Albanian Government Council of Ministers

Prime Minister Edi Rama held a meeting with directors of the Water Supply Department in Fier to discuss the water reform. Being one of the best performance directorates to implement this reform within a two months period water supply losses have decreased to 2.5% as well as around 2050 water meters have been established. “We have acted intensively in placing water meters. We are organized in teams and within a two months period is reported that around 2050 water meters are placed. Water supply losses decreased to 2.5% during the two months period. Electric power consumption in the company is also reduced to 5%. In total, only in December costs in the water supply department are covered to 100%, for the first time,” reports the director of the water supply directorate in Fier.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Edi Rama requested this month to be more intensive in the context of communication in order to encourage citizens or businesses to make their illegal water links lawful as the 1st of February marks the beginning of a process where any unlawful water links will be punished pursuant to the law.

“Communication is absolutely pivotal during this month, since, as we have stated clearly on 1 February “the time of peace” ends, in the sense of the opportunities offered to every consumer who is benefiting from illegal water linkages to become lawful free of charge and have no obligations towards the water supply authority, to afterwards begin the penalty process according to the law. It is extremely important that all public officials, all those paid by the taxpayers, both at central level and at local level, is made clear to submit the water utility bill. We will act similarly towards businesses, however, the most significant is to make obvious to businesses that they will not be pardoned and there will be severe sanctions on water thefts. It is businesses that cause the largest damage. Businesses that declare are supplied through wells when in fact have established illegal water links. There is no greater shame. It is a crime and as it occurs to any crime it should be punished. It is understandable that the village remains the biggest challenge. Where drinking water is utilized to hose, which in itself is scandalous, but an intensive campaign is needed this communication month, to explain and tell that this cannot be tolerated any longer and to such a reason it is in everyone’s best interest to make water links legal. Everything is undertaken in order to have less expenses to compensate losses and to perform more investments. More investments translate into better service quality which after all translates into much more economy.”

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