Optimising wastewater management in Riga

A vital part of Riga's water infrastructure upgrade

The construction of a new wastewater pumping station in Riga, Latvia, began in spring 2021 and was completed in spring 2024. The €13.4 million project replaces an outdated pumping station that had been in operation for 30 years. The upgrade was an essential part of modernization of the city’s water infrastructure and addresses the limitations of the old system.

 

Significant resource savings

A key improvement of the new pumping station is its ability to reduce the consumption of resources significantly. To cool its pumps, the old facility consumed 300,000 m³ of water annually, taken from the drinking water network. The new pumping station eliminates the need for water cooling, resulting in considerable water savings.

Energy consumption has also been significantly reduced. According to Riga Water, the new pumping station uses 55% less electricity compared to the old facility, saving approximately 2.5 million kWh. Altogether, the operational costs are reduced by approximately €0.5 million per year.