KS Government Adopts Measures to Improve Sarajevo Canton Water Supply Situation

The Government of Sarajevo Canton, during its two-day session at the continuation of the 90th extraordinary session dedicated to the water supply problem, today adopted nine measures that need to be taken to improve the water supply situation in Sarajevo Canton. These measures will be reviewed by the deputies of the KS Assembly and voted on at an Urgent Session on the water supply situation, which will be held on Thursday, September 28.

As part of the first measure, the Government has tasked cantonal public utility companies, cantonal public enterprises, and the Cantonal Civil Protection Administration to make all machinery and human resources available to KJKP „Vodovod i kanalizacija“ (ViK), in order to undertake all necessary activities related to fixing faults in the water supply network within two months, with the aim of securing new water quantities. Work on fixing faults will be carried out mainly during night hours, i.e., during periods of water rationing, except for faults that require immediate intervention. The Government has also tasked the Ministry of Communal Economy and Infrastructure of KS to approve the hiring of new employees, workers – excavators for fixing faults, for a period of up to 60 days. Funds in the amount of KM 800,000 are planned for this purpose from the KS Budget.

Given that an average of about 25 faults in the water supply network are reported daily, and that there is still a large number of unrepaired faults, 978 of them, a more intensive engagement and use of machinery and personnel is necessary. Currently, the company „ViK“ has seven teams and four excavators available, which can currently fix 20 faults per day. The mentioned number of faults awaiting repair should be significantly reduced within the next 60 days through the planned involvement of additional machinery and personnel.

As part of the second measure, the Government has ordered KJKP „ViK“ to immediately form 20 teams that will work on reducing non-revenue water, considering that illegal consumers account for a significant portion of the total network loss of 75 percent. „ViK“ is also tasked with preparing and submitting to the KS Government a list of consumers for whom they believe the bills for supplied water do not correspond to their actual needs and consumption (hotels, car washes, shopping malls, catering facilities, etc.).

According to the new systematization in the company „ViK“, it is foreseen that six employees will be part of three teams for detecting illegal consumers. Given that activities to reduce non-revenue water and detect illegal consumers were carried out in 2016, and that an inspection of 3,000 consumers revealed 405 illegal ones, this represents a significant percentage. Currently, three teams can inspect only 45 to 50 consumers daily. By forming 20 such teams, the conditions would be created for inspecting about 300 consumers daily, which would ultimately ensure their inclusion in the KJKP „ViK“ system. Within this measure, within six months, the mentioned teams would inspect about 40,000 consumers.

As part of the third measure, the Government has ordered KJKP „ViK“ to proceed with the procurement and installation of pumping units. Given the age and capacity of the pumping units, which can improve system security and provide the necessary water capacities to end consumers in a short time, this measure should be implemented as soon as possible. This would also result in significant savings on funds currently used to pay for the electricity consumption that powers these units. The deadline for the procurement and installation of pumping units is 60 days.

The company „ViK“ has issued a Public Call for the procurement of three such units of different capacities, and the final phase for selecting the most favorable bidder is underway. Funds for their purchase in the amount of KM 280,000 will be provided from the KS Budget. The implementation of this measure will ensure a larger water quantity of 50 l/s, significant savings of financial resources for their maintenance, and additional system security, considering that the existing units are over 30 years old and spare parts for their repair are no longer available on the market.

As part of the fourth measure, the Government has requested KJKP „ViK“ to adjust the Rulebook on Job Systematization in this company to the actual needs and the new situation related to water supply within seven days.

Although the company „ViK“ has adopted a new systematization and it has been in effect since July of this year, the Government believes that its implementation has not produced the expected positive effects that would reflect on solving the water supply problem or at least shortening the period of water rationing. Therefore, there is an evident need to develop an adapted rulebook, considering that the current systematization does not provide for a larger number of employees in the teams for reducing non-revenue water, as well as in positions such as operator, machine operator, excavator operator for digging and trenching, and others whose engagement can improve the water supply situation.

With its fifth measure, the Government has tasked KJKP „Vodovod i kanalizacija“ to immediately form a Customer Center.

Within this center, new telephone lines will be opened through which citizens will have the opportunity to receive timely and complete information regarding all faults and interruptions in water distribution. The Customer Center will also provide all this information to the media and publish it immediately on its social media pages.

Furthermore, with the sixth measure, the Government has tasked „ViK“ to continue with activities on detecting non-revenue water in cooperation with the Team for detecting faults and non-revenue water appointed by the Government of Sarajevo Canton. Funds in the amount of KM 1,580,000 have been allocated for this activity in the KS Budget.

„ViK“ is obliged to form a Team for detecting faults and non-revenue water in Sarajevo Canton, which will also include two consultants – experts in this field, appointed by the Government of Sarajevo Canton.

With the seventh measure, „ViK“ is tasked to immediately commence activities related to the implementation of the Water Supply Network Reconstruction Project in cooperation with the Steering Committee for the implementation of the agreement with the EBRD by December 31, 2017. For this purpose, loan funds from the EBRD in the amount of EUR 10,000,000 and KM 3,200,000 from the KS Budget of dedicated funds from water fees have been secured.

Given that „ViK“, the municipalities, and the relevant ministry have signed a tripartite agreement to secure funds in the amount of KM 3,200,000, it is necessary to proceed with the reconstruction of the water supply network in the Sarajevo Canton area in accordance with the agreed priorities. The initiated activities with the implementation of loan funds from the EBRD are in the final phase, and the signing of the Agreement is expected in October 2017 by the Federation of BiH, as it has already been signed at the level of BiH and Sarajevo Canton. The planned funds in the amount of EUR 5,000,000 will be used for the procurement of equipment and pumping units, and the remaining EUR 5,000,000 for the reconstruction of the water supply network.

With the eighth measure, the Government has tasked the company „ViK“ to secure additional water quantities from: Peračko vrelo 40 l/s within 60 days and with funds of KM 200,000, the Tilava source 20 l/s with a deadline of 30 days and funds that will be subsequently secured in the KS Budget, from JKP „Komunalac“ Hadžići 20 l/s within 60 days and with funds that will also be determined later, and from the Filter plant Bosna II 200 l/s with a deadline of eight to ten months and with funds of KM 1,800,000 planned in the Budget for 2017/2018.

And as a ninth measure, the Government has proposed that the Assembly of Sarajevo Canton form a new working body that will, in cooperation with it, monitor the implementation of all proposed measures and their deadlines. It is suggested that representatives of the Assembly, the non-governmental sector, and water supply experts be appointed to this body.