Waterworks Director Tomislav Matek denied this morning's reports from citizens about cloudy water in their taps and stated that the water is safe to drink. At the same time, he appeals for conservation due to the drought.
After citizens of Zadar reported to the media this morning that their tap water was cloudy, we contacted Waterworks Director Tomislav Matek with an inquiry. His response was clear and left no room for doubt: the water is completely safe to drink, and there are no instances of cloudiness at the system level.
Matek's explanation also offers logical reasons for individual cases that may have alarmed residents. He emphasized that issues can only occur locally, as a result of ongoing works or the condition of household plumbing.
"It's possible that someone has issues with their plumbing, or there are works being carried out somewhere that caused the cloudiness. It can happen that during works, some dirt gets into the pipes and they need to be flushed, but there is no cloudiness. On the contrary, if there were, we would certainly have issued a notice about it," Matek told us.
Although the director reassured the public about water quality, the water supply situation still requires caution. Due to the prolonged drought and increased consumption, the Waterworks has been forced to introduce water-saving measures for both citizens and businesses. The appeal has been extended to a wide range of users, from trades and family farms to public institutions and sports clubs, urging them to significantly reduce non-essential water usage.
Specifically, this means suspending the watering of public and private green areas, including football pitches, as well as avoiding washing vehicles and boats, frequent pool filling, and the use of showers and taps on beaches. These measures aim to preserve current water reserves during the period of high temperatures and increased tourist numbers.
While the water supply in the city of Zadar itself, including the higher zones, remains stable for now, certain issues have been recorded in the surrounding areas. Specifically, residents of the higher areas of Zemunik Gornji, Podgradina, and Jovići have experienced supply difficulties in recent days.
As for possible water cuts, Matek was optimistic this morning, stating that they should not occur. Nevertheless, given the weather forecast that does not predict rain, the future situation remains uncertain. The director noted that a decrease in the number of tourists is expected after the Assumption of Mary holiday, which should relieve the system and contribute to the stabilization of the water supply. This aligns with his statement from six days ago, when he confirmed that there is still water at the sources and that, barring major unforeseen issues, the supply should stabilize.
