Romania
Craiova/Dolj
2020-2024
Potable Water
100000 m
Over 100 km of Amiblu GRP pipes ensure safe, sustainable water transport from a pristine mountain spring to 250,000 residents in Southeast Europe’s largest EU-funded potable water project.
When the aging concrete pipeline transporting water from the Isvarna spring began to fail frequently, causing major water losses and service interruptions, it became clear that urgent action was needed. The old infrastructure could no longer support the region’s growing demand for secure and efficient water supply.
This triggered one of the most ambitious infrastructure undertakings in Southeast Europe: the construction of a modern, high-capacity pipeline extending over 100 kilometers across Gorj and Dolj counties in Romania. The system now ensures safe and high-quality drinking water to 14 localities, with Craiova (population 250,000) as the main beneficiary. The project is not only the largest of its kind in Southeast Europe, but also the most significant EU-financed potable water project in Europe, with more than €35 million worth of Amiblu GRP pipes alone.
Originally designed for steel, the project saw a strategic shift when Amiblu proposed GRP pipes as superior long-term solution. Through close consultation with engineering firms and bidding contractors, Amiblu secured exclusive supply on five of the six project lots, thanks to the proven benefits of GRP: corrosion resistance, lightweight properties, fast and cost-effective installation, and exceptional durability.
The installation itself involved a mix of open trench construction using biaxial Amiblu Flowtite GRP pipes DN 1200 with locked joints, and relining with uniaxial Amiblu Flowtite GRP pipes DN 1050, together accounting for more than 95 km of pipeline. Over 1,000 custom-made fittings underscored the project’s complexity. The pipes were manufactured in three production facilities, ensuring reliable logistics, timely delivery, and technical flexibility.
The logistical coordination across multiple factories and the seamless integration of local stakeholders makes this large-scale project truly remarkable. So does the environmental significance of using water from the Isvarna spring – a natural source emerging from the Parâng Mountains that requires minimal treatment.
The result? A future-proof water supply for the region, supporting both urban and rural populations with sustainable infrastructure designed to last generations.
Craiova’s mayor, Lia Olguța Vasilescu, sums up the project’s significance:
« For any settlement, big or small, rural or urban, water is the essential condition for existence, and its quality strongly influences the quality of life of the people. That’s why we, at Craiova City Hall, have fully committed to this joint effort to bring spring water to the taps of our citizens, through a pipeline route and treatment processes that meet European standards. »
© Amiblu Holding GmbH, 2025
