Heavy rainfall has been announced in Podgorica since today, which could once again cause the water to become cloudy at the Mareza water source, which supplies 60 percent of households in the capital.
According to the company "Vodovod i Kanalizacija" from Podgorica, that water source is on a specific terrain, which is why it becomes cloudy, and sometimes the water is not drinkable even after boiling.
The solution would be to build a water purification plant, but, as the director of Podgorica's "Vodovoda" explains Aleksandar Nišavić, it is not the best solution.
According to him, there are only a small number of days a year when water sources become cloudy, which is why "built-up construction is not the optimal solution".
Nišavić specified that the Mareza pumping station is cloudy approximately 10 days a year, and that the plant would have to work throughout the year.
"This, from the technical side, does not represent an optimal solution", he stressed.
When asked how households can be helped during such days, Nišavić states that Podgorica's "Vodovod" will make an effort to prepare drinking water tanks at specific locations in the city.
"As we stated in the previous address, it is an average of up to 10 days during the year, which, you will agree, is not too long a period. In addition, mostly only the turbidity parameter is concerned, while the other microbiological parameters are within the permitted limits, so it is possible to use tap water in addition to boiling it in this period as well. Nevertheless, we will try our best to find a solution even in these days, by providing drinking water tanks at specific locations or in some other available way at a given moment", he stressed.
The Institute for Hydrometeorology and Seismology (ZHMS) announced that during the week, citizens can expect "real autumn", with frequent rain, showers and thunderstorms.
"In some places in the southern and central regions, 150 to 200 liters per square meter can fall. A little precipitation is also possible for the weekend, especially on Saturday morning," the press release published on the ZHMS website points out.
Nišavić told "Vijesta" that "Vodovod" and citizens who are supplied with water from Mareza are facing difficulties that arise after a long dry period.
"Also, we would not use the term 'very critical', but we would describe the Marez water source as problematic. The specific nature of the water source, which is located on karst terrain, is responsible for the appearance of turbidity. After heavy rainfall, there is an increased inflow of water, which causes turbidity due to the presence of small clay particles," Nišavić said.
He explained that this phenomenon occurs several times a year and lasts up to several days.
"Depending on the amount and intensity of rainfall. 'Vodovod' takes several measures to solve the problem of water turbidity. "The accredited laboratory, within the 'Waterworks', conducts intensive water quality control during heavy rainfall, paying special attention to the turbidity parameter and performing complete basic analyzes to determine whether the water is safe to drink," Nišavić said.
According to him, the turbidity of the water at the Mareza pumping station is "continuously measured by on-site employees".
"While the laboratory additionally monitors the turbidity in several locations in the city areas that are supplied with water from this water source," Nišavić said.
If it is determined that the turbidity of the water is above the permitted limit, he said, citizens are immediately informed that it is not suitable for drinking.
"And they are advised to use alternative sources of water. Also, the Sanitary Inspection and the Institute of Public Health (IZJ) are being informed about the situation in order to take additional measures," he said.
They also control the other pumping stations, but there are no problems with them
Apart from the Mareza water source, other pumping stations in the city, Nišavić points out, are of the well type. These are pumping stations in Zagorič, Ćemovsko polje and Dinoša.
As he told "Vijesti", these water sources are not affected by problems.
"Nevertheless, the water from all these pumping stations is checked daily. In the parts of Podgorica that are supplied from well systems, so far, we have not recorded increased turbidity, which means that the water remains suitable for use, even during the most intense rainfall," Nišavić concluded.
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