Water in the city of Gostivar, North Macedonia, can now be used for hygienic purposes, but remains unfit for drinking and cooking. This was announced by the country's Minister of Internal Affairs and Chairman of the Main Staff for Crisis Management in the city, Panche Toshkovski.
A state of emergency and an epidemic have been declared in the city after thousands of citizens sought medical assistance due to gastrointestinal problems. Tests confirmed that the water supply network was contaminated with coliform bacteria. Following hyperchlorination of the system, the latest laboratory samples show a significant reduction in the presence of contaminants, but the Main Staff has not provided specific deadlines for when the water will become potable. Until then, the supply of bottled water will continue in Gostivar.
Causes of Contamination and Legal Consequences
One of the primary theories regarding the causes of the contamination is the discovery of three illegally installed pumps. They were used to increase pressure, thereby pumping water from the Vardar River directly into the city's water supply system. The situation has led to a total ban on water usage over the last 10 days.
As a result of the incident, three managers of the public enterprise "Komunalec" in Gostivar are under arrest. They are suspected that their actions led to the water contamination.
Infrastructure Obstacles to System Renewal
The crisis has raised questions about the delayed water supply renewal project in the city, which is funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs and the German Development Bank. According to information from "Komunalec," the project is approximately 98 percent complete.
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However, the full connection of the system depends on the construction of an additional 600 meters of the route. According to local media, this has been ongoing for two years while awaiting approval from the public company "State Roads."