Klekovski Gives No Timeline for Restoration of Drinking Water in Gostivar

Health Minister Sasho Klekovski declined to say when the water in Gostivar would be safe to drink again. He made the statement today in Shtip in response to a journalist’s question.

Earlier, Mickoski explained from Delchevo that the water in Gostivar remains unsafe to drink and is permitted only for technical use because bacteria had remained in the pipes.

Klekovski said the aim was to ensure the highest possible level of safety, which is why the results are being continuously monitored and samples are taken daily at several points on users’ premises. According to him, the water supply will be cleared for use once a larger number of samples are found to be safe, while tests must produce satisfactory results at three user sampling points.

“A single unsatisfactory test is enough for the process to require another three days. For that reason, it would be inappropriate for me to speculate about the number of days,” Klekovski said.

Following hyperchlorination, it was established that fecal bacteria had been completely eliminated from the network. However, as Mickoski had previously explained, due to the long period of disuse and the intensive cleaning of the pipes, a new residual bacterium has now appeared in them.