The capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Sarajevo, is facing a severe water supply crisis that is affecting the daily lives of its residents. While droughts have contributed to the current situation, the root of the problem lies in the mismanagement of water resources, neglected infrastructure, and inefficient water use.
The city is facing challenges that require urgent and long-term measures to prevent further deterioration and secure the future of its water supply.
According to the Federal Hydrometeorological Institute, Sarajevo has experienced minimal rainfall over the past 60 days, classified as an extreme drought.
Exceptionally unfavorable hydrological conditions
The winter of 2023-2024 was the warmest in Sarajevo since 1951, and this trend of exceptionally unfavorable hydrological conditions has continued into the year, with the hottest spring on record, with an average temperature of 13 degrees Celsius.
Small, medium, and large amounts of rainfall have been below average for the past 30 years. This has led to a situation where the water sources and wells from which Cantonal Public Water Utility Company “Vodovod i Kanalizacija” d.o.o. Sarajevo draws water for the city’s supply are at critical levels. One well, which normally has a water accumulation of 25 meters under regular conditions, recently had a water level of 3.2 meters, with the critical level for automatic pump shutdown to protect equipment set at 3 meters, as “Vodovod i Kanalizacija” announced at the end of August.
As a result, “Vodovod i Kanalizacija” has introduced restrictions to allow reservoirs to refill and ensure a consistent daily water supply.
Declining groundwater levels
Haris Kalajdzisalihovic, assistant professor at the Faculty of Civil Engineering at the University of Sarajevo (UNSA) and head of the Department of Hydrotechnics and Environmental Engineering, explained in an interview that the lack of precipitation, particularly snow, has caused a decline in groundwater levels.
“The situation on the ground is quite bad. However, the representatives of the “Vodovod i Kanalizacija” company are doing everything they can to ensure citizens have access to water, a basic life resource. This is not just a recent problem; it has been ongoing for the past 20 years,” said Kalajdzisalihovic.
Discussing the resilience of the local water supply network to prolonged droughts, Kalajdzisalihovic stressed that additional investments and infrastructure modernization are necessary.
“And not just now; these investments were needed from the time the system was built, 50-60 years ago when the water network was established. Regular maintenance is required. The “Vodovod i Kanalizacija” company is working on maintenance. They have secured loan funds for the reconstruction of around 40 locations, but I’m not sure how far the implementation has progressed. Continuous replacements are being made, but this process is very slow considering how long it hasn’t been done. The network is extremely outdated, with losses of 70%, maybe even 80%. About half of the water pumped into the system is lost, and only half reaches the users,” added Kalajdzisalihovic.
Save water when it’s available
Kalajdzisalihovic noted that managing the outdated water system is challenging, and the unfavorable situation is also influenced by the pricing of water services.
“Look at the prices of water in other countries, for example, in the European Union (EU), where water prices are much higher, and they generate the necessary revenue to maintain the system. In the EU, they have much higher water prices but also a relatively new system. Here, we have an old system and low water prices. It’s clear that this is also a social issue,” he said.
He emphasized the need to secure additional water sources and storage capacities.
“We need to ‘capture’ water when it is available and store it for periods when it isn’t. Water should be saved when it’s abundant,” he said.
Kalajdzisalihovic concluded by noting that in this critical situation, the responsibility for preserving water resources also lies with the citizens, who should adapt their habits and use water more efficiently.
