After almost a month, the people of Gostivar finally received drinking water.
The latest results confirm that the water is microbiologically and bacteriologically safe. This means that the conditions for the water to be used for drinking again have been met, the director of the Food and Veterinary Agency said this afternoon.
Citizens are advised to let the water drain well from the taps before using it for drinking.
As of today, the water in Gostivar is safe to drink - announced at a press conference the director of the Directorate for Protection and Rescue, Stojanche Angelov, head of the Crisis Management Headquarters.
Previously, the Crisis Management Headquarters held a meeting to discuss the latest information related to drinking water from the Gostivar water supply system.
Housekeeping in the future, and the investigation to check the blame for the water supply problems in Gostivar, requested Stojanche Angelov today in response to a journalist's question regarding the outcome and end of the water supply crisis and the epidemic in Gostivar.
– Yes, at this moment the crisis in Gostivar is ending. But I hope for housekeeping in the future, because the fact is that what happened in the water supply is unacceptable. The Public Prosecutor's Office and the court will take care of that, and they will check if there is anyone's fault – said Angelov.
Regarding overcoming the current problems with the reduced pressure in the water supply system, the head of the local headquarters, Zudi Xhelili, pointed out that the Public Enterprise "Komunalec", the municipal leadership are working intensively to increase the amount of water in the settlements: Gorna and Dolna Banjica, Fazanerija and Ciglana. One of the measures that will be implemented in the coming period is an increase in the number of water tests. So instead of two controls per week, three analyses of water from the water supply will be carried out.
– For settlements where there is a shortage of water and interventions are being made. Work is also being done on the reservoir in Gorna Banjica, which will be in use shortly. In this way, four settlements where there is low water pressure or where there is a shortage of water will be provided with water in quantitative terms. This plan will be worked on in the future, both in terms of quantity and quality, said Xhelili.
After giving the statements, at the suggestion of Stojanche Angelov, Director of the State Statistical Office, the members of the crisis headquarters went out in front of the municipality building and drank water from a public fountain.
The ban was issued on July 17 due to water contamination with feces and an excessively high concentration of chlorine. Over 5.000 citizens have been infected, an epidemic has been declared since July 19, and on July 21, the Government declared a 30-day state of emergency in the city.
Since July 27, water in the Municipality of Gostivar could be used as technical water, i.e. it can be used for bathing and all other household needs.
