Balkan water security threatened by drought and aquifer depletion

Water security is facing significant challenges across the Balkan region due to drought, infrastructure issues, and environmental threats. In Montenegro, hydrogeologist Milan Radulović warns that the perception of water as an inexhaustible resource is a dangerous misconception. He highlights the drying of historic sources like Savina voda on Durmitor and the risk of irreversible contamination in karst terrains. In Herceg Novi, water restrictions have recently eased after turbidity levels in the Gorica–Plat system were successfully reduced, though residents are advised to boil water as a precaution.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo is facing a critical situation. The Bačevo spring, a primary water source, is seeing dangerously low levels in its wells, with some reserves measuring only centimeters. Authorities emphasize that single days of rain are insufficient to replenish deep underground aquifers, which require weeks of consistent precipitation to recover.

In Serbia, local water utilities are managing various service interruptions due to maintenance and repairs. Meanwhile, in Montenegro's Berane region, residents in Polica have faced water shortages for over a month, with local officials awaiting repairs to critical valves to normalize supply.