First step of the investment at the Borki reservoir

A drain of water from the Borki reservoir is currently under way. It is an introduction to a large investment carried out in the framework of the LIFE project co-financed by the EU LIFE Financial Instrument and the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management.

- Our goal is to create the Borki reservoir and its surroundings an attractive destination for our citizens' relaxation and recreation. To make it happen, first it is necessary to purify the tank. Today we can see that the work has started and I think that it will have succesfully been finished by the end of 2020 and we will restore this place to our residents - says the President of Radom Radosław Witkowski.

The emptying the reservoir will last until the end of this week. In the meantime, we will catch fish from the tank and both sedimentation ponds. It will be conducted by Polish Fishing Union. Then we will carry out a technical review of the weir and the water dams.

In accordance with the developed concepts, investment works at Borki reservoir carried out within the framework of the LIFE project will include among others the following measures: removing of a part of the reservoir bottom sediments, alteration and cleaning of the sedimentation ponds and repair of the upper weir.

We plan also to introduce some floating islands of vegetation and three fountains supplied with energy from solar panels and a small wind farm. Experts involved in the project have also proposed a whole range of other measures to improve water quality, including, for example, the installation of oxygen system to prevent cyanobacterial proliferation. This device, like the fountains, will be powered by energy from renewable sources.

- There's also a whole range of measures, which we intend to carry out outside the project LIFE including, for instance: creation of infrastructure to wakeboarding, purchase of new vessels and reconstruction of the playgrounds, for which we have already settled a tender for the technical project. We also want to renovate the bicycle path, to develop the site for the town massive events, as well as to build a parking lot- enumerates the President Radosław Witkowski.

The LIFE project, in addition to the works at Borki reservoir, includes many other tasks.

- We have in plans a restoration of Mleczna river valley to its natural watercourse on several hundred meter stretch near the boulevards, the creation of flood polders on Cerekwianka stream, as well as a construction of an extended retention reservoir at the Północny Stream located on the nearby housing estate. We think that this will be another attractive place for our residents to spend their spare time. There are also more minor items of blue and green infrastructure as green bus stops or a clima pond at the kindergarten at Ustronie district which has already been done. The next elements of blue and green infrastructure will be carried out at the Bema / Sowiński Square, at public kindergartens No. 4 and 11, and at the primary school at Kolberga street - says Vice President Jerzy Zawodnik.

The implementation of the LIFE project in Radom would consume about 24 million zlotys, of which 19 million zlotys will be covered by grants form the European Union and the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management.