Residents of Fajerovec in Gornja Rijeka Municipality have lived without drinking water for years. Mayor Darko Fištrović announces funds for next year, but the problem has persisted for 15 years.
Residents of Fajerovec, located in the Gornja Rijeka Municipality, are expressing dissatisfaction because their settlement, in the 21st century, has no installed water supply system or access to drinking water. They emphasize that water is not a luxury but a basic human need. The village is the only place in the municipality without drinking water, and today about 30 people live there.
Barica Horvat, who has lived in Fajerovec her entire life, described the harsh living conditions without running water for Prigorski. "We used to have cows, bulls, and pigs, but now we have very little livestock due to the water problem. The most painful part is that we are the only place in the municipality without drinking water. I don't know why we've been left high and dry; I think the main reason is the mayors. I beg Darko Fištrović to help us get drinking water. We've called him many times, but he has never visited us. We've sent out cries for water, and no one has ever come. Our children left only because of the water. We buy water, we haul it from the stream with tankers; there's no other way to manage. We haul it for the greenhouse, for the animals, for the vegetables, and for everything else; for dishes and laundry, we have well water," Horvat said.
She added that due to the drought, most wells have dried up. "Firefighters even brought us water for the well so we could shower and wash clothes, and we paid for every tanker. The price for one tanker of three thousand liters is 100 euros. We've already paid for a lot of water. A connection of about 700 to 800 meters needs to be made. The pump house is built, and only the pipes are missing. It's sad that in the 21st century we don't have drinking water," she stated.
One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, believes the mayor ignores them because they are a small village with little voting power. "The former mayor did the same, and because of her, we haven't had water for 15 years. As for the neighboring village of Nemčevec, where the roots of former county prefect Koren are, out of 30 houses, only 3 to 5 people remain; everyone moved away because of the water. In Fajerovec, it's the same story; there are young people who would stay, but the problem is water. The Gornja Rijeka Municipality doesn't have enough funds; others need to get involved," he said.
Anna Lu Horvat, originally from Fajerovec, has advocated for the village to finally get water after so many years. "I don't live here, but I feel sorry for those people who have been here for years and struggle with this problem. I left Fajerovec as a child, but I remember we always had problems with water shortages and undrinkable water, and now, 22 years later, I still buy water from the store when I'm here. Seventeen houses have no water. Many people have left, but there are still young people who need that water every day. The problem is that people keep a lot of animals and have no water for them. My grandfather goes to Finčevec two or three times a week with a tanker to get water for the animals. About 800 meters from here, a pump house has been built, and now we need to dig those 800 meters to the village and lay the pipes so we can have water. About 30 people live in the village today," she recounted.
Darko Fištrović, the mayor of Gornja Rijeka Municipality, confirmed to Prigorski that the pumping station has been built and only needs an electrical connection. "We need to build the secondary water line. The cost estimate is around 300,000 euros. Croatian Waters hasn't financially helped this area for 14-15 years. I'll put the full amount in the budget for water next year; I believe the county will also help, but Croatian Waters should also get involved," Fištrović said.
It remains to be seen whether Croatian Waters will participate in the funding and whether the residents of Fajerovec and Nemčevec will finally get drinking water after 15 years of waiting.
