Lithuania, we are leaders!

Lithuania is distinguished by its extremely strict environmental requirements designed to protect waters from pollution by wastewater.

In recent years, our country has undertaken ambitious legislation to ensure that both domestic and industrial wastewater is maximally treated before being released into the environment. Lithuania is considered one of the leading countries in Europe in the field of wastewater management.

These achievements not only increase environmental cleanliness, but also promote pride in the country's innovation and industry.

The strictest wastewater management requirements in Lithuania

Lithuania has some of the highest wastewater treatment standards in Europe. Since November 2019, the provisions of the Wastewater Management Regulation have come into force, stipulating that only such individual wastewater treatment plants can be installed that will purify nitrogen and phosphorus compounds to the established standards. This aims to reduce eutrophication (blooming) of water bodies and protect groundwater. In order to achieve the same goal, stricter wastewater treatment requirements have been in force for all newly installed facilities since 2019.

Modernization of old facilities by 2030.

According to the regulation, from 2030 onwards, all individual wastewater treatment plants will have to ensure the removal of nitrogen and phosphorus from discharged wastewater. This means that owners of older systems will have to upgrade or upgrade them to meet the new environmental criteria. Environmentalists are already urging residents not to wait – they are urging them to replace inefficient septic tank-type facilities with modern biological treatment plants.

Prohibition of the use of inefficient septic tanks.

Lithuania will no longer tolerate (and has not for a long time actually tolerated) the practice of storing wastewater in simple septic tanks or discharging it into the ground without proper treatment. Environmental protection officials, having found out that only a simple septic tank (without active biological treatment) is in operation on a site, may require it to be excavated and replaced with a certified device. This strict position ensures that untreated or incompletely treated wastewater does not enter the environment.

Strict requirements and supervision of their implementation ensure that only efficient, modern wastewater treatment solutions are used in Lithuania. This creates added value for the environment and contributes to improving the cleanliness of water bodies throughout the country.

Achievements and leadership in Europe

Due to its consistent policy, Lithuania is today mentioned as one of the leading European Union countries in the field of wastewater management. The assessment of the implementation of the Urban Wastewater Directive carried out by the European Commission showed that primary wastewater collection (sewerage networks) in Lithuania already meets 100% of EU requirements, and secondary (biological) treatment requirements are implemented at a rate of 98%. Even tertiary (advanced) treatment, which includes processes such as nitrogen and phosphorus removal, has been achieved at a level of 85%, surpassing many other countries. According to these indicators, Lithuania is among the best – alongside the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia.

In 2012, 93% of all collected wastewater in Lithuania was treated properly, while in 2002 this figure was only 21%. This jump was achieved by investing in new wastewater networks and treatment plants, especially with the support of EU funds. Such results show that strict requirements bring tangible benefits to the environment - in a very short time, Lithuania has caught up and overtaken the old countries in wastewater treatment efficiency.

A Wastewater Management Information System (WMIS) has been created, where residents can register their facilities and responsible institutions can monitor their maintenance. This shows that Lithuania not only sets strict rules, but also innovatively decides how to ensure their implementation in practice.

Such achievements have earned Lithuania international recognition. We can confidently say that our country has become an example of how to achieve a high level of wastewater management in a short time, combining strict control and modern technologies.

How are the neighbors doing? A comparison of Lithuania and Poland.

Strict requirements and advanced infrastructure in Lithuania set us apart in the region. For comparison, it is worth looking at neighboring Poland, where the wastewater management situation has been worse for a long time. Poland's experience allows us to assess Lithuania's progress. In many rural areas of Poland, the most common method of wastewater management is sealed storage tanks (septic tanks) or septic tanks with an infiltration field. Unfortunately, these methods do not always guarantee proper treatment. Audit data shows that in some Polish municipalities, as much as 80–99% of all domestic wastewater was discharged into the environment untreated. This means that pollutants from such inefficient systems directly reach groundwater and streams.

Although the number of individual wastewater treatment plants in Poland has been increasing over the past decade, about 63% of them still consist of simple septic tanks with filtration fields. Experts warn that such infiltration solutions pose a serious risk to surface and groundwater - in essence, they are insufficiently treated, as pollutants are only partially retained in the soil.

Due to the lack of control, it is unclear whether such facilities meet any standards at all. It is no coincidence that some EU countries (such as France) have banned the installation of new septic tanks with absorption fields after studies showed a deterioration in groundwater quality in these areas.

The situation in Lithuania.

Meanwhile, in Lithuania, infiltration of untreated wastewater is no longer allowed - such outdated solutions are considered unacceptable in our country from an environmental perspective. Environmental protection authorities clearly indicate that even if you have a certified septic tank manufactured abroad without aeration, it may be considered unsuitable for operation in Lithuania according to current regulations.

Residents with operating septic tanks on their plots are urged to dismantle them and install a modern biological treatment plant. In this way, Lithuania is preempting potential ecological problems that its neighbors are still facing.

Even in terms of larger wastewater treatment, Poland has lagged behind. The EU requires that treatment plants in larger cities remove nitrogen and phosphorus, but Poland has long applied this provision only to very large cities. At the request of the European Commission, Poland had to change its approach and apply enhanced nutrient removal to all agglomerations with >10 thousand inhabitants. These delays meant that Poland had not yet fully implemented all the conditions of the Urban Wastewater Directive, while Lithuania had already reached a high level of compliance at that time.

In other words, Lithuania's progress in wastewater management has surpassed the achievements of even its much larger neighbor.

This comparison with Poland highlights the progress Lithuania has made. Our country's new generation of technologies and strict regulations allow us to avoid the problems that our neighbors still struggle with. This justifies Lithuania's reputation as a regional leader in environmental protection.

Advanced Lithuanian solutions and manufacturers' contributions.

Strict requirements not only protect the environment, but also encourage the flourishing of local engineering thought and industry. There are several companies in Lithuania that specialize in the development and production of wastewater treatment plants. Lithuanian manufacturers are valued for their high-quality solutions, and their products meet both national and international standards.

Wastewater treatment plants developed in Lithuania are certified according to the strictest European Union standards, such as EN 12566-3, which applies to small-capacity biological treatment plants. This means that they meet high requirements for treatment efficiency and durability. The country is even internationally recognized as one of the leaders in the field of wastewater treatment technologies, and this reputation is based precisely on the quality of Lithuanian plants.

Modern Lithuanian-designed wastewater treatment plants are characterized by an extremely high level of purification. The latest generation systems are capable of removing up to 98–99% of pollutants (organic substances, nitrogen, phosphorus) from domestic wastewater. For example, the “Deimantas” series of wastewater treatment plants, manufactured by the Lithuanian company Diamodus, achieve up to 99% wastewater purification efficiency. Such a result significantly exceeds the minimum requirements (for example, in Lithuania, it is regulated that the nitrogen residue must be <25 mg/L, phosphorus <5 mg/L) and ensures that the purified water practically no longer has a negative impact on the environment.

Lithuanian manufacturers design their equipment to operate reliably in a variety of conditions. Good equipment must be adapted to both high groundwater levels and harsher climates or heavily loaded soil (e.g. under a driveway). This is important in Lithuania, where groundwater is close to the surface in some places - high-quality equipment ensures that wastewater will be treated safely even in difficult conditions.

Such attention to local conditions earns trust and allows residents to choose Lithuanian products knowing that they are created taking into account the specifics of our environment.

Export and international recognition: Wastewater treatment solutions developed by Lithuanian companies are successfully implemented not only domestically, but also abroad. Lithuanian equipment is exported to neighboring countries and Scandinavia - for example, supplied to Poland, Latvia, Norway.

This shows that the competence of Lithuanian manufacturers is recognized and competitive in the international market. The fact that even larger countries, such as Poland, import Lithuanian cleaning equipment testifies to their high quality and innovation.

We are proud that equipment manufactured in Lithuania helps solve wastewater management problems elsewhere in the world.

In summary, strict environmental policies and advanced engineering solutions have helped Lithuania become a leader in wastewater treatment in the region. Our country not only meets, but also exceeds international requirements, and Lithuanian manufacturers, such as UAB Diamodus , are creating innovations that we can be proud of.

This is inspiring and sets a great example for other countries – even though it is small, Lithuania can be at the forefront, ensuring a clean environment for current and future generations.

Do you have any questions? Contact the Diamodus team - we will consult, advise and help you choose the most suitable solution for your needs.

+37063806068, info@diamodus.lt , www.diamodus.lt