Next to towering new high-rises in Belgrade’s upscale Waterfront neighborhood, a foul-smelling stream spews sewage directly into the Sava River. This is just one of many outlets polluting the city’s waters, raising serious environmental concerns.
Residents who own floating summer homes on the river now fear swimming in what was once a cherished natural escape. Dejan Nikolic, a local homeowner, laments, “It stinks. Every year is worse than the previous one; we do not even buy fish from the Danube and Sava.” He hasn’t swum in the river for years.
Belgrade is already infamous for its air pollution, caused by coal plants and aging vehicles. Now, the city’s waterways are under siege. Government data reveals that Belgrade dumps enough untreated sewage each year to fill 60,000 Olympic swimming pools, threatening wildlife downstream and tarnishing the city’s reputation as one of Europe’s worst polluters.
The root of the problem lies in the lack of wastewater treatment plants. Before joining the European Union, Serbia must aim to process over 90% of urban wastewater; currently, it processes only 15%. “Serbia ranks lowest in Europe in this category,” says Mirko Popovic of the Belgrade-based Renewables and Environmental Regulatory Institute.
This environmental challenge not only endangers local ecosystems but also complicates Serbia’s bid to join the EU, which demands far stricter standards. Other Balkan countries like Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina face similar issues, highlighting a regional problem that requires urgent attention.
As fish stocks deplete and the stench worsens, the citizens of Belgrade are calling for immediate action to protect their rivers and their future.
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Foul-smelling wastewater in Serbia adds to environmental woes
cgtn.com
