Living Standards Measurements Study - Serbia 2002 - 2007

Table 11.3. Coping methods used if drinking water not available by type of settlement
Belgrade Secondary towns Rural
Use alternative drinking water source 70.9 73.8 59.5
Use previously saved/stored drinking water 22.8 27.4 26.5
Ask neighbours for help 12.8 15.8 31.2
Total 100% 100% 100%
N=2744
11.7. Strategies to cope with
unreliable quality of water
supply
Despite the availability of a wide range of
products for treating poor quality water (including
single and dual staged filtration systems) in specific
water and sanitation stores as well as larger centres
selling furniture and household appliances very few
households use such products. The prices of the
filters range from 1 900 dinars for a simple
mechanical filter to 11 000 dinars for more
sophisticated models for the whole household.
High prices and overall confidence in the water
from the central piped supply are the main reasons
for this consumer preference.
Overall only 7 percent of the population has
treated their water to make it safer to drink. This
activity is highest in rural areas (9.4 percent) and in
SE Serbia (10.4 percent). Of the 199 households (7
percent of the population) who reported treating
their water, most use chlorine (34 percent) and
water filters (29 percent); fewer boil the tap water
(23 percent) or let it stand and settle (8 percent).
The frequency of treatment varied by type of
settlement; “Today” was mentioned by 79 percent
of Belgrade residents and 51 percent in other towns
and only 19 percent in rural areas. In rural areas, a
greater proportion of households made an effort to
improve the quality of their potable water - but less
frequently than those households in Belgrade and
secondary towns.
11.8. People’s suggestions for
improving water supply
When asked which two improvements are
needed for their existing water supply two fifths of
respondents (42 percent) said there was no need for
improvement. The differences among urban and
rural areas in the level of satisfaction are not major;
surprisingly there is somewhat lower level of
satisfaction in Belgrade than elsewhere. Equally
surprising is the finding that an overwhelming
majority (72 percent) of households in West Serbia
region feels there is no need for improvements; the
level of satisfaction is also remarkably high in
South East and East Serbia regions.
Table 11.4. First improvement to make to water by region
Belgrade Vojvodina West Serbia Sumadija East Serbia SE Serbia
Increased pressure 14.5 19.7 8.6 27.7 15.3 17.9
Improved taste 19.3 28.5 4.3 22.6 19.8 8.7
24 hour service 3.6 2.2 7.9 3.7 5.4 2.4
Improved safety 16.8 9.2 6.9 8.7 8.5 11.2
No need for improvement 39.0 36.1 71.6 28.3 43.5 54.7
Other 6.8 4.3 0.7 9.0 7.5 5.1
Total 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
N=2280
Water and Sanitation Services
157