Some 15,100 residents of Malisheva town and surrounding villages will have potable drinking water running through their taps as of June 18, 2013. USAID through its activities has assisted rehabilitation of the pump station in Baje village thus supplying the town and surrounding villages with quality drinking water.

Emphasizing the importance of water, USAID Director Maureen A. Shauket acknowledged that Kosovo has sufficient water resources but lacks in adequate infrastructure to deliver such resources to consumers. In addition Ms. Shauket called upon consumers to pay their duties to the relevant companies for the overall benefit. 

Ms. Shauket joined by Christopher Hill, former US Ambassador to Macedonia and Iraq as well as a US special envoy in negotiations over North Korea turned on the water pumps.

Ambassador Hill remembered how far Kosovo, specifically Malisheva has come since the last war.  In his inaugural speech Ambassador Hill stressed how community work is important because one gets to listen to what they really need.  “When you listen, you know what people want and what they need. And what people here need is this water pumping station, “he stated. 

USAID has been helping five municipalities improve the quality of, and access to, potable water for 109,000 residents. Only 45 percent of residents in the municipalities of Pejë/Pec, Klinë/Klina, Malishevë/Malisevo, Gllogovc/Glogovac, and Lipjan have access to potable water, compared to the national average of 61 percent.  The program assists with the construction of water supply systems.