Lika-Senj County water contamination triggers health warnings

The Croatian Institute of Public Health (HZJZ) has issued urgent warnings regarding water contamination in the Lika-Senj County, specifically affecting the areas of Gospić, Otočac, Senj, Perušić, and Karlobag. Laboratory analyses of water from private wells, springs, and cisterns have revealed microbiological contamination, including the presence of Escherichia coli, coliform bacteria, and intestinal enterococci.

Authorities advise that this water must not be used in its raw state for drinking, preparing beverages, making ice, or food preparation. It is also not recommended for personal hygiene, such as washing hands, showering, or brushing teeth, as pathogens can enter the body through mucous membranes or inhalation of water mist. Additionally, the water should not be used for washing dishes, fresh produce, or irrigating edible crops like lettuce and strawberries.

In a separate environmental investigation conducted for USKOK, HZJZ also identified the presence of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), known as ‘forever chemicals’, in waste and nearby groundwater at an illegal landfill site in Gospić. While these chemicals were detected in the vicinity of the landfill, HZJZ emphasized that the public water supply remains safe, as 73 samples from the public system showed no traces of PFAS and the site is located outside sanitary protection zones.