Gostivar Water Scandal: Untreated Water Pumped into City Supply, Management Faces Prison

Illegal Pumps in the Overflow Chamber

The Basic Public Prosecutor's Office in Gostivar has launched an investigation and requested a 30-day detention for the director of the Public Enterprise "Komunalec" and two other senior officials. They are charged with serious environmental crimes after it was discovered that they illegally installed pumps in the overflow chamber in the village of Vrutok. According to prosecutors, this move directly caused severe contamination of the drinking water used by the entire city of Gostivar and its surroundings.

Competent prosecutor Hazbi Iseini emphasized that there are strong suspicions that these three individuals gave the order to install the pumps, intending to increase the pressure in the water supply network.

"We believe that the crime was committed in co-perpetration among the three. A proposal for a 30-day detention has been submitted, as at this stage there is no other way to secure their presence,"

stated Iseini, adding that this offense carries a minimum prison sentence of four years.

Alarming Findings and Fecal Bacteria

The scandal was uncovered on July 16, 2026, following a report from concerned citizens. Duty prosecutor Zura Selimi explained that during the on-site inspection, three pumps were found, two of which were fully operational. They were drawing untreated water from an external channel and feeding it directly into the drinking system.

Evidence shows that these devices were installed as early as June 24. Laboratory analyses of the water revealed terrifying results—the presence of 39 coliform bacteria in the catchment, where the legal limit is zero. Additionally, the chlorine level at the end users was twice as high as permitted, reaching 1.1 milligrams per liter.

Investigation May Expand

The Prosecutor's Office announced that the investigation is only in its early stages and that the connection between the contaminated water and the recent epidemic, along with the sudden surge of sick citizens in the region, will be thoroughly examined. If guilt is established for covering up the situation, the investigation will not spare the management of the local hospital either.

The disputed pumps have already been turned off, and a court order is awaited for their dismantling and expert examination. Meanwhile, competent health institutions maintain their stance that the water in Gostivar is still not safe for drinking.