Polluted Romanian lake gets EU funding for rehabilitation

The Batal lake, in North–Central Romanian county of Mures, will undergo a RON 35 million (EUR 7.6 million) second rehabilitation phase. The 30 hectares lake stands by the Mures riverside, some 4 km away from Targu Mures city, next to the chemical fertilizers platform of the Azomures plant. The lake served the platform as an open cooling basin for the warm acid waters resulting from the fertilizers manufacturing process and for storing calcium carbonate suspension and other materials resulting from the water cooling. All these deposited faster than expected, especially in the first years of its functioning. Now, the rehabilitation project aims to diminish the health risks posed by the site to people and the environment. The investments also look at reintegrating the site into the economy as the lake falls under the dangerous residues category. This phase of the project is due for completion at the end of 2020, according to the Regional Development and European Funds Ministry. (Photo source: www.iazbatal.ro) editor@romania-insider.com