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Water safety and management dispute in North Macedonia

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2026-08-28 05:11 UTC → 2026-09-03 22:04 UTC · added ~~removed~~

A dispute has emerged in North Macedonia regarding drinking water safety and management authority. The public utility company NPK ‘Sharri’ issued warnings stating that water is unsafe in several settlements, including Poroj, Xhepçisht, Reçicë e Madhe, and Reçicë e Vogël. Following analyses by the Public Health Center indicating that water does not meet safety standards, drinking water consumption has been prohibited in these four villages. NPK Sharri clarified that while they do not manage the supply for these specific areas, they are responsible for monitoring and conducting analyses to protect public health. The utility noted that these networks are managed by local community structures and currently lack chlorification. Residents of Reçica e Madhe have rejected these warnings, labeling them as “propaganda” and an attempt by the municipality and NPK Sharri to seize control of a local water network built through private investment exceeding one million euros. Gajur Sinani, head of the Reçicë e Madhe local community, challenged the findings by drinking water on camera, stating the water is “as clean as a tear,” and questioned the exact locations where samples were taken. In Tetovo, the Democratic Union for Integration (BDI) has joined the dispute, demanding the immediate publication of full analyses from the Institute of Public Health to substantiate the utility company’s claims. BDI expressed concern that the lack of transparent data regarding microbiological parameters could be a tactic to pressure residents into the NPK ‘Sharri’ billing system, warning of potential legal action if the alarms are found to be unfounded. The Public Health Center has since confirmed that water in the four villages does not meet drinking standards. Specifically, in Xhepçisht, none of the three analyses conducted this year showed the water was potable.

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