Bitola's Water Utility Promises Digitalisation in 2027 - While on the Street It Is Still Replacing Pipes Over 40 Years Old

The public utility "Vodovod" Bitola has announced a digital future: a pilot project under the international programme WATERVILL – Interreg Euro-MED, accepted in cooperation with the Municipality of Bitola, to be carried out during 2027. At the same time, on "Dimitar Todorovski" Street, work began on replacing a water network more than 40 years old. Taken together, the two news items tell the real story of water in Bitola better than any press release.

The project foresees expanding the SCADA system, which allows centralised monitoring of the water supply, new metering and control points and automated stations for monitoring water quality. Bitola is one of four pilot municipalities, alongside Žabljak in Montenegro, Ilirska Bistrica in Slovenia and Teslić in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The promise is an exchange of knowledge with international partners and universities, and innovative solutions to reduce water losses.

On "Dimitar Todorovski" Street, reality is older. The cast-iron network is being replaced with polyethylene pipes, along with all the connections to households. The utility says replacing worn-out lines remains a priority, to reduce breakdowns, losses and interruptions in the water supply.

The word "losses" appears in both press releases, but there is no number. How much water is lost in Bitola's network before it reaches the tap? How many streets are still waiting with pipes from 40 years ago? The new metering points from 2027 are supposed to help track losses better - but residents deserve that number today.