Kamza is a large district 7 km north of the capital, Tirana, to which it is joined administratively. The current poor provision of water and wastewater services makes it a very worthwhile case for support and two WBIF grants have been awarded.
The Municipality of Kamza is located in the Greater Tirana Region and includes the town of Kamza, five villages and two unplanned settlements. The population of the Municipality's urban and peri-urban areas has grown very rapidly over the past few years as a consequence of increased migration from other parts of the country. At the inception of the project, Kamza Municipality totalled around 95,000, of which around 40,000 lived in the town and the remaining 55,000 in the peri-urban and rural areas. As a result of the rapid increases in population, the provision of water supply and wastewater services has fallen considerably behind the levels needed for a rapidly growing population.
The water and sanitation infrastructure in Kamza only services a minority part of the population, with 30% of the population of Kamza serviced directly by the water system, and only 18% connected to a sewerage system.
Around 80% of the sewage waste is discharged in the Tirana River, which joins with the Ishem River and then onto the sea, adding to the pollution of coastal areas. Investment in the Kamza water and sanitation systems should ensure a reliable water supply and safe drinking water for this suburb, and enable the utilities to set tariffs that cover their operational costs while also being socially affordable. The project aimed to provide a significant positive public health impact, contribute to meeting Albania's future needs for compliance with EU and national environmental legislation, and safeguard potable water resources and environmental quality for areas downstream of the River Tirana.
The project was supported by two WBIF grants: the first technical assistance provided a feasibility study for water supply and wastewater collection and treatment facilities for Kamza. The proposed investment for Phase 1 in Kamza was approximately EUR 12 million with WBIF support from the IPF Municipal Window Investment Grant of EUR 5.5 million together with a KfW/CEB loan of EUR 6.5 million. The Phase 1 investments primarily funded the distribution network and installations of new connections. A design consultant was appointed in late 2013, construction started in late 2014 with completion at the beginning of 2017. The feasibility study also developed a comprehensive project for wastewater collection and treatment, which is expected to be implemented at a future date.
