The National Agency for Water Supply and Sewerage Strengthens National Capacities for Sludge Management – New Laboratory at UBT, a Key Step Toward EU Standards

Albania is entering a decisive phase in the management of wastewater and waste, within the framework of sectoral reforms and the European integration process. In this context, the National Agency for Water Supply and Sewerage (AKUK), in cooperation with Agricultural University of Tirana (UBT) and with the support of the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), has undertaken a strategic step toward the sustainable management of wastewater sludge in the country.

Through a Memorandum of Cooperation signed between AKUK’s General Director, Elidjana Çelaj, and the Rector of UBT, Fatbardh Sallaku, the establishment of a specialized sludge analysis laboratory at UBT has been agreed. The laboratory is designed as a national reference laboratory, with a direct support function for the water supply and sewerage sector.

As the number of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) increases and, in parallel, the volume of sludge produced continues to grow, AKUK plays a crucial role in integrating the laboratory’s analytical capacities with the sector’s operational and regulatory functions. In this framework, AKUK will coordinate cooperation with regional water utilities, define national priorities for sludge monitoring, and guide the process in line with the sector’s strategic development objectives. Through the systematic use of laboratory results for planning, reporting, and policy development, AKUK will ensure that analytical data is translated into informed decision-making and into sustainable performance improvements in wastewater management.

This cooperation ensures that the laboratory will not remain merely an academic structure, but will function as an operational instrument supporting governance and regulation within the wastewater sector.

The project is being implemented under the Circular Economy for Sustainable Development initiative, with an investment of €120,000 from GIZ for the supply and installation of laboratory equipment. In addition, technical assistance will be provided this year for:

• Training of laboratory staff, AKUK, and regional water utilities;
• Development of standard operating procedures;
• Preparation for accreditation in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025 standards.

The laboratory will analyze sludge produced by WWTPs across Albania, as well as the quality of organic fertilizers produced by municipal composting facilities, ensuring its safe use in agriculture.

The structure and operation of the laboratory have been designed in compliance with relevant European Union directives on sludge management and urban wastewater treatment, as well as with the applicable Albanian legislation.

In this way, AKUK strengthens institutional capacity for monitoring, quality control, and reporting, directly supporting the implementation of the National Sludge Management Strategy 2025–2050 and accelerating the alignment of the sector with European Union requirements.