A shared wastewater system with 90 pumping stations and a treatment plant designed for 45,000 population equivalents is planned from Donji Karin to Maslenica. So far, however, only the environmental screening has been published.
One wastewater system for six local authorities
The Ražanac agglomeration project brings 21 settlements into one drainage system. Kruševo and Gornji Karin are included in the City of Obrovac area, and Islam Grčki and Donji Karin in the City of Benkovac area. Also included are Islam Latinski, Grgurice, Slivnica, Posedarje, Podgradina, Vinjerac and Ždrilo in the Municipality of Posedarje.
The project area further includes Paljuv, Pridraga and Novigrad in the Municipality of Novigrad, Maslenica in the Municipality of Jasenice, and Ražanac, Rtina, Krneza, Ljubač, Radovin and Jovići in the Municipality of Ražanac. The applicants are Vodovod Zadar and Komunalac Biograd na Moru, with Vodovod acting as their joint representative in the procedure.
Almost 300 kilometres of pipes and 90 pumping stations
The published environmental report describes around 227 kilometres of gravity sewers, about 67 kilometres of pressure pipes and roughly 3.2 kilometres of outfall pipes. Together they amount to almost 297 kilometres of network. Because the terrain does not permit a natural gradient everywhere, 90 pumping stations are planned.
The plan also lists 8,491 preparations for household connections. These are technical connection points within the project scope—not 8,491 homes already connected. Whether and when a property is actually connected depends on subsequent permits, construction phases and implementation on the ground.
A central treatment plant for 45,000 population equivalents
At the heart of the plan is a shared Ražanac wastewater treatment plant with secondary treatment and a capacity of 45,000 population equivalents. Population equivalent is a planning measure of organic load; it does not mean 45,000 permanently registered residents.
The treated water is to be discharged into the Velebit Channel through an outfall with a total length of about 3,243 metres, around 2,742 metres of it underwater. These figures describe the proposed technical solution, not facilities already built or operating.
Karinsko more and Novigradsko more are planned together
Earlier partial plans envisaged several separate systems and treatment plants around Karinsko more and Novigradsko more. The current concept links these areas with Ražanac in a larger agglomeration; the previously planned separate plants are no longer included in this option.
That does not mean existing facilities will be demolished or operating systems switched over immediately. The published procedure concerns the new overall plan. The screening documents do not show which transitional arrangements, construction stages and connections will ultimately be implemented.
Most routes are intended to follow roads
Where technically possible, pipes are to run within existing road corridors. The report also identifies off-road sections: about 608 metres near Posedarje, 2,131 metres near Rtina, 872 metres near Kruševo and 1,700 metres near Ražanac—just over 5.3 kilometres in total.
Residents and travellers cannot yet derive a construction timetable from this. Later works could affect traffic arrangements, access and property connections in stages, but the documents now published announce no specific closures, construction dates or diversions.
Only environmental screening is under way
On 23 September, the ministry published the OPUO, Croatia's screening procedure to determine whether a full environmental impact assessment is required. It is also considering whether an appropriate assessment for the Natura 2000 network will be needed. This procedure is neither a building permit nor a construction contract.
The public may submit written comments to the ministry within 30 days of publication. The authority will then decide on further environmental assessments and possible conditions. Only later permitting and procurement steps can move the project towards construction.
Costs, funding and dates remain open
The published OPUO documents state no binding overall price, confirmed funding, awarded construction contract, start date or completion date. The network's great length therefore cannot be used to calculate a credible opening date.
The project is nevertheless useful in practical terms: it shows which settlements are intended to share a drainage system and the scale of the central solution. Connection deadlines, roadworks and fees will become reliable only through later official decisions by utilities, municipalities and permitting authorities.
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- Drainage system and wastewater treatment plant in the Ražanac agglomeration – OPUO 2026Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition of the Republic of Croatia · published 23 September 2026; checked 26 September 2026Official procedure entry, publication date and links to the notice and environmental report
- Notice of the request for environmental impact assessment screening – Ražanac agglomerationMinistry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition of the Republic of Croatia · 11 September 2026; published 23 September 2026Applicants, OPUO status, Natura 2000 screening and 30-day comment period
- Environmental report – drainage system and WWTP for the Ražanac agglomerationMinistry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition of the Republic of Croatia · published 23 September 2026; checked 26 September 202621 settlements, pipe lengths, pumping stations, connection preparations, plant capacity, outfall and routing
- Environmental impact assessment screening (OPUO)Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition of the Republic of Croatia · ongoing procedural information; checked 26 September 2026Purpose and course of screening and its distinction from a full environmental impact assessment
