More than 200 households in Istočno Novo Sarajevo connected to the sewage network after decades of waiting

Unpleasant odors, polluted water, and overflowing wastewater through yards and local streams had long been part of everyday life for residents of Tilava and Ivanići, located on the slopes of Mount Trebević. In these areas, wastewater used to flow directly into streams and open channels, while most households were forced to store it in septic tanks built without supervision or compliance with basic sanitary regulations. Such unsafe septic tanks frequently caused contamination of groundwater and the spread of infectious diseases.

Residents were particularly affected during the summer months, when high temperatures caused more frequent evaporation and overflow of wastewater from septic tanks, recalls Tihomir Trnčić, a resident of Ivanići who has lived there for more than 60 years.

“The settlement of Ivanići has never had a proper wastewater drainage system. Septic tanks were rarely hermetically sealed, which caused leaks across nearby meadows. It was a very unpleasant situation, and we waited far too long for a solution,” says Trnčić.

In the yard of his house lies a well from which his family had been drinking water for decades. He sent water samples for chemical testing several times, and the results always showed the presence of harmful bacteria such as E. coli and enterococcus. Trnčić says this was a direct consequence of improper wastewater disposal, confirmed by analyses from local institutions.

The contamination did not remain limited to local wells. According to Dejan Romić, Chief of Staff to the Mayor of the Municipality of Istočno Novo Sarajevo, wastewater had also polluted the main drinking water source located in Tilava.

“Wastewater from inadequate septic tanks flowed into local streams such as Toplik, Tilava, and Jablanik, contaminating both our watercourses and the surrounding land,” said Romić.

Under such conditions, expanding the sewage network was not only a priority but a necessity to improve living conditions in the rural parts of the Municipality of Istočno Novo Sarajevo.

To solve this long-standing problem, the Municipality of Istočno Novo Sarajevo, in partnership with the public utility company Vodovod i kanalizacija a.d. Istočno Sarajevo and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), launched construction works in early 2025 to expand the sewage network in Tilava and Ivanići. Through the Project for Municipal Environmental Governance (MEG II), implemented by UNDP in Bosnia and Herzegovina and jointly funded by the Government of Switzerland, Sweden, the Government of the Czech Republic, and the European Union, eight local governments in Bosnia and Herzegovina received grants to implement priority environmental infrastructure projects, with a total value of USD 1.03 million. One of them is the Municipality of Istočno Novo Sarajevo.

“It was a great surprise for us. We could hardly believe that the project would actually start,” said resident Tihomir Trnčić.

Within the MEG II project, 1,200 meters of sewage network have been built in Tilava, 700 meters of primary and 500 meters of secondary collectors, while in Ivanići, a wastewater drainage system of 1,800 meters has been constructed.

“More than 200 households will benefit directly from this project, around 40 in Ivanići and 160 in Tilava. It’s also important to note that the construction of the main collector in Tilava has made it possible for over 400 additional households to connect to the main sewage system of the City of Istočno Sarajevo,” explained Romić.

Residents of Tilava and Ivanići have already felt the benefits. They say that the removal of septic tanks has completely changed their daily lives.

Construction of the sewage network in these settlements will continue throughout 2026, ensuring that households in more remote villages on the slopes of Trebević can also connect to the city’s wastewater system.

The public utility company Vodovod i kanalizacija a.d. Istočno Sarajevo estimates that approximately 6,000 meters of primary and secondary collectors will need to be constructed to ensure proper wastewater drainage for all residents in the Tilava area.

“This project will not only improve the living conditions in the settlement but will also significantly contribute to environmental protection and the reduction of infection risks. By decreasing the pollution of existing watercourses such as Lukavac and Đurin streams, which flow toward the Tilava river, we are helping preserve the ecological balance in this area,” said Sanja Šućur, Head of the Design Department at Vodovod i kanalizacija a.d. Istočno Sarajevo.

Through the implementation of the MEG II project, residents of Tilava and Ivanići have gained a healthier and higher-quality living environment, while the Municipality of Istočno Novo Sarajevo has demonstrated its commitment to sustainable development and environmental protection. Approximately USD 500,000 has been invested in expanding the sewage network in these settlements, of which USD 180,000 were provided through the MEG II project.

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