At a press conference on Monday, Public Health Institute Director Marija Andonovska, regarding the Gostivar water contamination case, said her institution had been asked to take water samples from four locations, as well as that action had been taken as quickly as possible.
“Today, we have the complete analyses, and during the day, they will be handed over to the Public Prosecutor’s Office”, she noted.
Epidemiological assessments are underway, while the situation is being monitored, Andonovska added. At the same press conference, Health Minister Klekovski presented additional information.
“At present, there are 3,100 health contacts”, he noted. July 19 was the first day that saw a decrease in first-time contacts, he explained.
Late on Monday night, the Prosecutor’s Office opened an investigation against three persons from the Public Enterprise (PE) for public utilities, Komunalec, including Director Artana Asani. The Office also presented the results of the analyses, according to which residents of Gostivar were drinking and using tap water contaminated with fecal matter at levels 48 times above the allowable limits.
The pumps in Gostivar that drew wastewater into the central water supply network — from which citizens drank — were installed on June 26, 2026, and ceased operating when the Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation on July 16.