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Civic movement: Water utility blames citizens while losing a third of supply through leaks
๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ธ Serbia /Energy & Infrastructure

Civic movement: Water utility blames citizens while losing a third of supply through leaks

From N1 Serbia · () Serbian

Translated from Serbian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Context piece
  • The "Bravo" movement accuses Novi Sad's water utility of blaming citizens for water shortages while losing over 30% of its water through network leaks.
  • Water loss in Novi Sad's network has increased, with 31.6% lost in 2025 and 30.7% in 2024.
  • The movement calls on city officials to publicly disclose water production, demand, and a concrete plan to reduce losses.

The "Bravo" civic movement has criticized Novi Sad's public utility company "Vodovod i kanalizacija" (Waterworks and Sewerage), accusing it of shifting blame for water shortages onto citizens. The movement highlights that the utility loses over 30% of its produced water through its aging and poorly maintained network.

The "Bravo" movement accuses the Novi Sad "Vodovod i kanalizacija" of blaming citizens for water shortages, while simultaneously losing more than 30% of its produced water through its water supply network.

โ€” Beta (News Agency)Summary of the core accusation by the 'Bravo' movement

"Bravo" pointed out that "Vodovod i kanalizacija" blamed citizens for low water pressure, citing garden watering and high evening usage. However, the movement countered that water losses in Novi Sad's network were 31.6% in 2025 and 30.7% in 2024, indicating a growing problem. "Losses are not decreasing, they are increasing. For every 10 liters of produced water, three disappear into the ground before reaching any tap, 24 hours a day," the movement stated, emphasizing the need for constant network reconstruction rather than reactive repairs.

Losses are not decreasing, they are increasing. For every 10 liters of produced water, three disappear into the ground before reaching any tap, 24 hours a day, regardless of what anyone is doing between 6 PM and 10 PM.

โ€” Bravo movementDetailing the scale of water loss in Novi Sad's network

The movement argues that citizens are not at fault for the city's uncontrolled expansion, which is not matched by investments in the water network or new wells. They noted that the last new well was put into operation in 2003. "If one new well had been put into operation every five years since 2012, we would have reserves and a more resilient system today," "Bravo" stated, adding that old wells are losing capacity, necessitating regeneration which does not equate to building new water sources.

The network requires constant reconstruction, not patching when a pipe bursts.

โ€” Bravo movementCritique of the current maintenance approach for the water network

"Bravo" has called on Novi Sad Mayor ลฝarko Miฤ‡in and Vodovod Director Uroลก Lonฤar to publicly announce the city's current water production capacity, its real needs, and a detailed plan with deadlines and measurable indicators for reducing water losses. This demand underscores the movement's call for transparency and accountability in managing the city's water resources.

The last new well was put into operation in 2003. If one new well had been put into operation every five years since 2012, we would have reserves and a more resilient system today.

โ€” Bravo movementHighlighting the lack of investment in new water sources since 2003
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by N1 Serbia in Serbian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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