Newly appointed executive director of Kolašinsk Water and Sewerage Milos Pekovic he said that even before coming to office he was aware of the challenges ahead, but that after his appointment he also encountered numerous internal problems of taking over.
In an interview with "Vijesta", he stated that he found "outdated or complete absence of regulations, acts and ordinances that call into question the entire functioning of the company". He says that he was met by poor internal organization and systematization of the company. He explains that, out of about thirty employees, there are only two physical workers and two plumbers in the technical department. Among the problems in the company, which have been "swept under the rug for years", says the director, are mismatched coefficients, calculation values of employees' wages, unstable finances...
For years, one of the biggest problems, especially during the summer, in Kolašin has been the irregular water supply of suburban settlements. How and in what way are you committed to solving that problem?
We targeted that problem as a primary goal that we must gradually solve. In order to find a solution to a problem, it is necessary to find the causes, and then start solving it. One of the most significant problems in the functioning of the Kolašina water supply system is the large losses in the network and the irrational consumption of water. Also, in the city water supply system there are no flow meters installed at the source, in the distribution network there is no equipment or devices installed that could provide data on relevant parameters, such as flow and pressure by zones, water level in the reservoir. A small number of connections are equipped with water meters. Although the problems have accumulated, we started to solve them gradually.
What are all the projects involved in solving those problems? How far have they come in their implementation?
The main hydrotechnical infrastructure project was completed in the area of the Smailigaća polje and Centar DUPs - part of Boška Rašovića Street. The reconstruction of the existing water supply network and the construction of new distribution and connection pipelines were also processed. The project also includes the construction of connections to the city water supply for all existing and planned buildings on urban plots located along Boška Rašovića Street or gravitating towards it. I would like to mention the main hydrotechnical infrastructure project along Boško Rašovića Street and part of Milivoja Bulatovića Street, which dealt with the relocation of the existing supply pipeline, which feeds the reservoirs in Dulovine, from plots of land that are privately owned. The project includes the construction of new distribution and connection pipelines, as well as the construction of connections to the city's water supply system.
What are all the works planned as part of the main projects of intervention measures to repair defects and deficiencies in the primary water infrastructure of the Kolašin water supply system?
That project implies the inclusion in the water supply system of the so-called new reservoir for the I (lower) altitude zone. Then, repairs and replacement of defective fasteners and fittings in seven plumbing nodes. By including the new tank in the system, the volume of the tank space will increase from the current 800 to 3.800 cubic meters. Both reservoirs will function as storage tanks. In this way, in addition to increasing the volume of the water reserve, better and easier regulation of uneven consumption during the day and maintenance of pressure in the distribution network will be enabled. The time during which consumers will have water will also be extended in the event of an interruption in the flow of water from the source to the reservoir. Repairing defects and replacing defective fasteners and shaped pieces in the existing shafts will eliminate part of the losses, reduce the pressure drop in certain parts of the system.
How do you plan to reduce irrational water consumption?
We will install 400 water meters at the connections in order to initially reduce, and in the following period, completely eliminate irrational water consumption. It is also planned to install control measuring instruments in certain parts of the city, in order to better monitor the flow and pressure of water in zones. I appeal to my fellow citizens to report visible faults in the water supply network so that our technical service can remove them in a timely manner and in this way reduce significant losses in the system.
For decades, Kolašin has lacked environmentally friendly wastewater treatment. What is planned to change that situation?
The construction of the projects that I have mentioned does not only include the water infrastructure network system, but also the solution of fecal and atmospheric sewage problems is foreseen. Along the side street that connects the streets of Boško Rašović and Milivoj Bulatović, where there are no existing installations, the construction of new fecal and atmospheric sewage collectors is planned. The projects also include the construction of connections to the city's sewage system for all existing and planned facilities on urban plots located along those streets. The implementation of these two projects will largely solve the problem of collecting and draining storm water, while the construction of new fecal sewage collectors will eliminate the use of septic tanks.
What has been done so far when it comes to the waste water treatment plant (WTP) and the construction of new kilometers of sewage network?
Last year, the preliminary project was done when it comes to the WWTP, and when it comes to the sewage network project, the main project was done. The project envisages the construction of 22 kilometers of sewage network and WWTP for 7.000 ES (equivalent to the number of inhabitants). It is ungrateful to predict when the implementation of the project will begin, because other municipalities in the north are covered by that project, but I hope that the implementation will begin next year.
Hotels are being built without water supply and sewerage
Immediately after arriving at the position of Director of Water and Sewerage, you encountered a large number of criticisms from locals, "professionals" and environmental activists regarding the water supply and snowmaking project of the mountain center on Bjelasica. What is your attitude about that job that you "inherited" from the previous management of the company?
I believe that this project was hidden from the public eye from the very beginning. If there was more transparency, there would be less resistance now. It is not only important for the city of Kolašin, but is also a project of national interest. In order to try to find a compromise, I am at the head of a working group that includes representatives of the Municipality, residents, the Ministry of Economic Development, the Directorate of Public Works, ski resorts... I will advocate for the city to provide additional amounts of water in a period that has been problematic for many years. It is irrational to stop the construction of hotel complexes at the ski centers 1450 and 1600 at this moment, although I believe that steps have been skipped and that the water and sewage infrastructure should have been built first, and only then start building the hotel. The entire future development of Kolašin depends on the snowmaking project of the ski centers, but while I am in the position of executive director, I will deal exclusively with the interests of companies and citizens. I will not allow the realization of any project to endanger those interests or create a burden on the account of consumers, but try to find solutions so that this does not happen.
Bonus video:
