[REVISION HISTORY]

Groundwater contamination worsens Gospić waste crisis

Updated 34 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-08 11:03 UTC → 2026-09-19 17:53 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The hazardous waste crisis in Croatia has intensified following reports that illegal dumping has severely contaminated the Lika region’s groundwater. While initial assessments in March 2026 suggested low risks, a July 2026 report from the Faculty of Geotechnics in Zagreb confirmed the presence of microplastics and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), or ‘forever chemicals.’ Testing revealed that concentrations of these substances at exit points were double the limit for drinking water, indicating that waste is penetrating underground karst systems. Public anger has been fueled by the delayed release of these findings. Although the Institute for Waters ‘Josip Juraj Štrosmajer’ completed its report on August 7, it was not made public by USKOK until a month later, following mass protests. This delay, combined with the government’s initial characterization of the risks as ‘political hysteria,’ has contributed to declining approval ratings for Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and the ruling HDZ party. In ~~response to the ‘Walk for Lika, Walk for Croatia’ demonstrations,~~ September 2026, USKOK investigations confirmed significant contamination in both Gospić and Benkovac. In Benkovac’s Kukalj site, experts identified over 6,400 tons of heterogeneous waste, including metals and antimony. While the government ~~has moved toward remediation. Prime Minister Plenković has visited~~ maintains that public drinking water remains safe because contamination was detected in local piezometers rather than the ~~site and announced~~ public supply, new reports indicate that ~~a contractor has~~ PFAS and heavy metals have been ~~selected~~ detected in wells in the Krpani settlement near Gospić. Local residents and farmers fear the pollution may spread through the Novčica, Lika, and Gacka river systems. This has created economic uncertainty for local producers regarding the ~~first phase~~ safety of ~~cleanup. Minister Marija Vučković has committed~~ their livestock and crops. Remediation in Gospić is expected to ~~presenting a full remediation plan by September 20, addressing the protesters' demands for~~ begin with the removal of approximately ~~33,000 to 37,000~~ 650 tons of ~~buried hazardous waste.~~ non-hazardous waste, while legal proceedings against responsible parties continue.

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