The Water Supply System Of CS Is One Of The Most Complex In The Region – Sarajevo Times

Report on Water Supply Network Reconstruction in Canton Sarajevo and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Project Overview and Strategic Objectives

A major infrastructure project to reconstruct and optimize the water supply network in Canton Sarajevo (CS) is entering its final phase. This initiative is designed to address the challenges of an outdated system and high water losses, directly contributing to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The project will connect approximately 4,000 households across six municipalities to a renewed, more efficient water supply system.

• Primary Goal: To enhance public infrastructure and ensure reliable access to safe drinking water, a fundamental component of public health and sustainable urban development.
• Key Challenge: The existing network suffers from significant water losses, estimated at 63-64%, and numerous illegal connections, which undermine the system’s efficiency and sustainability.
• Scope: The reconstruction covers approximately 60 kilometers of the water supply network out of an estimated 800 kilometers that require modernization.

Financial Framework and Partnership for the Goals (SDG 17)

The project exemplifies a multi-stakeholder partnership (SDG 17) by combining international financing with local governance. The collaboration involves the European Union (EU), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the Government of Canton Sarajevo, and the Cantonal Public Utility Company Water Supply and Sewerage Sarajevo.

• EU Grant: A total of €3.8 million in grant funds from the European Union.
• EBRD Loan: A €25 million loan provided by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

The financing is structured in three tranches to ensure phased implementation and monitoring:

1. First Tranche: €10 million (completed).
2. Second Tranche: €10 million (completed).
3. Third Tranche: €5 million (ready for implementation).

Contribution to SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

The project is fundamentally aligned with SDG 6, which aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. By modernizing the water network, the initiative directly addresses key targets of this goal.

• Improved Access: The project will provide thousands of households with a more reliable and safer water supply.
• Reduced Water Loss: Replacing 60 kilometers of outdated pipes is a critical step toward reducing the current water loss rate of 63-64%, promoting the efficient use of water resources.
• Sustainable Management: The project includes measures to eliminate illegal connections and install individual water meters, which supports better water management and accountability.

Impact on SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

This investment is a strategic step toward making Sarajevo a more resilient and sustainable city, in line with SDG 11. The project is an integral part of the EBRD’s ‘Green Cities’ initiative and the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans.

• Upgrading Urban Infrastructure: The renewal of the water supply network is a critical upgrade to essential public services.
• Promoting Resource Efficiency: By reducing water and energy waste, the project contributes to more efficient use of resources within the urban environment.
• Enhancing Resilience: A modernized water system is more resilient to the impacts of climate change, contributing to the long-term stability of the community.

Advancements in SDG 7 and SDG 13: Energy Efficiency and Climate Action

The project yields significant co-benefits related to energy and climate, directly supporting SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

• Increased Energy Efficiency: Optimization of pumping stations and the overall water supply system will reduce the energy required for water distribution.
• Reduced CO2 Emissions: Lower energy consumption directly translates to a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, mitigating the project’s environmental footprint.
• Climate Resilience: The initiative promotes resilience to climate change by creating a more robust and efficient water management system.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The core of the article is about reconstructing the water supply network in Sarajevo to provide reliable access to safe drinking water and reduce water losses.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: The project focuses on the reconstruction, optimization, and upgrading of critical public infrastructure—the outdated water supply network—to make it more resilient and sustainable.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The initiative is part of the EBRD’s ‘Green Cities’ program, aiming to improve basic services (water supply) and public infrastructure in an urban area (Sarajevo), making the city more sustainable and resilient.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The article explicitly mentions that the project contributes to the “Green Agenda for the Western Balkans,” promotes “resilience to climate change,” and aims for a “reduction of… CO2 emissions.”
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The project is a clear example of a multi-stakeholder partnership, involving the Government of Canton Sarajevo, the European Union (EU), and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) through a combination of loans and grants.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all. The article states that “around 4,000 households in the Canton Sarajevo (CS) area will soon be connected to the renewed water supply system” and that “reliable access to safe drinking water is a key element of public health.”
   • Target 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors. The project’s goal to reduce network losses from “around 63-64 percent” by reconstructing the outdated network directly addresses water-use efficiency.
   • Target 6.a: By 2030, expand international cooperation and capacity-building support to developing countries in water- and sanitation-related activities. The project is funded and supported by international partners, the EU and the EBRD, to improve water supply services.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure. The entire project is about the “reconstruction and optimization of the outdated water supply network” to create a more stable and reliable system for the citizens of Sarajevo.
   • Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure… with increased resource-use efficiency. The article highlights that key benefits include “increase of energy efficiency, reduction of water… losses, and optimization of the operation of pumping stations,” which constitutes an upgrade for resource efficiency.
3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services. The project directly improves a basic service—water supply—for the urban population of Sarajevo.
4. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. The article mentions the project “contributes to the goals of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, promoting efficient use of resources and resilience to climate change,” showing an integration of climate goals into infrastructure planning.
5. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • Target 17.3: Mobilize additional financial resources for developing countries from multiple sources. The project is financed through a combination of an “EBRD loan of 25 million euros” and an “EU grant… of 3.8 million euros,” demonstrating mobilization from multiple international sources.
   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The project is described as a “joint project of the Government of the CS and Water Supply and Sewerage,” implemented with the support of the EU and EBRD, showcasing an effective public-international partnership.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Percentage of water losses: The article explicitly states that “current losses in the network are around 63-64 percent” and that the project expects a “further reduction of losses.” This is a direct indicator for measuring water-use efficiency (Target 6.4).
• Length of reconstructed network: The text specifies that “about 60 kilometers of the water supply network will be replaced.” This serves as an output indicator for infrastructure development (Target 9.1).
• Number of households connected: The article mentions that “around 4,000 households… will soon be connected to the renewed water supply system,” which is a clear indicator for measuring access to basic services (Target 6.1 and 11.1).
• Financial investment amounts: The specific figures of the “EU grant… of 3.8 million euros” and the “EBRD loan of 25 million euros” are indicators of the financial resources mobilized for the project (Target 17.3).
• Reduction in CO2 emissions: The article states that a key benefit of the project is the “reduction of… CO2 emissions.” While no specific value is given, it is an implied indicator for climate action (Target 13.2).
• Increase in energy efficiency: The project’s benefits include an “increase of energy efficiency” and “optimization of the operation of pumping stations.” This is an implied indicator for resource-use efficiency (Target 9.4).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: sarajevotimes.com