LocationsWater connection solves key issues for farmer Marko Danjko and residents of Jablan near Laktaši
August 27, 2024
Biljana Bujić i njen sin Ljubiša
Farmer Marko Danjko’s workday in the village of Jablan near Laktaši starts earlier and lasts longer than it should. Before he can begin any tasks, he has to haul water for his 20 cattle, 30 sheep, and household. The residents of Jablan have struggled with water supply issues for years, relying on wells and reservoirs, but during the summer months and drought periods, water is often scarce, which particularly affects those involved in agriculture and livestock farming
"We need one and a half cubic meters of water daily for the livestock and household. Every day, I haul water, and it's a huge problem—those who haven't faced it have no idea what it's like. It's fundamental: air and water. I don't know if anything is more essential than that," Marko explains, noting that the water issues make him less competitive compared to other farmers and bring losses and additional costs:
Marko Danjko
"I’m losing milk production because when the cows don’t get water regularly, they don’t produce enough milk. Then I lose time—there’s hay to mow, bale, grain to tend to, but I spend three hours a day just hauling water and watering the livestock. I wake up and the first issue is no water, but the animals are thirsty. I even wear out tractor tires hauling water—over three seasons, I’ve gone through tires, especially when we had to drive all the way to Trn. Now, we’ve got a hydrant about a kilometer away, which makes it a bit easier. I’ve invested in automatic waterers for the cows, all the installations, and in the end, there’s no water. The cows get thirsty, break the waterer, and each one costs 100 marks."Marko Danjko
He adds that the water situation is becoming increasingly frustrating for him.
We’re half an hour from the EU – yet we don’t have water.
“"In the 21st century, to be without water, especially so close to Banja Luka, near Laktaši, and just a half-hour drive from the border with Croatia, which is in the European Union—it’s hard to believe. If I didn’t love doing this so much, there’s no way I would endure all this hardship. Of course, I’m not complaining; that’s life. I get up around five, work all day, often in the heat, sometimes until midnight, gathering hay, and then when I come home, I have no way to bathe. I fetch water with a bucket and heat it on the stove."
Marko, 27, lives on the farm with his wife Sanda, who assists with everything, including caring for their baby and managing the household. His family also includes his parents, brother, and grandparents. Despite his deep love for his farm and home, he has occasionally thought about leaving Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, the news that he will soon be able to connect to the water supply network has given him hope. The city of Laktaši and the utility company “Budućnost” built a new network for Jablan through the Municipal Environmental Governance Project (MEG2), which is jointly funded by Sweden, the Swiss Government, the Czech Republic, and the European Union, and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Municipality of Laktaši is one of the eight partner local self-government units that have made the greatest progress in the field of good governance and environmental protection, earning the right to financial support for the realization of their environmental infrastructure projects.
“The water will make a huge difference for us; it will be a real game-changer and a lifesaver. When I visit people who have all the amenities and a reliable water supply, they seem to have so much less to worry about. As soon as the connection becomes available, I’ll be one of the first to get it,” says Marko. His wife Sanda, who has been living there for five years, is also excited about the new water connection:
Sanda Danjko
“Life in the village is nice, but the huge problem is the irregular water supply. I’m looking forward to the upcoming connection; it’s tough without water. We have to haul water for the house, for bathing, washing dishes, cooking, and on top of that, we need to water all the livestock. Once we have a steady water supply and can focus on all our tasks without first having to figure out how to get water, it will be wonderful.”Sanda Danjko
I want a life like everyone else in the developed world
Biljana Bujić and her son Ljubiša are also looking forward to the upcoming water connection. We found them filling an empty well with water carried from a location three kilometers away, using buckets and canisters.
“There’s water in the well when it’s not dry, but now we have to struggle and make do as best we can. The well water isn’t safe to drink; the pump can only supply the lower floor, where we can wash laundry in the machine and use the kitchen water for dishes. For drinking water, I either buy it or bring clean water from wherever I can get it. In the heat, besides replenishing the well, we have no other option,” says Biljana, adding that she is excited and eagerly waiting for the opportunity to connect to the city water supply.:
"I've been living here for almost four years, and every year it's the same with the water. Otherwise, it's not bad here, but the water issue is a problem. As soon as the connection is made to the main line, we'll hook up right away. I can't wait for that moment! I just want to have water and live normally like everyone else in this civilized world."
Sanda i Marko Danjko
Biljana Bujić i njen sin Ljubiša
Water access helps reduce youth emigration
Saša Jurišić, a long-time resident of Jablan for over 30 years and a councilor in the City Assembly of Laktaši, says that the implementation of this project has finally resolved the long-standing issue of water supply in this area.
"The water utility often helped us by sending water tankers during dry periods, which was particularly significant for residents in the rural part of the area who keep livestock and need large amounts of water daily. People had private wells and tanks where they brought water, but with the increase in households, the capacities were reduced. Combined with decreased pressure, high consumption, and climate change, this led to growing problems. This issue has now been resolved, obstacles have been removed, and all households have access to the water supply network."
He points out that with this and similar infrastructure projects, the quality of life in this area, which has a very favorable geographic location, is being improved:
Saša Jurišić
"The emigration of young people is decreasing, which I am particularly pleased about, and this makes Jablan an attractive place to live with a constant influx of residents. None of this would have been possible to this extent if the City Administration had not been pursuing a responsible social policy and always recognizing our problems. The citizens of Jablan, as one of the pressing issues, delegated the water supply problem. I presented it officially in the Assembly, after which things are analyzed on the ground, the real needs of the population are assessed, and solutions are sought accordingly. One of these solutions was applying for the MEG project, and to the satisfaction of Jablan’s residents, through this project, we have achieved a water supply across the entire area."Saša Jurišić
Improving Quality of Life
Dragan Kelečević, Director of the Public Utility Company 'Budućnost' Laktaši, also believes that the activation of this water supply system will contribute to improving the quality of life for residents in the Jablan area."
"At the end of last year, with the support of MEG, the project for the construction of the first phase of the distribution pipeline in the Jablan settlement was completed in the City of Laktaši. Jablan is the largest settlement in Laktaši that had not been covered by the public water supply network until now. The City Administration prioritized this project and began the construction of a pipeline approximately four kilometers long. This first phase was financed with the help of this project and own funds. Currently, the city is completing the second phase with the assistance of the EIB and its own funds, extending another nine kilometers of transport-distribution pipeline. Together with the first and second phases, we will create the conditions to supply around 250 households that were not connected to the public water supply network and to provide quality water delivery to about 50 households that have not had proper supply from the Banja Luka water network.".
Besides the infrastructure aspect, Kelečević also emphasizes the importance of the MEG project for improving the operations of this public utility company:
"The component related to strengthening the company's capacity is already being actively implemented. Through the project, we have gained new experiences, knowledge, perspectives, and specific analyses and critical reviews from consultants aimed at improving the operational and functional capabilities of the company. We had already begun the reform and improvement of the company, and the MEG project has helped us accelerate this process. The company has been operating positively for the past seven years and regularly meets its obligations, and the technical support we received through the MEG project has allowed us to enhance the quality of the services we provide to our citizens, improve the billing system, and communication with consumers to enable more efficient and cost-effective functioning of the company.Dragan Kelečević
Dragan Kelečević
Saša Popović
Non-Refundable Financial Support
Saša Popović, President of the City Assembly, says that over the past few years, the City of Laktaši, the City Administration, and the Public Utility Company 'Budućnost' have seriously tackled the issue of water supply in areas that had not yet been resolved.
"First, the area of Glamočani, which was not adequately supplied with water, was addressed. Now, together with UNDP through the MEG2 project, we have resolved part of Jablan, and we are currently working on the remaining part of the settlement. This completes the process for the Trn Local Community. We understand what it means for residents when they do not have stable, high-quality, and continuous access to drinking water, especially during the summer period," he says, also emphasizing the importance of support in the areas of service improvement and transparency in public administration.
"When we as a City got involved in the MEG project, we were pointed out some shortcomings. We took action to address these issues during the project, which was recognized and evaluated, leading to this non-refundable financial support. Through the MEG project, we have received significant support so far, and we expect that this collaboration will continue in the future."
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