GRAD GRADAČAC DAY Completed sections of water supply network ceremonially put into operation

GRADAČAC, (Patria) - Today in Gradačac, through a series of cultural, entertainment, and sports events, "October 22" - Gradačac City Day was ceremonially marked. One of these events is the ceremonial opening of a section of the southern water supply system "Domažić" within the project "Gradačac Water Supply" concerning the settlements of Kerep and Zelinja Donja in Gradačac.

Through this project, it is planned to create conditions for connecting 3,500 new water supply network users and 1,250 sewage network users by the end of 2022. The project implementation will result in the construction of 105 km of water supply network, 40 km of sewage network, and the reconstruction of 40 km of water supply network in the urban part of the city. A wastewater treatment plant has been operational since before.

Omer Hasanović, a resident of the Kerep Local Community, stated that one part of the village had local water supply systems and water, but most had none at all.

"Especially this area where we are now, wells dried up quickly. When there are heavy rains, some quantities are created, but this water supply system that has been built is salvation for the southern part of Gradačac and for our local community."

The president of the local community, Adel Jukan, said that this is certainly a historic project.

"We have been struggling with water supply for the past 25 to 30 years, where only a small number of residents were connected to the water supply system of the neighboring Jelovče Selo Local Community; others managed as best they could. With the support of local authorities in previous years, we tried to solve this by bringing water tankers to the reservoir. We are extremely grateful, and the residents came to support this project, which finally solves this issue once and for all, where we will finally have conditions consistent with human life in the 21st century."

Mayor Edis Dervišagić emphasized that "among the series of events we prepared today, all with the aim of commemorating October 22 - the day of the battle for the armored train and the day we mark in Gradačac as 'Gradačac City Day' - is this event, the ceremonial commissioning of the newly built water supply section from the Domažić source to the pumping station in Kerep Local Community and further to the settlement of Zelinja Donja.

"This is a great event for the citizens of this area because in this way we are solving the biggest life issue, the biggest problem for the citizens in this area, which is the lack of drinking water. In the past period, thanks to a credit arrangement and donor funds, we have managed to build about 70 km of water supply network, and today we are in Kerep where we will put into operation the pumping station that has the role of distributing this water further into the water supply network in the settlements. This is a project we have long awaited, this is a project of vital importance for both households in this area and for economic entities, and I think there is no better date to mark such an event than GRADAČAC CITY DAY on October 22, which becomes a symbol of remembrance of all the heroes of the defense of Gradačac, but at the same time, in this way, it becomes a symbol of hope for better times to come for all those who love and live in Gradačac."

The total value of the project is around 30 million KM, supported by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, grants from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), grants from the Czech Development Agency, the UNDP MEG Project, the Budget of the City of Gradačac, and higher levels of government.