Gostivar Water Scandal: Illegal Connection Discovered Outside Sanitary Zones

The unauthorized connection to the Gostivar water supply network, which is currently under investigation for causing water contamination, was discovered far outside the designated sanitary protection zones. According to Ivana Ginovska, the director of the State Environmental Inspectorate, the illegal tap was located approximately 800 to 900 meters away from the main pipeline covered by the official permit held by the public utility company "Komunalec" - Gostivar.

Ginovska clarified that this specific water intake point was never part of the authorized system. The water being drawn comes from a body of water that currently flows into an open channel. She emphasized that any modification to the water supply infrastructure requires prior approval from the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning. However, no such request was ever submitted by the utility company or any other entity.

The situation is further complicated by the fact that just three days before the public was informed about the presence of fecal matter in the drinking water, the local Center for Public Health had issued a report declaring the water safe for consumption. This discrepancy has raised serious concerns about the monitoring and reporting procedures.

Following a request from the Basic Public Prosecutor's Office in Gostivar, an extraordinary inspection was conducted on July 16th. The operation, which lasted from 7 PM to 11 PM, involved coordination between the criminal police, the Food and Veterinary Agency, the Center for Public Health, and "Komunalec". The findings from this joint inspection have been documented and submitted to the prosecutor's office for further legal action.