In recent weeks, residents in various parts of the city have experienced numerous utility problems. Due to prolonged droughts and the intense expansion of dry soil, pipes have begun to burst in many areas. Water flooded streets and sidewalks for extended periods, particularly near the Kosmalt retail center, in Luník I in the area known as Zuzkin Park, in Podhradová, and near the city amphitheater, where the streams resembled geysers. These incidents immediately sparked a wave of concern among people on social media—residents began discussing en masse whether they would have to cover the costs of thousands of liters of wasted drinking water.
Who Pays for Water Spilling onto the Streets
At the East Slovak Water Company (East Slovak Water Companyone supplier) officially confirmed that they do not bill consumers for water that has leaked as a result of network failures.
As explained by the agency PENELOPA s. r. o., which represents the company’s interests in the media, such losses are fully covered by the company. Water lost during accidents is not included in residents’ bills and does not affect the amounts on their receipts.
Why Have Accidents Become More Frequent and How Are They Being Addressed?
Utility companies cite the prolonged drought as the main cause of widespread damage. Due to a lack of moisture, the soil dries out, compacts, and exerts pressure on underground utility networks, which inevitably leads to breaks and damage in both main water lines and private connections.
Repairing such failures requires a clear procedure:
- Precise localization of the break by the emergency response team.
- Verification and mandatory coordination with other services regarding the location of adjacent underground utilities to avoid damaging other networks.
- Immediate excavation and repair work.
What to Do About Water Quality and Old Pipes
In recent weeks, city residents have also complained about a peculiar taste in tap water and elevated chlorine levels due to the city having to switch to underground sources. At the same time, experts point out the condition of the internal pipes in homes. Since drinking water contains natural minerals, mineral deposits—known as scale—form on the pipe walls over time.
Water utilities combat this by regularly flushing the systems. However, experts note that old pipes that have reached the end of their service life require complete scheduled replacement.
