Improved living conditions for Cerovac village near Trebinje, and water supply access for neighboring Ivanica residents

November 7, 2024

a man walking down a dirt road — Photo: Adnan Bubalo

With the construction of the Taleža-Ivanica main water pipeline, the longstanding water supply issue for residents of Cerovac near Trebinje has been resolved. Water losses in the system have been reduced, which, along with fewer repairs, greatly eases the workload for the local water utility company. This project also opens up the possibility for Ivanica, in the neighboring municipality of Ravno, to connect to the pipeline.

Major water loss issue resolved

The construction of the water supply system was funded through the Municipal Environmental Governance Project (MEG2), jointly financed by Sweden, the Swiss Government, the Government of the Czech Republic, and the European Union, and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“We have completed an extremely important project that has enabled residents of Cerovac, who faced numerous issues due to old pipes and significant water losses along this section, to now have a stable water supply. A 4.2-kilometer reconstruction was done, reducing losses and providing much better pressure,” says Spasoje Radović, Head of Municipal and Inspection Affairs in the City of Trebinje, explaining that with the reconstruction of the water supply network, losses will be reduced and, by replacing water meters, revenues will increase.

a man sitting at a table — Spasoje Radović

Photo: Adnan Bubalo

“The losses on this section were critical, reaching up to 80%. The project also brought another infrastructure improvement, which is the paving of the road along the water pipeline route. We used our own funds to pave approximately 600 meters of new asphalt, which is also important for the residents of Cerovac.”

Spasoje Radović, Head of Municipal and Inspection Affairs in the City of Trebinje

We all supervised the work, and we are satisfied

Risto Bašić, a resident of Cerovac, rebuilt his old family house after the war, which had been destroyed, and says he is satisfied with how the long-standing water supply issue in the village has finally been resolved:

“Back in 1976, when the railway was discontinued, the road to Cerovac was paved, and a lower-capacity pipeline was installed, which remained in place until recently. The village had water supply, but the network was outdated, and there were frequent interventions,” says Risto Bašić.

a man looking at the camera — Risto Bašić

Photo: Adnan Bubalo

"During the last reconstruction, the main pipeline was simultaneously installed along with the reconstruction of the water supply system in the village, as well as the complete repaving of the village roads. It was a significant undertaking, and it meant a lot to us. Since we were particularly interested, we all acted as oversight authorities, carefully monitoring the work, and it seems to us that everything was excellently done to our great satisfaction. As for the water, the pressure is exceptionally good, and the village now has all the conditions for a good quality of life. People who have lived abroad are already announcing their return or have already started repairing their houses."

Risto Bašić, a resident of Cerovac

Retired Vasilije Godić, who lives in the village with his wife Dragica, is also satisfied with the reconstruction:

a person sitting on a wooden bench in front of a building — Vasilije Godić

Photo: Adnan Bubalo

"There used to be water, but when a pipe broke, it would disappear, and we wouldn't have water until the repair was done. The pressure is much better now, we don't have any problems with that, it's stable, and the water doesn't run out; it's always there at the tap. It was also difficult to get to the village before, the road was bad, but now they’ve fixed the asphalt, so it’s easier for people to visit us, and it’s easier for us to go to Trebinje when we need something."

Vasilije Godić

Water supply extended to the Municipality of Ravno in FBiH

In addition to the benefits for the residents of Cerovac, as part of the City of Trebinje, Spasoje Radović emphasizes the importance of the project for the neighboring Municipality of Ravno in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina:

“The possibility has also been opened for the village of Ivanica, which has had a long-standing problem and a large number of tourists, along with an expansion in construction, to receive a drinking water system in the near future. The cooperation agreement has been signed, and now it’s up to them to carry out their procedures and, when ready, connect to the drinking water system of the City of Trebinje. This will increase property value, improve the living standards of residents, and enhance conditions for the tourists who visit.”

He adds that MEG has initiated many activities in the country, especially in terms of organizing both municipal administration and public utility companies:

“The financial impact of the project is important, of course, everyone wants to achieve the best result and secure non-repayable funds, but what is much more important is that the water supply system is managed properly, and especially maintained.”

The Era of Water

The Acting Director of the Public Utility Company "Vodovod" Trebinje, Miodrag Batinić, says that the MEG project is a good example of how, with financial support and strategic prioritization, the water supply system can be improved and brought into full working condition:

“They say that this will be the century of water, and for water utility companies, this will mean a century of reducing network losses. The story related to the MEG project and the investment by the City is very important for us in terms of reducing losses in the network. People in the village of Cerovac have always had issues with reliable supply due to network failures, so we have now eliminated this problem and significantly freed up our resources that were regularly needed for repairs. We also used some of our own capacities, outside of the project, to install a distribution network in the village for residents who live there permanently or temporarily.”

Miodrag Batinić, Acting Director of the Public Utility Company "Vodovod" Trebinje

"The capacity of the spring is 800 liters per second, with a maximum daily consumption of up to 300 liters, and it can supply two and a half Trebinje. We can sell water and expand our network. The project also brings a new perspective for Vodovod Trebinje, as well as for the people living in the area from the border of the City of Trebinje towards the Municipality of Ravno in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, through the war-affected villages and the local community of Ivanica. In addition to selling water for our company, this will be significant for the supply and sustainability of life in that area. Together with our founder, the City of Trebinje, we have been slowly expanding the water supply network for some time, but this would be the first case of water reaching a municipality in another entity."

Development of tourism and agricultural potential

The MEG project coordinator for the City of Trebinje, Jelena Kulušić, says that the infrastructure project of building the Taleža-Ivanica main water supply line is rooted in the city's development strategy, as it represents an improvement in social development through the construction of infrastructure that provides the population with better and higher-quality living conditions:

"By expanding infrastructure towards rural areas where several villages are located and constructing a modern reservoir, pump station, and pipeline, we have achieved what we set out in the Strategy and what we promised to the citizens. The development of capacities, both for the City Administration and the water utility company, in terms of managing the water supply infrastructure, is undoubtedly the greatest impact of this project. The actual implementation of the project on the ground helps improve the visibility of the changes we are now initiating and successfully implementing," she says, adding that the project also has a positive impact on other aspects of life.

a woman standing in front of a building — Jelena Kulušić

Photo: Adnan Bubalo

"Besides the impact on the population in terms of quality of life through reliable water supply, we have opened up opportunities to achieve other goals from the Development Strategy, in terms of developing tourism and agricultural potential along that route, as well as the economy in general. Whatever you imagine doing in that area, it's difficult without a reliable water supply. I believe we have completed an important area, and this project will be multiplied through additional benefits."

Jelena Kulušić, MEG project coordinator for the City of Trebinje

Project contributes to the expansion of Trebinje

The Mayor of Trebinje, Mirko Ćurić, confirms that the project has fulfilled some of the goals of the city's Strategy, as well as the Tourism Development Strategy:

"The potential of Trebinje is to expand in all directions. Our long-term goal is that it’s not just the city center of Trebinje, but also rural areas that should receive what they deserve to allow the city to grow. That’s why it’s important that, through the implementation of this project, we’ve contributed to the expansion of the city into that rural area, ensuring they have the infrastructure they need. Around 500 people live in that area, but during the season, there are many more as people come for vacations, tourists arrive, and they all want to have water, which is only natural," says Mirko Ćurić, emphasizing that the value of land and real estate in the area has significantly increased:

"A large number of people who were previously considering returning will now find it easier to make that decision. As a responsible local community, we have invested additional funds to improve and asphalt the area, bringing it to a better condition than before, and the comments from our fellow citizens are very positive. Back in 2019, we created a Tourism Development Strategy, and we are striving to continue moving in that direction. The village of Cerovac, in particular, has the potential for the development of an ethno-village and opportunities for rural tourism, which is one of the goals of that Strategy."

Organised as a team, not a disjointed orchestra

Mayor Ćurić also emphasizes that the project is unique in that it is located between the entities of the Republika Srpska and the Federation of BiH:

"The City of Trebinje and the Municipality of Ravno have signed a cooperation agreement, they are now working on their part, we are working on ours, and in fact, everyone benefits. Especially the people living in the area of Ivanica, which is an attractive tourist settlement with a large number of returnees, so I believe this project is unique and deserves great attention," he says, adding that the significance of the project, besides the infrastructure aspect, also lies in the improvement of the organization and quality of services."

"The project was very significant to us, not only because of the financial benefits and grants but also because it allowed us, as an organization, to assess what our priorities are, to organize ourselves in the best possible way, and to operate as a team rather than like a disorganized orchestra. Through projects like this, you realize what’s missing and what needs to be done. Our work did not end with the completion of the project; we are moving forward. A large number of people from other areas have contacted us in the meantime because they want something similar in their communities, and this is a project that continues to live."

Mirko Ćurić, Mayor of Trebinje