# Water contamination incidents in the Balkans

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/water-contamination-incidents-in-the-balkans
> Updated: 2026-09-16T09:55:41.000Z. Sources: 17. Developments: 2.

Water quality issues have been reported across several Balkan regions involving both chemical and microbiological contamination.

In Serbia, the Nišava River near Dimitrovgrad was found to have a poor ecological status following reports of petroleum derivative smells and visible oil slicks. Authorities advised against fishing, livestock use, or irrigation. Simultaneously, in Croatia, microbiological contamination was confirmed near Medvednica, where high levels of Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci were detected.

By mid-September, microbiological concerns persisted in Rožaje, Montenegro, where the Institute of Public Health confirmed Escherichia coli in the municipal supply. Local authorities issued an emergency notice requiring residents to boil water for all uses, including drinking, food preparation, and hygiene.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Sarajevo Canton Institute of Public Health declared water from the ‘Sedam Vrela’ supply in Vogošća epidemiologically risky, prohibiting its use for drinking, personal hygiene, or cleaning.

In Croatia, investigations in the Lika region provided mixed results. While the Croatian Institute of Public Health (HZJZ) maintains that the public water supply in Lika-Senj County and on the island of Pag remains safe, testing in Gospić revealed that two wells near an illegal waste site contained PFAS compounds exceeding safe limits. Additionally, food testing in Gospić showed that while most local produce is safe, one sample of aronia exceeded cadmium limits, which officials suggest may be due to natural soil properties.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-16: Water safety warnings issued across Balkan regions due to contamination

Public health warnings have been issued in Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia due to E. coli, PFAS, and other water contamination risks in local supplies.

16 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/water-safety-reports-show-e-coli-in-montenegro-and-safe-levels-in-croatia

### 2026-09-05: Water contamination reported in Nišava River and Medvednica

Water contamination incidents have been confirmed in Serbia's Nišava River due to oil derivatives and in Croatia's Medvednica due to high levels of E. coli and coliform bacteria.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/water-contamination-reported-in-niava-river-and-medvednica

---
Cite as: Water contamination incidents in the Balkans. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/water-contamination-incidents-in-the-balkans