Water quality concerns in Lika-Senj County

In August 2026, the Croatian Institute of Public Health (HZJZ) released water testing results for Lika-Senj County. The analysis of 22 samples showed no detectable PFAS concentrations. While 21 samples complied with national regulations, one sample from a private facility was non-compliant due to elevated lead levels, which officials attributed to internal plumbing rather than the public supplier.

By September 2026, the focus shifted to microbiological contamination in individual water supply systems. The Lika-Senj County Institute of Public Health issued an urgent warning for users in Gospić, Otočac, Senj, Perušić, and Karlobag. Laboratory analyses of water from private wells, springs, and cisterns revealed the presence of Escherichia coli, coliform bacteria, and intestinal enterococci.

Authorities advised that this water must not be used in its raw state for drinking, food preparation, or making ice. It is also deemed unsuitable for personal hygiene, such as showering or brushing teeth, due to the risk of pathogens entering through mucous membranes or inhalation. Furthermore, the water should not be used for washing dishes, cleaning fresh produce, or irrigating edible crops like strawberries and lettuce.

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