On 17^th of January 2013, Municipality of Hani i Elezit / Elez Han in cooperation with UN- Habitat's Municipal Spatial Planning Support Programme (MuSPP), organized a public meeting to present the recommendations and action plan proposed in the feasibility study for improving water supply service in the city. Water supply is essential for wellbeing of citizens and the situation in Hani i Elezit / Elez Han needed a comprehensive and thorough study in order to have a clear way forward in improving of service. The feasibility study started with the assessment of needs of this municipality for water and the review of the existing supply network and water sources. The purpose of the public meeting was to present its findings and inform the participants in the meeting of porposed actions to remedy the situation.

The meeting was opened by Deputy Mayor of Hani i Elezit / Elez Han,Mr. Muzafer Dernjani, by complimenting all participants for being part of the meeting and appreciating the support given by MuSPP. He invited all of the participants to be  active in the discussion and implementation of proposed actions. He also assured those present that the municipal administration is doing their best in addressing these problems but certainly issues, in order to offer effective solutions, require the support of citizens.  

CTA of UN-Habitat Office in Kosovo, Ms. Krystyna Galezia, stressed her appreciation for the work done to deliver the study and congratulated the municipality for their strong engagement in the project. She finally stated that water supply is one of essential needs and expressed hope that the recommendation of the study and proposed Action Plan will be an important step forward to improve water supply in Hani i Elezit/Elez Han.

The moderator proceeded by shortly describing the purpose of the project. The feasibility study was to  asses all the information regarding the present water network (transmission and distribution line); all the records for the improvement done till now; and finally to address findings as well as make the recommendations and propose activities in order to improve water supply service in the city. As a result, the GIS database created during the project will serve as a living archive for keeping the records by the future managerial authority that will deal with water supply in Hani i Elezit / Elez Han.

The water expert, Mr. Gunnar Settergren,  made a thorough presentation on the water supply situation in HiE. He presented a complex situation of water supply system including managerial aspects, problems in transmission line, reservoirs, pre-treatment, water treatment plant and distribution network. Based on the findings he made recommendations and action plan with rough cost estimation for each activity. In the end he invited all participants to discussion about the issues mentioned.

Representative from Regulatory Office for Water and Sanitation (ROWS) expressed their view of the situation and mentioned all the administrative steps that their office has undertaken in order to integrate Hani i Elezit / Elez Han water supply management under the authority of Regional Water Company (RWC) in the future.

Several citizens addressed the issues of poor construction works when the pipeline had been installed as well as during interventions in the network. One person specifically mentioned that problem causes should be identified and unprofessional work should not be formally accepted. Participants in the meeting  mentioned also water loss, water misuse, the importance of determination on the part of municipal authorities to address acute problems as well as to pursue the search for additional sources of natural water because they are cheaper to be treated.

Deputy Mayor in the end reconfirmed the commitment of municipal authorities to ensure that citizens have regular access to water. "Although according to the legislation in force, municipal authorities are not responsible for the technical aspect of water supply, the authorities are doing their best to improve the situation. The fact of drafting this study and having this meeting shows our serious approach toward the issue. But we need the support of citizens in implementing recommended actions and we count on your participation in implementing them", he said.   

(Pictures below are from the previous meeting about water  study held on October 2012)