Ljubotići residents in Široki Brijeg no longer depend on water trucks

Water that changes lives

November 27, 2025

For years, the residents of Ljubotići in Široki Brijeg relied on water trucks and rainwater to meet their daily needs. Families had to ration every drop, and agriculture, the main source of livelihood for many, was on the verge of collapse. Today, thanks to the support of international partners and local authorities, a reliable drinking water network has finally reached Ljubotići, transforming life in this community.

Daily life in Ljubotići unfolded under constant uncertainty — will there be enough water today? In a village where most households depend on agriculture, water is not just a necessity but the foundation of everyday life, work, and survival.

“We managed however we could. We collected water in cisterns and brought it in tanks, but it was often not enough to maintain our households or meet our basic family needs,” said Ljubotići resident Zvonimir Galić.

During dry summer months, many had to pay extra for delivered water just to save their crops, often sacrificing other essential needs.

“We were always thinking about whether there would be enough water for tomorrow,” Galić recalled.

Today, the situation in Ljubotići is completely different. Water is finally flowing from the taps of dozens of households, and the daily struggle for water is now a thing of the past.

Thanks to the Municipal Environmental Governance Project (MEG 2), Ljubotići now have a permanent and reliable supply of drinking water. The project is jointly funded by the Government of Switzerland, the Government of Sweden, the Government of the Czech Republic, as well as the European Union, and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Through MEG 2, eight local self-government units in Bosnia and Herzegovina received grants to implement their priority environmental infrastructure projects, with a total value of USD 1,030,000. One of these local governments is the City of Široki Brijeg.

Within this effort, the City of Široki Brijeg launched the expansion of the water supply network in its rural areas. The newly built network in Ljubotići currently covers around 50 percent of households, with further works planned to extend the system to families who still lack access to drinking water.

For residents of Ljubotići, this change represents a new beginning. Zvonimir Galić shows his crops, which are greener and healthier than in previous years.

“We now have city water that we can use continuously. It makes our agricultural work much easier and solves the problem of irrigation. We no longer depend on water trucks and no longer have to constantly check whether we have enough water.”

Zvonimir Galić

Like many rural areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ljubotići face challenges related to depopulation and economic survival. Many families depend on growing their own food, and access to water directly affects their ability to stay in their community and sustain their livelihoods.

“We’ve now increased our seedlings and the amount of fruit and vegetables we grow. With this project, water is much cheaper and more accessible. It saves us a lot of time, energy, and money,” Galić added. “This project has truly improved the quality of life in Ljubotići.”

Through its partnership with UNDP and the public utility “Vodovod i kanalizacija” d.o.o., the City of Široki Brijeg has been actively involved in MEG II for several years, working to improve water services across the municipality. Mayor Ivo Pavković stressed the importance of this cooperation:

“In recent years, we secured a grant of 180,900 KM to implement part of the project to expand the public water supply system in rural areas of the City of Široki Brijeg, specifically in the Ljubotići local community. We built a reservoir and the main pipeline. We will continue working within the MEG project to improve the quality of water services even further.”

Ivo Pavković

He added that this project is only the beginning of long-term efforts to expand and enhance water services across the entire municipal area.

Project results are already visible, confirms Toni Galić, President of the Ljubotići Local Community. He emphasized that the project is not only an infrastructure intervention but also a lifeline for the community’s future.

“I am sure this project will bring great benefits to our residents and that we will continue developing our community. Between 80 and 100 households in Ljubotići will get water. This will help people stay here and not leave for distant places.”

Toni Galić

A stable and safe water supply not only improves daily life in Ljubotići but also creates better conditions for development and new investments. UNDP and partners, through MEG II, continue to support local governments across Bosnia and Herzegovina in improving public services and the quality of life for all residents.