Kragujevac assures residents of year-long water supply amid summer heat

Residents of Kragujevac, Serbia, can rest assured about their water supply this summer. City officials and representatives from the "Vodovod i kanalizacija" (Water and Sewerage) public utility company have confirmed that water reserves are ample.

Reservoirs are currently well-stocked, with the Gruža accumulation at approximately 42% capacity and the Grošničko jezero (Vodojaža) at 80%. These levels are notably higher than last year. Furthermore, recently modernized "reni bunari" (infiltration wells) along the Morava river have dramatically boosted supply, increasing output from 35 liters per second to between 100 and 150 liters per second.

Goran Gavrilović, coordinator for production and distribution at "Vodovod i kanalizacija," emphasized the stability of water quality despite high temperatures. Advanced treatment technologies, including pre-ozonation, filtration, and disinfection, are employed. Water quality is continuously monitored at the plant every four hours and at 18 locations across the city by an accredited laboratory, with additional oversight from the Institute of Public Health.

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The quantities of water in the reservoirs are sufficient for stable supply to Kragujevac; restrictions are not planned. Average consumption in the summer period ranges from 660 to 700 liters per second, or about 55 million liters of water daily.

"The quantities of water in the reservoirs are sufficient for stable supply to Kragujevac; restrictions are not planned. Average consumption in the summer period ranges from 660 to 700 liters per second, or about 55 million liters of water daily," Gavrilović stated.

Investments in the Morava river system have been crucial. The reconstruction of the infiltration wells, costing around 100 million dinars, is expected to increase capacity further once all seven wells are renovated. Future plans include system improvements in Žirovnica and a project to redirect the Great Morava river closer to the wells to enhance their yield. The city also plans to connect to the regional "Rzav" system as a supplementary source, primarily to conserve reserves in Gružansko Lake, which remains the main source.

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Last year we were in a situation where we had reserves for about six months. Today, thanks to everything that has been done, the city has enough water for the next year, even if there were no new rainfall.