In March, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić visited the municipality of Kovačica, where he reiterated his promise to build a water factory in the town of Idvor, known for its naive painting. Despite this promise being made repeatedly over the past year, the project only began moving forward rapidly after Vučić’s visit. Recently, Minister of Economy Andrijana Mesarović signed a contract with Kovačica worth nearly 300 million dinars (over 2.5 million euros) to construct the water treatment facility.
Mesarović highlighted that the project will improve the quality of drinking water, enhance industrial infrastructure, and boost tourism and overall quality of life. The planned deadline for completion is 15 months, and steps such as public procurement and contractor selection are expected soon. Shortly after the contract was signed, the government allocated an additional 100 million dinars from the budget reserve to cover remaining costs. The investment includes building a water treatment plant with a well, pumping station, and landscaping the site.
The water factory is not a new idea. In May 2024, local officials confirmed efforts to solve water supply problems, including well rehabilitation and progress on design documentation for the factory. The municipality anticipated completion by the end of summer 2025, with support from the provincial and republic governments.
Following President Vučić’s statement, the Serbian government declared the Idvor water factory project a matter of national importance during a session held on May 29. The project covers the construction of a drinking water plant, reservoir, pumping station, well, water supply system, and site arrangement. However, the official conclusion has yet to appear in the Official Gazette, and no public procurement or calls for design and technical documentation preparation have been announced publicly so far.
