The FLOWS Program, in cooperation with the World Bank, has responded to a request from the Ministry of Economy to address in a structured and professional manner the issue of manganese presence in Lake Badovc, an important source of drinking water supply for the Pristina region.
As a first step in this process, international experts have been engaged, supported by local experts, with the aim of assessing the current situation, identifying the underlying causes, and developing short- and long-term technical solutions.
Institutional meetings and cross-sector coordination
The expert team began its mission with official meetings with the Deputy Minister of Economy and his staff, as well as representatives of Regional Water Company Prishtina (RWC Prishtina), where current concerns, technical challenges, and expectations from the process were discussed.
These meetings served as a basis for institutional coordination and for defining immediate priorities in addressing the issue.
Field visits and system assessment
Subsequently, together with the teams from RWC Prishtina, detailed field visits were carried out, starting at the Badovc Drinking Water Treatment Plant, and continuing with visits to:
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the Badovc dam,
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watercourses and inflows that supply Lake Badovc.
These visits enabled a practical assessment of the condition of the infrastructure, water treatment processes, and the natural and environmental factors affecting water quality.
Data exchange and cooperation with relevant institutions
The first phase of the mission concluded with technical working meetings and exchange of data and information with several key institutions, including:
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RWC Prishtina
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River Basin District Authority
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Environmental Protection Agency
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Hydrometeorological Institute
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National Institute of Public Health
This inter-institutional cooperation aims to ensure a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to addressing the issue.
Next steps
In the next phase, the process will be followed by additional meetings with:
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the Geological Survey,
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the Municipality of Pristina, regarding development plans within the Badovc catchment area,
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and other relevant institutions.
In March, the expert team’s report is expected, including:
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key findings,
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technical analyses,
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and concrete technical proposals to address the manganese issue in Lake Badovc.
This process represents an important step toward ensuring the sustainable quality of drinking water, protecting public health, and strengthening the long-term management of water resources.