When someone complains about the water bill, I tell them: the fresh water from the spring is free in nature. But the tap water is not spring water anymore. It's a product, and every product has a price.
We often take it for granted: you turn on the tap, and clean water flows out. But what is the real journey of a drop of water? For the citizens of Prilep, North Macedonia, it's a 70-kilometer trek that involves extraction, treatment, constant pressure checks, and a 24/7 team of technicians.
In the second episode of the #JustAddWater podcast, "Fixing the Leaks: Why Every Drop Counts in Prilep," we sit down with Danche Josheska, a seasoned expert with over 18 years of experience at PUC Vodovod i Kanalizacija in Prilep. Danche pulls back the curtain on one of the sector's biggest challenges: "non-revenue water"—the water that is lost through leaks, illegal connections, and meter tampering.
Our discussion goes beyond the technical issues, exploring the core financial problem: with some of the lowest water tariffs in the region, the utility struggles to fund the necessary investments. Danche passionately argues that tap water is not just a free resource from nature; it's a product that requires energy, expertise, and investment to deliver safely. She also highlights the role every citizen plays, from reporting leaks promptly to using water responsibly, especially during peak summer months.
Join us for a compelling conversation that uncovers why conserving water is not just the utility's job, but a shared responsibility for a sustainable future.
Key Takeaways:
Watch now "Fixing the Leaks" and discover the critical work behind every drop.
