Winter fears of gas outages, summer water shortages: Sarajevo residents, prepare canisters, multiple reductions possible

Water supply to the City of Sarajevo is regular during daytime hours, but is proceeding with great difficulty, announced KJKP "Vodovod i kanalizacija" d.o.o Sarajevo, reports the Patria News Agency.

- We have witnessed very high air temperatures in recent months, which are causing an extremely poor hydrological situation at all sources managed by KJKP VIK Sarajevo.

At the main Bačevo source, there is a constant drop in underground water reserves due to the lack of significant rainfall. Furthermore, a huge drop in water inflow is recorded at all natural karst springs in the Sarajevo Canton area, resulting in a very noticeable shortage of water quantities, which are being compensated from other water supply zones to maintain regular daytime water supply.

- We can expect this and potentially worse conditions at all sources in the coming period, given that the weather conditions indicate high air temperatures with the absence of significant precipitation.

In addition to the reasons mentioned above, there are additional causes for the difficult water supply. On the night of August 28th to 29th, between 00:00 and 01:00, there was a power surge at the main Bačevo source, which led to a complete interruption in water supply to the main reservoirs in Sarajevo Canton (Mojmilo reservoir, Hrasno reservoir, Alipašin Most reservoir, and Igman reservoir).

This resulted in a reduced water supply of approximately 2500 l/s (the usual supply is around 3100 l/s for the entire Sarajevo Canton). The power surge caused a significant drop in the levels of the aforementioned reservoirs, and difficult daytime water supply is expected over the weekend.

Also, on Friday, August 28th, during the night hours, there was a reduced supply of water from the Peračko vrelo spring (less by about 80 l/s), which resulted in difficult water supply to the municipality of Vogošća, as well as to the Kobilja Glava reservoir zone (settlements Bare-Šip, Pofalići, Velešići, Ciglane, Koševsko brdo).

This caused the water levels in the reservoirs to be minimal, and with the maximum engagement of KJKP VIK Sarajevo employees, a regular situation is being maintained.

Due to very high temperatures and enormous water consumption over the weekend (in some water supply zones, water delivery has significantly increased), there has been an additional sharp drop in reservoir levels.

At the end of August, KJKP VIK Sarajevo records a record water delivery in some water supply zones for the second time. All sources are in the water supply system. Water is being pumped from underground and natural springs constantly, and all pumping units are in operation.

It is also noted that during the night hours, from 12 AM to 5 AM, water is supplied under reduced pressure in the following parts of the city: from Dolac Malta to Baščaršija, Otoka, Čengić Vila, Alipašino Polje, Dobrinja, Saraj Polje, Rajlovac, Velešići, Pofalići, Kobilja Glava, Bare-Šip, Ciglane, Koševsko Brdo, Alipašina and Koševska streets, Cicin Han and Soukbunar, and Podhrastovi, Grdonj and Sedrenik.

This means that in certain locations, some floors of buildings and in certain elevated areas of the mentioned zones, there will be interruptions in water supply during the specified period.

- We want to appeal to our valued consumers to use water as rationally as possible, to minimize watering gardens and greenhouses, washing yards, carpets, and other unnecessary wastage of drinking water, in order to ensure sufficient quantities of water in the reservoir spaces and maintain regular daytime water supply. If the enormously high water consumption continues, during these days, the company will be forced to introduce an additional measure and reduce pressure in the distribution network during daytime hours, emphasize KJKP "Vodovod i kanalizacija".

It is also reminded that, based on the Regulation on general conditions for drinking water supply, wastewater and rainwater drainage, teams from the company may conduct site visits, warn service users about compliance, and potentially disconnect them from the water supply system if it is determined that they are not using drinking water rationally during the dry period, it was announced by the company.