Sitemap

Jelena Andrić Grafakos, Managing Director, ACO East Europe Adriatic

ACO. We Care For Water

Professional solutions for water management in modern infrastructure projects

The infrastructure projects implemented in Serbia over recent years have proved to be the most complex and demanding investments in the construction industry. At the centre of attention have very often been excavations, construction works, weight-bearing and finishing layers. In the past, the topic of professional tunnel drainage, highway and bridge drainage, as well as the treatment of water from these surfaces, has been considered a secondary priority.

ACO_LOGO

However, serious accidents that occurred in several European tunnels during the 1990s led to the 2004 proclamation of the European Parliament Directive on minimum safety requirements for tunnels in the trans-European road network.

Since then, more attention has been given to professional systems for the drainage and treatment of water in highway projects, from design to the construction phase. The danger of fire in tunnels, and the grave consequences it can have on human lives, is linked directly to the efficiency of tunnels’ internal drainage systems.

Looking back, without existing local regulations, it was quite a challenge to create modern and functional solutions that are fully compliant with the new safety requirements at the European level.

ACO, as the leading global producer of system solutions in the area of water management, had already amassed substantial experience in a large number of infrastructure projects worldwide and was able to offer expertise that proved extremely useful in the initial development of new Serbian highway network routes.

ACO, as the leading global producer of system solutions in the area of water management, had already amassed substantial experience in a large number of infrastructure projects worldwide and was able to offer expertise that proved extremely useful in the initial development of new Serbian highway network routes

The first designs with professional drainage and water treatment systems were developed back in 2008. The first implementations, however, only came several years later, in 2014.

During that time, ACO’s local experts worked closely with designers and construction companies to clear all the necessary details, requirements, calculations and installation details.

This resulted in the implementation of modern drainage systems, with the task of taking care of hazardous liquids in the case of an accident inside the tunnel, through hydraulic intake of 20,000 litres in a period of just five minutes. That means that the design of the drainage system enables the content of one cistern transporting hazardous, flammable liquids to be cleared in the required time. These dangerous liquids are then conveyed to the system for water treatment – an oil separator equipped with an alarm system and storage tanks of the required volume. This system was designed locally, with ACO components, and approved by the Serbian fire service. In the case that a fire does break out inside the tunnel, the design of drainage shafts prevents the fire spreading to the rest of the system and protects the tunnel’s main collector.

Beyond the tunnels, wherever the highway traverses water catchment areas, the protection of ground water is required through the implementation of separators for oil and heavy metals.

This ensures that the safety of people, groundwater and equipment in highway projects is raised to the level of safety required by European norms. Most of the new infrastructure developments, such as tunnels on Miloš the Great Motorway E-763, Šarani, Brđani, Savinac, Brančić, Lipak, Železnik and the latest Laz and Munjino Brdo, the Požega-Preljina highway section, the Belgrade ring-road and the Moravian Corridor are all equipped with ACO professional drainage and water treatment systems and boast the highest level of safety.

CorD Recommends

More...

Nicolas Marquier, Regional Manager for the Western Balkans at the IFC

Financing the Future

IFC, the largest global development institution, has provided almost $1 billion in financing to Serbia’s private sector over the past six years IFC, as a...

Iosif Vangelatos, General Manager, Inos Balkan

Proud of Tripling Trade Volume

Inos Balkan already possessed extensive expertise in the recycling sector, with its collection and processing centres, while it has today transformed itself successfully to...

Aris Karousos, CEO of Eko Serbia

Drivers Know Why They Choose Eko

Two decades ago, when this company launched its operations in Serbia, the desire was for the EKO brand to become synonymous with reliability, quality...

Danilo Đurović, General Manager, Autotechnica Serbia – Hertz

Introducing Flex Drive

As part of the Autohellas Group, which has been the absolute leader of Greece’s automotive sector since 1974, Hertz is more than just a...

News

CEB Grants €1.3 Billion Loans to Boost Social Sectors in 11 Countries

The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) has sanctioned loans totaling €1.3 billion for 11 member countries, including Serbia...

Serbia Advances in Renewable Energy with Pupin Wind Park Financing

In a significant stride towards renewable energy adoption, Serbia has finalized the financial arrangements for the Pupin Wind Park,...

Đedović Handanović: Nuclear Energy in Serbia by 2039 at the Earliest

Nuclear energy in Serbia could become a reality by 2039 at the earliest, should work on the project commence...

Belgrade’s Hotel Jugoslavija Sold, Sparks Redevelopment Controversy

Belgrade's iconic Hotel Jugoslavija, located in Serbia's capital, has been sold for approximately €27 million to MV Investment, affiliated...

Bosnia and Herzegovina Kickstarts EU Membership Talks

Bosnia and Herzegovina has initiated accession negotiations with the European Union, a development hailed as a pivotal advancement for...

CEB Grants €1.3 Billion Loans to Boost Social Sectors in 11 Countries

The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) has sanctioned loans totaling €1.3 billion for 11 member countries, including Serbia...

Belgrade University Partners with CERN on Future Circular Collider Project

The University of Belgrade has officially become part of CERN's largest scientific endeavor, the Future Circular Collider (FCC) project,...

Kushner Eyes Balkan Luxury Developments in Serbia and Albania

Jared Kushner, closely related to former U.S. President Donald Trump as his son-in-law, is turning his attention to the...

European Parliament Passes Groundbreaking AI Law

The European Parliament has adopted the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act, aiming to safeguard fundamental rights, democracy, the rule of...

European Parliament Members Endorse Western Balkan Reform and Growth Instrument

Members of the European Parliament's committees on foreign affairs and budget have officially adopted a stance on the Western...

CEB Grants €1.3 Billion Loans to Boost Social Sectors in 11 Countries

The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) has sanctioned loans totaling €1.3 billion for 11 member countries, including Serbia...

Belgrade University Partners with CERN on Future Circular Collider Project

The University of Belgrade has officially become part of CERN's largest scientific endeavor, the Future Circular Collider (FCC) project,...

Kushner Eyes Balkan Luxury Developments in Serbia and Albania

Jared Kushner, closely related to former U.S. President Donald Trump as his son-in-law, is turning his attention to the...

European Parliament Passes Groundbreaking AI Law

The European Parliament has adopted the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act, aiming to safeguard fundamental rights, democracy, the rule of...

European Parliament Members Endorse Western Balkan Reform and Growth Instrument

Members of the European Parliament's committees on foreign affairs and budget have officially adopted a stance on the Western...