Dubrovnik officials clash over groundwater pollution reports

A political dispute has emerged in Dubrovnik regarding the safety of the city's drinking water and the transparency of local government. City Councilor Anita Bonačić Obradović has accused Mayor Mato Franković of withholding environmental data for nearly three years. She claims that laboratory results from late 2023, commissioned by the city, indicate that groundwater beneath Grabovica is heavily polluted, potentially affecting the Ombla river source used by the city.

Bonačić Obradović alleges that the Mayor's failure to disclose these findings violates the Aarhus Convention and environmental protection laws. She further criticized the Mayor for responding to her inquiries with threats of legal action regarding the spread of false information.

In response to public concern, Vodovod Dubrovnik issued a statement defending the safety of the water supply. The utility company emphasized that drinking water undergoes rigorous treatment to meet European Union maximum allowable concentration (MDK) parameters. They noted that the Croatian Institute of Public Health serves as an independent second line of defense, monitoring the system for any irregularities.