Access to drinking water and sanitation is a basic human right since 2010. Hundreds of global campaigns are devoted to saving drinking water, referring you to countries on the African continent that suffer from drinking water. However, there are countries that have sufficient water sources, but breakdowns can bring unenviable situations. In short, some don't have it at all, while those who have drinking water don't take care of it.

The condition of water pipes in the Republic of Kosovo has significantly improved in recent years. This is mainly thanks to the contribution of international donors.

Drinking water has not been in the focus of governments as a national program and with a commitment to fix the whole system, as they have done with road infrastructure. But drinking water has always been in the mouths of local authorities. They promised water. Then if there was no water, they pointed the finger at the regional water supply companies, even though they have a representative on their board as a contributing municipality.

With the help of internationals, with the dedication of our own people and with the co-financing of the citizens themselves, according to a study at the end of 2018 by professor and hydrotechnical engineer Lavdim Osmanaj, it turns out that in Kosovo only 8.4% of the residents do not have access to water supply. The Regulatory Authority of Water Services released this percentage as less, which says that the water supply coverage is 78% from seven regional state companies in the regions of Kosovo.

But what is happening with the water that comes to our house? Are they taking enough care of it?

An indicator, although it can be called an isolated case, is the event in Deçan. As a result of the water quality, over 1,500 citizens went to the Family Medicine Center in this municipality to seek help. They have complaints after drinking water that comes from the water supply. Although it was not known at first, the analysis of the National Institute of Public Health of Kosovo, which the Law on Water makes responsible for monitoring the quality of drinking water, confirmed that there were bacteria present that contaminated the water.

And the pools where the water stopped to flow into the taps of the citizens of Deçan were covered only with a simple concrete lid, which an adult could move without problem and see the water flowing. People with bad intentions could throw anything in. This was water security in Deçan. Added to all this was a suspicious visit to this area by two people. Derivative of this came the arrest of the official who was supposed to check the security cameras at the pools and the water source. However, in deduction this shows an unsafe situation. Someone is likely to contaminate the water we use for drinking and cooking after it leaves the processing plants. When this is also confirmed by the Minister of Environment, Liburn Aliu, then it proves that something is wrong here. "From what is seen on the ground, it is an urgent need for our country that all the water pipes in our country be inspected and measures taken. The wells are accessible, the tank is easily accessible. The way water chlorination is done is done manually and therefore the whole system presents a great fragility in terms of the security system. We have other countries where the situation is the same. We have taken the issue seriously for further inspections and the issue of a general report related to the safety of the water supply", Minister Aliu declared.

This is one of the reasons that drinking water is bought to a considerable extent in Kosovo.

In one of the cities that is surrounded by water sources, Prizren, in a "vox-pop" with citizens, you see that two out of three of them buy drinking water. The reasons are that there is too much chlorine or even that they have heard that the quality is not good. Since there is no life without water, no one risks with complete uncertainty, but chooses to buy.

But, on the other hand, a report of the Regulatory Authority for Water Services in Kosovo shows that the tests of the regional water companies are over 99% in compliance with the desired quality. Their only concern is that the standards are mainly about residual chlorine.

Do we have any other water related problems?

As in many other aspects and sectors, it's not like you can get too tired to find problems. The construction of aqueducts is one of the problems in the country.

After the war, investments took the form of emergency construction. The lack of regulations and supervisory authorities have made the situation even more fragile.

But it's not much better in later years either. The absence of the Chamber of Engineers of Kosovo, which would filter who can design and build waterworks or other hydrotechnical works, is noticeable. There were water pipes that collapsed at the moment they were put into operation. Even in this aspect, there is a light that is being observed towards the end of the tunnel. The draft law for the Chambers of Architects and Engineers of Kosovo has passed the first reading in the Assembly of Kosovo and is expected to be passed as law soon.

In all of this, judging the situations and statements, we can say that we have water, we produce water, but we do not take enough care of water to fulfill our basic human right. What we can foresee is that water will have its own year to be mentioned. Because local elections are coming in October.

This article was written by EC Ma Ndryshe and is supported by the Kosovo Foundation for Civil Society (KCSF) program 'EJA Kosovo', co-financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Swedish Agency for International Development and Cooperation (Sida). The content of this article is the responsibility of EC Ma Ndryshe and does not necessarily represent the positions of KCSF, SDC or Sida.