Water quality in Gostivar improving, authorities await decision to lift drinking ban

Local authorities say water quality in Gostivar's public supply has improved and that a final decision to lift the ban on drinking it will come after the last tests are processed. Microbiological analyses have shown favourable results for some time, and recently elevated chlorine levels used during disinfection are returning to permitted limits.

Authorities awaiting Central Crisis Staff decision

"We hope that in the coming days, maybe tomorrow or the day after, the Central Crisis Staff will meet and inform the public that the water in Gostivar is definitely safe to drink," said coordinator Zudi Dzhelili, speaking on behalf of the Local Crisis Staff.

Dzhelili added that work is underway to complete a reservoir in the village of Gorna Banjica, which should significantly improve supply to the southern part of the municipality, including the settlements of Gorna and Dolna Banjica, Ciglana and Fazaneriya.

Until the ban is formally lifted, the municipality is maintaining supply by water tankers and distributing packaged drinking water to residents. Technical teams collected samples from seven points across the town this morning and sent them for laboratory testing.

Residents of Gostivar have been without potable tap water for more than four weeks. The Main Crisis Staff has so far permitted the use of the supply only for technical purposes, not for drinking or food preparation.

The Directorate for Protection and Rescue's director, Stojanche Angelov, said over the weekend that recent analyses indicate improvement compared with earlier measurements, but that more time is needed before the supply can be declared safe for drinking. Minister of Health Sasho Klekovski told a television interview last week that the drinking-water analysis for Gostivar will be published by 20 August.

Photo: МИА