Bolje sestre spring yield drops sharply in Montenegro

The yield of the Bolje sestre spring, a critical water source for Montenegro’s coastal region, has experienced a drastic decline from 2,600 liters per second to just 265 liters per second. This reduction has coincided with water supply difficulties in coastal areas such as Sutomore, Kotor, and Sveti Stefan during the current tourist season.

Experts disagree on the primary cause of the depletion. Zoran Lakušić, former chairman of the regional waterworks board, attributes the decline to illegal gravel excavation in the Morača River. He cites research from 2023 suggesting that raising water levels in the Morača River temporarily increased the spring's yield by 70 to 100 liters per second, indicating a link between the river's regime and the spring.

Conversely, hydrologist Mihajlo Burić argues that climate change is the main driver. He contends that gravel excavation is not the cause, pointing instead to prolonged dry periods, high temperatures, and increased evapotranspiration as the factors reducing water availability.