The presence of ammonia above the norm may have led to the poisoning of the inhabitants of Kruja. 

From the physico-chemical analyses, which have been made public by Kruje Water Supply and Sewerage, it is suspected that the heavy rains on Saturday afternoon and in the early hours of Sunday, have brought contamination of drinking water. 

However, the water company says that this case remains to be verified as periodic analyses performed by LGU laboratories before this period, have turned out to be at optimal rates. 

"Yesterday, water samples were analyzed from the collection works in the Desert and at the source of the Meadows, where their physico-chemical parameters have turned out to be constantly within the norms", it is said among other things in the announcement. 

In order to avoid any further case of contamination, Kruja Water Supply requires citizens not to consume water in household tanks and to empty them in order to finally clean the network.

Full notice: 

Following the situation that occurred in the city of Kruja, where yesterday, Monday 25/10/2021, a considerable number of residents presented for medical assistance at the Municipal Hospital "Stefan Gjoni" Kruja with health complications, which suspected as a cause of drinking water consumption, we explain as follows: 

Immediately, as a first measure of the suspicion raised, at 10:30 on Monday, Water Supply and Sewerage Kruja sh.a has cut off the supply of drinking water to the residents of the city of Kruja and by the Local Unit of Health Care are performed analyses of water at the source, in city depots and at the end points of the distribution network. Also, water samples and some samples were taken from hospitalized patients by the Institute of Public Health to analyse and find the most detailed causes. 

From the preliminary data of the physico-chemical analyzes so far, it is suspected that the heavy rains on Saturday afternoon and in the early hours of Sunday, in the entire territory of the Municipality of Kruja, have brought contamination of drinking water, where the presence of ammonia above the norm has been previously established. However, this case remains to be verified as periodic analyses performed by LGU laboratories before this period, have turned out to be at optimal rates. 

Yesterday, water samples from the collection works in Shkrete and at the source of Livadhe were analyzed, where their physico-chemical parameters have turned out to be constantly within the norms. Today, the samples received from the city deposits were analysed by the LGUs which resulted within the allowed norms. However, we are waiting for more detailed micro-biological analyses by IPH, which will provide more detailed data on the rates of water components and will serve to certify the ongoing supply of drinking water to the population. 

Regarding the supply of drinking water to the population in the coming days, we clarify that Water Supply and Sewerage (UKK) Kruja is continuing with the disinfection of city warehouses through the chlorination process, while physico-chemical and microbiological analyses will certify the resumption of supply with drinking water for residents. 

In order to avoid any further case of contamination, it is required not to consume water in household tanks and to empty them in order to finally clean the network to the end points. 

Meanwhile, the authorization for the use of drinking water will be notified by the Water Supply and Sewerage and the Municipality of Kruja, after the certification of the final analysis by the IPH of the end points of distribution in all areas of the city of Kruja. 

The working team set up to manage the situation with the specialists of UKK Kruja, Kruja Municipal Hospital, Local Health Care Unit and other local and Central Institutions, are ready to respond to this situation until its normalization, situation which thankfully is heading towards stabilization after recent communications with the Municipal Hospital.