Must Pay 360 KM: Amid Water Shortage, Sarajevo Residents Also Face High Bills

Residents of the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina are facing heatwaves and at the same time a water shortage. Constant reductions, repairs and all-day water supply interruptions are driving Sarajevo residents to despair, writes the Patria news agency.

However, it is not only the reduction and shortage of water that has been worrying Sarajevo resident Sabina Kljuno lately. In recent days, she has been arguing with the Water Supply and Sewerage Company (VIK) that she could not have used 187 cubic meters of water in one month, for which she was issued a bill of a dizzying 361.40 KM!?

Very upset, in a statement to the Patria agency, she said that she lives alone and that until now she had been receiving bills of up to 18 KM for water, using between 10 and 12 cubic meters.

- This is unheard of. I live alone in a building, and a newly built one at that. When I went to the Water Supply company, at the counter they told me the water meter was faulty. When I asked on what basis they had previously issued my bills, I received no answer. I have already been to VIK several times, and no one advised me that I should request a water meter inspection. I will request that today. I am desperate, this is the last thing I needed. I barely have any water as it is – says Kljuno.

Kljuno is not alone when it comes to proving to VIK that it is impossible to consume this amount of water. Increasingly, citizens are complaining that due to water reductions, the air passing through the pipes causes the water meter to record non-existent consumption at an enormous rate, resulting in high bills.

Sabina says she will not give up her fight for justice.

- This is not realistic and I will not accept this situation – adds Kljuno.

Meanwhile, the KJKP Water Supply and Sewerage Company announced that the planned works at the Bačevo spring have been completed, as well as the works on connecting the new wells to the Mojmilo pressure pipeline.

At the announced time of 08:00, water supply stabilization occurred for all settlements that had been without water supply since 18:00 the previous day, August 8.

However, today repairs will be carried out at the following locations: Omladinska, Krivoglavci I, Semira Frašte, Humska, Muhameda ef. Pandže at multiple addresses, Trg Alije Izetbegovića, Paje sokak, Pogledine, Jarčedoli, works at Bačevo, reconnection of connections in Budakovići street, flushing of the Sedrenik pipeline, installation of connections in Hasana Merdžanića, Šipska, and Zije Dizdarevića streets.