The DRI audit showed that the reduction of water losses was not effective

To public water systems in Serbia lost water to an acceptable level and reached the goal of 25 percent by 2034, water companies should establish a comprehensive planning framework and improve efficiency reductions in real and apparent water losses, the Report on Auditing Business Expediency showed "Water losses in the water supply network".

In the audit conducted by the State Audit Institution, it was determined that the comprehensive planning framework for reducing water losses is not fully defined, because the water supply companies have not established strategic planning, and the planning of activities on an annual level does not ensure continuity for the long-term reduction of water losses.

"The analysis of the structure of losses and organizational responsibility have only been partially implemented," SAI announced.

They conducted an audit of JP "Standard Jagodina", JKP "Vodovod" Zaječar and JKP "Vodovod" Smederevo, in which the uninvoiced part of water in the previous three years was more than 50 percent,

SAI determined that the annual goals for reducing water losses were too general or that initial and target values ​​were not determined for them, as well as sources of verification.

"The audit showed that due to inadequate information management, lack of active access and lack of priority planning for the maintenance of existing water systems, the reduction of actual water losses was not effective enough," the statement reads.

"Serbia has enough water"

An active approach to reducing water losses is applied by only one out of three audited water utilities.

State auditors also found that the activities undertaken to reduce apparent (commercial) water losses were not effective enough, because a more effective system for detecting illegal consumption and reliable measurement of water supplied to users was not established.

"Reliable measurement of water supplied to users has not been sufficiently established, because there is a high percentage of water meters that have not been certified within the legal term. Activities to detect illegal consumption need to be improved in two out of three water supply companies," it is stated.

SAI concludes that Serbia has sufficient amounts of water to meet its needs, but only if it uses it rationally and protects it from pollution. Water supply and further development of the public water supply system is a priority in the water sector.