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Project Name: Improvement of the Ecological Situation and Sustainable Development by the
Nemunas Delta with the Assistance of the Community of Minge Village
Country: Lithuania
Contact Person:
Inga Ringailaite
Programme Assistant
GEF SGP/ Lithuania
Lukiskiu st. 5-318, LT - 01001 Vilnius, Lithuania
phone +370 5 2107415, fax +370 5 2124471
e-mail [email protected]
http://www.undp.lt/sgp
Project Discription:
Minge village is situated in the unique area of the Nemunas River Delta, where the Minija River
falls into Curonian Lagoon, and the level of the ground-water is low, which makes the area very
sensitive to any kind of discharges of pollutants. Aiming to reduce the pollution an ecological
wastewater treatment plant (sand-reed bed filter) was installed in the village. The costs of the
construction were quite low as the community used local materials. The plant secured effective
and cheep treatment of wastewater.
Thanks to the project the village (sometimes called "Lithuanian Venice") was able to develop
tourism infrastructure, and now is becoming a popular site of the water-tourism and rural
tourism. Good experience encouraged the community for other projects and activities as well.
Global Environment Facility’s Small grants Programme in Lithuania
Project LIT/01/06
Improvement of the Ecological Situation and Sustainable Development by the Nemunas
Delta with the Assistance of the Community of Minge Village
Kintai Sailing Club "Mariu bures"
Site: Minge village, Silute distr.
Dates: November 2001 – October 2004
SGP Grant: US$ 20,454
Total Project: US$ 40,004
The Problem
Prior to the project, the villages situated in the lower reaches of the rivers Nemunas and Minija
had no wastewater treatment facilities. Wastewater was discharged into catch pits from which
they would get into the soil and directly into the rivers. The rapidly increasing tourist flow posed
a threat to the sensitive ecosystem of the Nemunas delta. The lack of water treatment plants
slowed down the development of tourism in the village of Minge, frequented by small boats.
Goals and Objectives
The project aimed to reduce pollution in the lower Minija by installing a demonstrative
ecological wastewater treatment plant in the village of Minge that would ensure effective and
inexpensive treatment of wastewater and remove barriers to the development of sustainable
tourism in Minge.
Activities and Results
Technical documentation for the wastewater treatment plant was prepared and approved and the
plant itself was constructed: pipelines were laid, the residents installed wells and septic tanks, a
pumping station was built and a sand and reed filter was installed on an eight-are plot. The plant,
which has a capacity of 14.5m3 per day, is able to serve 60 residents. In an effort to cut
construction costs local building materials were used as much as possible. An information and
education programme for the local community was developed and implemented, including
discussions and information publications and boards.
Innovation
The project was implemented in Minge village, where the level of groundwater is low and the
River Minija flows nearby. The innovative aspect of this project was that the sand and reed filter
had to be raised above the ground by using a screen made from local clay and polyethylene.
Wastewater from the septic tanks is transported to the filter by efficient wastewater pumps
(0.6kW capacity). The cost of the equipment and its operation were very low.
Impact
The discharge of wastewater into the Minija catchment in the lower reaches of the river was
reduced, five sources of pollution were eliminated and pollution was prevented in a 60ha area.
Unfortunately, there was no monitoring of the water quality, which makes an accurate
assessment of the reduction in the pollution impossible. The wastewater treatment plant has
enabled farmers to develop tourism services. Families get additional income from rural and
water tourism. The socio-economic situation in the village is improving. The project created
conditions to get a Phare 2000 grant for a water tourism development project, used for the
construction of a tourist information centre and a pier for yachts and cutters. Incoming ships can
discharge their waste into the wastewater plant in the village.