Citizens desperate over daily water cuts, will Sarajevo permanently run out of water?

Daily water cuts that have been in effect since the beginning of the month, and since September 15 in most of Sarajevo from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., are making everyday life difficult for citizens, writes the Bosnian news agency Patria.

Daily water cuts are in effect from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the water supply zones of Podhrastovi, Sedrenik, Grdonj, Panjina kula, Breka, the settlements of Obhodža and Brusulje, from Dolac Malta to Marijin Dvor, Otoka, Čengić Vila, Alipašino Polje, Dobrinja, Saraj Polje, Rajlovac, Buća Potok, Vogošća, Naselje heroja – Sokolje, Hrasnica, Sokolovići, Faletići, Stup, Butmir and Kotorac.

Night-time water cuts have been in place for years, and the Water and Sewerage Company (VIK) has found justification for the daytime cuts in the poor condition of the underground reservoir and the age of the pipeline with large losses, which leads to disruptions in water supply.

- These are the primary reasons why we must introduce daily water cuts in the wider area of Sarajevo Canton - was announced by VIK on September 15.

Sarajevo, as the capital city, is always full of tourists to whom it is difficult to explain why in the 21st century there is no water in an urban area, if Sarajevo with today's authorities and leaders of the Sarajevo Canton led by Prime Minister Elmedin Konaković can still be considered an urban European environment.

Also, with increased construction and urbanization of Sarajevo, and connection to the water supply network, the system will be burdened, and without improvement of the water supply network, Sarajevo could permanently run out of water within two years, experts warn.