Project: Support to the Public Regional Communal Service Company and four municipalities in BiH
	Introduction Bosnia and Herzegovina has been facing serious problems in water sector. It is, particularly, referring to the unsatisfactory developed capacities and infrastructure, as well as to numerous social-economic and institutional problems. The substantial water resources of BiH provide an important economic potential, but insufficient attention has been paid in the past to the protection of water. This has been exacerbated by infrastructure damage caused by war activities and lack of maintenance. Water sources are under potential threat resulting from inadequate direct protection, insufficient waste water treatment plants and inadequate maintenance of sewage system. Aiming to more efficient water management, REC Bosnia and Herzegovina has started implementation of the project "Support to the Public Regional Communal Service Company and four municipalities in BiH" supporetd by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway. The project will be focused on four municipalities of upper Vrbas river basin: Bugojno, Jajce, Donji Vakuf and Gornji Vakuf/Uskoplje. River Vrbas is one of the most strategic water resources in these municipalities in terms of water supply, agriculture, tourism and other kinds of water utilization, but as waste water treatment plant does not exist in the municipalities, waste waters are directly discharging into River Vrbas. The main goal of the project is to reduce the pollution of the environment from untreated waste water polluting Vrbas River and through this to improve the quality of life of citizens. This goal will be realised though providing support to institutional strengthening and capacity building of the Public Regional Communal Service Company, municipal communal service companies and municipalities aimed to prepare the pre feasibility study. Specific goals of the project: • To assess the current situation in waste water services and to provide recommendations for changes needed in the Public Regional Communal Service Company, municipal communal service companies and municipalities; • To support the Public Regional Communal Service Company in assessing needs for investment projects development, preparation and management. Project duration: 12 months (January - December 2007) Contact person: Andrea Bevanda-Hrvo Tel/fax: 033 209 130 E-mail: abevanda@rec.org.ba				Project activities