The old asbestos-concrete pipes, which were replaced by new polyethylene ones in Boška Rašovića Street, will remain buried in the ground, even though they no longer have a function in the water supply infrastructure, the Kolašin company Vodovod i Kanalizacija told "Vijesta".
The executive director of that company, Miloš Peković, claims that there was no damage to the old pipes during the work, and no possibility of endangering the health of those who are performing the work or who are nearby. The manner in which the works are carried out, reminds the executive director of Water and Sewerage, is controlled by the supervisory service.
The Rulebook on the method of packaging and disposal of waste containing asbestos specifies procedures with this type of waste. According to the regulations, asbestos-containing waste is treated with surface treatment or hardening (solidification) procedures or destruction of asbestos fibers before removal, in order to prevent the release of asbestos fibers and dust into the environment.
"Asbestos-containing waste is packed and covered before disposal in a way that avoids the dispersion of asbestos fibers and dust into the air or the spillage of liquids containing asbestos fibers. The removal of waste containing asbestos is carried out in an underground warehouse or disposed of at a landfill, in accordance with the regulation governing the disposal of waste at landfills", some of the regulations from the Ordinance.
According to Peković, the project implemented by Vodovod i Kanalizacija will replace 400 meters of asbestos pipes in Boška Rašovića Street. Another 220 meters is being changed for the second one, which is the responsibility of the Municipality. Almost the entire Kolasin water supply network, which is more than 10 kilometers long, is made of asbestos-concrete pipes.
In June of this year, representatives of the Eco Fund and PROCON signed a contract on the provision of services for the implementation of the project "Improving the efficiency of water supply by replacing asbestos-cement pipelines in the territory of Montenegro". According to Peković, the Kolašin water supply is also included in that project.
The goal of the project is to improve and renew pipelines in the territory of Montenegro after 50 years and to establish a comprehensive and functional water supply system.
The total estimated length of asbestos-cement pipes in the complete water supply network of Montenegro is 614 kilometers.
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