Overview and Analysis of Public Sewerage System Maintenance: Case Study Republic of Croatia

The sewerage system is a vital part of the infrastructure in every settlement, and thus, of the state itself. It ensures the conveyance of sanitary wastewater from its sources (households, buildings and industrial facilities) and stormwater from urban surfaces through sewerage pipelines to wastewater treatment plants and ultimately to receiving bodies. In the Republic of Croatia, combined sewerage systems are predominant. This paper presents selected data on the characteristics of public sewerage systems in Croatia for the analyzed period. Additionally, a questionnaire was conducted to assess maintenance practices within the country. The analyzed characteristics include the total length of the sewerage network, the number of employees engaged in system maintenance, the number of connections, and the number of wastewater treatment plants. The study also evaluates whether a preventive maintenance strategy was in place during the observed period and whether respondents considered preventive or reactive maintenance to be more cost-effective. The collected data and responses are analyzed and discussed in the context of system efficiency and long-term sustainability.