstruction, and renovation of engineering networks related to the provision of public water management services.
The total investment shall be at least €44.6 million €44.6 million, including €22.3 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and a co-financing of no less than €22.3 million.
The second round of funding application will be implemented in the form of a limited selection, with “Rīgas ūdens” determined as the project applicant, which provides water management services in the Riga municipality and adjacent municipalities. As a result of the project realization, it is planned to support one company and improve the efficiency of wastewater treatment for at least 613,637 inhabitants.
SIA “Rīgas ūdens” plans to implement the expansion and renovation project of the Biological Treatment Station "Daugavgrīva". The goal is to provide environmentally friendly, high-quality wastewater treatment services to residents. Currently, work has begun on the preparation of technical specifications for procurement, and a project application will be submitted to receive ERDF funding of €22.3 million.
The selection and supervision of the project implementation will be ensured by The Central Finance and Contracting Agency.
Implementation of the project must be finalized by year-end 2029.
About Rīgas ūdens
SIA Rīgas ūdens is the largest provider of water supply and sewerage services in Latvia, ensuring the delivery of high-quality drinking water, as well as the collection and treatment of wastewater in Riga and its vicinity – covering around 50% of the national market. Its infrastructure comprises 1,536 kilometers of water pipelines, 1,282 kilometers of sewerage networks, six water extraction stations, eight water pumping stations, five water reservoirs, 107 wastewater pumping stations, a water quality testing laboratory, and a biogas production facility.
*Regulations for the implementation of the second project selection round of the measure "Development of wastewater and sludge management systems to reduce pollution" of the specific support objective "Promote sustainable water management" 2.2.1.1. of the Cohesion Policy Program of the European Union for 2021–2027.