A Problem or an Emergency?

Well today, coincidentally after yesterday's posting, I was called (note; with just five hours notice) to a meeting in the Kosova Government's Ministry of Environment to discuss action to address the "alarming situation with water supply". The meeting was attended by persons from the Civil Emergency Response Unit. The meeting wasn't very constructive except that it does demonstate that water, at long last, is going up the political agenda. Most of the particpants were not well informed and kept referring to "the emergency". Kosova still has enough water for 2007 so it is not an emergency...yet...and I tried to make it clear that a serious problem could develop for next year if there is a dry winter again but we should not yet be speaking of an emergency provided action is taken now. I am not sure the message got across as the Minister concluded the meeting asking for an emergency action plan to be in place by next Tuesday! Such is life.

Its still hot and dry here, in many urban areas if you are unfortunate to live above, say, the third floor or on a hill high water demand results in low pressure in the system and no water at these upper levels. So life is hard if you have to lug buckets up several flights from your lower neighbours. It passes as normal life here in summer.