When drinking water becomes a danger

A few days ago, a warning thoroughly hampered the operation of the Miss Stone Center in Strumica (North Macedonia).
 
Strumica (North Macedonia) has always had the best drinking water in the region. This is a gift - also for the Miss Stone Center, an independent institution of The United Methodist Church. Around 250 meals are prepared there every day and then distributed to people in need - 200 of them in Strumica and another 50 in the nearby small town of Radovish. It takes a good 350 to 500 liters of water per day to cook these meals.
 
When the center's kitchen was renovated in the first half of the year, it was discovered that the drinking water pipes were badly corroded and urgently needed to be replaced. In order to avoid having to temporarily shut down the center's operations and to stop delivering meals, all the work was carried out over a weekend, which was extended by a public holiday.
 
The tremendous commitment of the leaders and the center's employees paid off: drinking water was now flowing from clean, new pipes. But not for long - because suddenly there was an urgent warning from the city council that the drinking water throughout Strumica was contaminated - with bacteria, viruses and manganese.
 
The reasons for this contamination are unclear. Is it filters that are ancient and have never been replaced – as they should have been in accordance with regulations? Is it the hot summer with no rainfall that has badly affected the reservoir from which the drinking water comes? And while the administration and politicians blame each other for the misery, the people in Strumica have no clean drinking water.
 
Tanks have now been installed in the city - and many residents have to buy bottled drinking water. However, an employee of the Miss Stone Center now has to fetch the 350 to 500 liters outside the city every day - from a spring. Depending on the number of people who also fetch water there, this can quickly cost two hours of valuable working time.
 
But it is fundamentally important. The leaders of the center not only want to give care and hope to the people in need, they also want to offer them a high-quality meal. A sign of lived love that nourishes and gives strength for the next step.
 
Sources: Martin Konev / Christina Cekov, Strumica (North Macedonia)
 
Photo: Martin Konev from the Miss Stone Center fills bottles with drinking water.