Started a large-scale reconstruction of the water treatment plant in Vítkov-Podhradí

The water treatment plant is an example of industrial architecture from 1954-1962 by architect Kainar. The last monumental work of national artist Vincenc Makovský from 1961-64, which belonged to the artist's cycle 'Water in Our Life', is placed on the facade of the building.

Vítkov (Opavsko) - The company Severomoravské vodovody a kanalizace (SmVaK), which is one of the largest water supply companies in the country, has started the reconstruction of the water treatment plant in Vítkov-Podhradí in the Opava region for over 120 million crowns. This renovation will also involve the introduction of a new water treatment technology - ozonation. The reconstruction is expected to be completed by the middle of next year, as informed by the spokesperson for the waterworks, Eva Špirochová.
    According to the general director of SmVaK, Anatol Pšenička, the addition of ozone improves the taste of water and its health parameters. "The gaseous agent with disinfecting effects will fulfill its cleaning role in water without introducing anything foreign into it. Its residue will precipitate and convert into oxygen," Pšenička stated. The treatment plant will have an ozonation line that will produce ozone from gaseous oxygen.
    Špirochová mentioned that ozonation is also used by wellness centers, fish breeding stations, or crab farms. "In water management, it is one of the most modern methods of producing quality drinking water. Ozonated water has a higher content of dissolved oxygen, which is one of the properties typical for natural sources," the spokesperson noted.
    According to her, the drinking water treatment plant in Vítkov-Podhradí is one of the technical jewels of the SmVaK water management system. It is part of the Ostrava regional water supply system, which is a network of water sources. The treatment plant started supplying water to people in December 1958. "Since the start of operation until now, the plant has produced an incredible 2.4 billion cubic meters of water, which is as much as would be contained in almost 70 reservoirs the size of Kružberk," stated the director of the Ostrava regional water supply SmVaK, Jiří Komínek.
    The plant has been continuously modernized and reconstructed. "As one of the first facilities in the Czech Republic, progressive disinfection technology of drinking water with chlorine dioxide was introduced here in the 1990s," Špirochová stated.
    The current extensive reconstruction will concern both mechanical and electrical equipment, the inlet tract where raw water is supplied from the Kružberk water reservoir, as well as the substation or transformer station. It will also include the installation of a new automatic control system. The waterworks will finance the entire investment from its own resources. "All work is planned so that a continuous supply of drinking water in the prescribed quality is ensured for consumers throughout the renovation," the spokesperson mentioned.
    Severomoravské vodovody a kanalizace supplies water primarily in the Frýdecko-Místek, Karviná, Nový Jičín, and Opava regions, but also to the border area of Poland. The majority owner of the company is the Spanish company Aqualia Czech based in Madrid, which holds nearly 99 percent of the shares.