“Joint Actions for Cleaner Waters” – an event launching PRESTO project, successfully took place on 30.11.2011-02.12.2011 in Minsk, Belarus. It was organised by the lead partner, Union of the Baltic Cities Commission on Environment (Finland), in cooperation with project partners. Built on the positive experiences and achievements of the PURE project, PRESTO aims at significant nutrient load reduction (app. 500 tons reduction of phosphorus load to the Baltic Sea) through joint investments in Belarussian municipal WWTPs as well as through increasing the competence of WWTP operators, plant designers and engineers in the Baltic Sea region. The PRESTO project is co-financed by the EU Baltic Sea Region Programme 2007-2013.
The 3 day seminar consisted of the Project Kick-off Meeting, Environmental Forum and Training Module, and gathered over 90 participants involved in wastewater sector from Belarus, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania and Russian Federation. It was an excellent platform for the discussion on eutrophication of the Baltic Sea, potentials and challenges of water management in the region, and for sharing information on the newest solutions and chosen good practices. The Environmental Forum, in turn, supplied the participants with an opportunity to update their knowledge and discover new cooperation possibilities.
