Rural Water and Sanitation Support Programme in Kosovo

• About 35’000 people from rural areas including social excluded community groups and four Northern Municipalities
• The institutions responsible for water service provision: The seven Regional Water Companies (RWCs) and their association SHUKOS, Ministry of Economic Development MED and the municipalities
• Economic, environmental and water quality regulators of the water services: WSRA, MESP and NIPH

• People in supported areas benefit from universal access to safe water supply and sanitation services provided by public utilities.
• The institutions of the Kosovo water services sector (RWCs, WSRA, and NIPH) provide sustainable safe water supply and sanitation services to all citizens in compliance with the objective of universal access, taking into account environmental issues.

Resultados previstos:  

• New and upgraded rural water systems in Northern municipalities and other municipalities in Kosovo and their integration into RWCs.
• RWCs have developed plans for achieving universal access in their service areas, selected measures of the plans implemented
• Quality Management based procedures implemented in rural networks
• Processes to reduce non-revenue water (NRW) internalized by RWCs
• Water quality management improved in all RWCs
• Capacities of RWCs for water source protection and management of rural wastewater treatment improved
• Increased energy efficiency measures included in RWC operations and increased use of renewable energy sources
• Implementation of customer strategies including social inclusion
• Water quality monitoring by NIPH expanded to small (rural) supply zones
• Improved oversight of RWC performance by WSRA

Resultados de las fases anteriores:  

From 2005 until end of 2017, 259’000 people in 177 villages belonging to all municipalities of Kosovo (northern municipalities not included) gained access to safe drinking water and sanitation. Additional 215’000 people in 180 villages benefitted from rehabilitated water systems.

In phase V i.a. the following results have been achieved:

• More than 115,000 people living in rural areas gained access to new water systems, which were integrated into RWC operations and management. Additional 215’000 people benefitted from rehabilitated systems.
• RWCs have better capacities to improve their revenues, to manage investments, and to operate rural water systemsSeven minority municipalities have integrated water systems into respective RWC operations.
• WSRA has improved water services oversight and NIPH has started reporting on drinking water quality monitoring.

However, long term sustainability of Kosovo’s water and sanitation supply and universal access to these services is not yet ensured. There remains a need for further capacity building of RWCs and national sector institutions as well as for targeted infrastructure investments.

• Support to the Inter-Ministerial Water Council (SECO);
• Democratic Governance and Decentralisation (SDC);
• Urban Wastewater projects (SECO);
• Other international sector donors.

Fase 6 01.01.2018 - 31.10.2022   (Completed)