Nizhny Novgorod’s sewage overhaul tackles decades of foul odours and waste chaos
Nizhny Novgorod’s Aeration Station is nearing the end of its first major reconstruction phase, with 99.5% of work on 50 structures almost finished. Governor Gleb Nikitin has previously highlighted the facility as a long-standing source of unpleasant odours in the city.
The upgrades come as utility crews report a surge in maintenance activity, with blockages and waste removal reaching record levels this year in the city's waste management system.
The station’s modernisation forms part of broader efforts to improve the city’s sewage infrastructure. Governor Nikitin had earlier acknowledged complaints about foul smells linked to the plant, prompting calls for action.
Meanwhile, routine maintenance at a pumping station in the Krasnaya Polyana residential area has uncovered large volumes of improperly disposed waste. Crews remove between 100 and 150 kilograms of household rubbish daily from this site alone. Across Nizhny Novgorod, the United Utility Operator JSC has cleared over 5,000 blockages in the external sewage network since January. Emergency teams now respond to more than 30 callouts each day to tackle clogs.
Efforts to keep pipelines clear have also intensified. This year, crews flushed nearly 133 kilometres of sewer lines—a 20% increase compared to 2023. The company oversees 128 pumping stations, extracting between 13 and 20 tons of debris from the system every day.
To address recurring issues, social district officers have begun educating residents on correct sewage use. Funding for the station’s second reconstruction phase has also been provisionally secured under the federal Water of Russia programme, with completion expected by 2029.
The first phase of the Aeration Station’s upgrade is set to wrap up shortly, marking a key step in reducing odour problems in the city. With federal backing for future work now in place, further improvements are planned over the next five years.
Utility operators continue to ramp up maintenance, but persistent blockages highlight ongoing challenges in waste management across the city.
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