City of Nitra Facing Declaration of Emergency Situation

Nitra, 30 June (TASR) - The city of Nitra is facing the declaration of an emergency situation due to a critical situation in the potable water supply, Nitra mayor Marek Hatas has informed TASR, adding that the crisis management team met over the issue on Tuesday afternoon. In addition to city officials, the meeting of the crisis management team was attended by representatives of the relevant departments of the Nitra City Council, regional water utility Zapadoslovenska Vodarenska Spolocnost (ZsVS), the Regional Public Health Authority, the Nitra Municipal Police, and the Municipal Care Homes authority. Prolonged drought, extremely high temperatures and above-average consumption of potable water have pushed the water utility into a crisis situation. The yield of water sources is declining, while water consumption is rising significantly. As a result, more water is flowing out of reservoirs than is being replenished. ZsVS Nitra is the end point of the long-distance water supply network, making it particularly difficult to ensure an adequate inflow of drinking water, said ZsVS local branch director Margita Krsakova. "Given the adverse climatic conditions, high temperatures and falling groundwater levels, we have had to introduce measures to regulate water resources. Our aim is to ensure that potable water reaches Nitra. To achieve this, we are restricting water supplies in other parts of the network," she said. There are facilities such as hospitals, care homes, schools and nursery schools in Nitra where the drinking water supply is essential. "Our top priority is to ensure enough potable water for these facilities," said Krsakova. "If potable water consumption doesn't fall significantly, the city of Nitra is ready to declare an emergency situation," said Hattas, urging residents to use potable water only for essential needs. The situation has already prompted water-use regulation in several towns and villages in Nitra region. Water supply restrictions have affected Sala, Galanta, Jelka, Velke Ulany, Trstice, Mocenok, Cabaj-Capor and Mojmirovce. The situation is particularly critical during the evening peak after 8 p.m., when water consumption reaches its highest level. The critical situation in Nitra and the surrounding towns and villages has been caused by exceptionally high water consumption for lawn irrigation and filling or topping up swimming pools, combined with reduced capacity of water sources. ko/mcs