Winter, We Fear You Not – The Water Supply and Sewerage Companies in Albania Take Actions Against the Frost Situation

Albania experienced an unusual weather during the month of January, with temperatures dropping severeal degrees below zero, for at least four days in a row.  The north-eastern and south-eastern areas of the country in particular, but also the western lowland suffered from frosting.  This unusual situation did not catch unprepared the water utilities though. SHUKALB has been in contact with several of its member water supply and sewerage (WSSC) companies that have been most affected, such as Korça WSSC, Pogradec WSSC, Bulqiza WSSC, but also Tirana WSSC and Vlora WSSC, and has collected information about the situation and the measures taken by them.

The first measure taken by all Companies was to raise awareness of consumers about the situation, informing them how to deal with water meters and pipes in the winter season.

The public information was done through frequent posts on the utilities’ social networks, as well as press releases on local television. In addition, awareness posters have been placed in the customer’s service facilities of the utilities, the entrances of the residences, at different points of the cities and rural areas, where the contact numbers were also displayed, in order for the citizens to call in case of defects.

Working groups were set up to monitor the situation and field specialists were made available to be close to the citizens. They have been giving proper instructions to citizens on how they should avoid small defects that occurred in the visible area of the water pipes.

So far, the situation has been managed quite well by the utility companies and the water supply has continued normally.

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