The stream of Tenisova after renovation.
Sopot lies between Gdansk and Gdynia on the Gdansk Bay. The sea and the tree-clad hills on the other side of the town create attractive conditions for both locals and tourists. After the political transformations of 1989, the new Town Hall has concentrated on making Sopot a tourist resort again. The town authorities are aiming at improving the condition of the inshore waters with a campaign entitled “Clean town - clean beaches”, as the water quality in the 13 streams flowing through the town into the sea near the local beaches has a great impact on the quality of inshore waters.
In 1990, Sopot´s cooperation with its twin-town Swedish Karlshamn, resulted in a visit to the Scandinavian town. The Sopot working group learnt a lot about the work of the local municipal services, including PULS-PLANETRAD Underhållsservice AB, a company providing services in the scope of the management and operation of sewage systems. ln 1992, PULS accepted an order from the town of Sopot and surveyed the rain water system in the town centre, which gave rise to extended and evolving cooperation.
n 1994, Sopot was granted financial support from SIDA (The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency) for the continuation of the programme, which aimed at the imrovement of inshore water quality in Gdansk Bay. As a result, approximately 25 km of the rain water system and about 22 km of the sewage system were checked and cleaned between 1994-1996, making it possible to open most of the beaches along the Sopot coastline.
At the same time, a large body of information was obtained on the technical condition of the sewers inspected. At the moment, the records are being loaded into a computer registration system of rain water and sewage systems. The database will serve as an excellent tool for the management, operation and development of the system. Owing to SIDA´s assistance, the quality of the waters flowing into Gdansk Bay has significantly improved, and the monitoring of the systems has become much more efficient. The cooperation between PULS of Karlshamn and the town of Sopot is going to be continued in 1997 with financial assistance from SIDA.
For further information, please contact Mr Bernard Beszczynski in Sopot, fax: +48 58 51 01 33.
