Kupusović: If losses and illegal consumption are not reduced, Sarajevo will be without water in two years

Director of the Institute for Hydraulic Engineering at the Faculty of Civil Engineering in Sarajevo and professor at the same faculty, Tarik Kupusović, warned today at a press conference of FONDEKO and the Aarhus Centre about a catastrophe threatening the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina – a water shortage within a maximum of two years, writes the Bosnian news agency Patria.

As the professor stated, there are several reasons for such a situation, the first being large water losses of up to 70%, and the second being that breakdowns causing these losses are not repaired.

Kupusović added that with current losses, as well as the urbanisation of Sarajevo (construction of buildings connected to the existing water supply network), this most valuable life resource will be endangered.

Speaking about the measures that the Sarajevo Water and Sewerage Company should take, the first priority is greater responsibility of the management itself and the practice of running the company.

- The citizens of Sarajevo do not deserve constant reductions, hygiene risks, and uncertainty. Water is truly irreplaceable and has no alternative – said Kupusović, who warned citizens not to use water for drinking for at least an hour or two after it reaches consumers following reductions.
- The water we drink is still of good quality, and the company conducts analyses, but the Institute for Public Health of the Sarajevo Canton should also perform independent analyses.

One of the measures is the reduction of losses – which are actually water reserves, increasing the collection rate, which currently stands at 95%, as well as penalties for illegal consumers.

Kupusović outlined three types of measures that should be taken to ensure the sustainability of the water supply system.

- These are urgent measures such as reducing losses and repairing breakdowns, medium-term measures so that, for example, there are no reductions next summer, and long-term measures such as starting the construction of the second source, Crna Rijeka – stated Kupusović.

Measures recommended by Kupusović.