Belgrade, Serbia's capital, is grappling with a severe sewage pollution crisis that threatens not only the city's wildlife but also its aspirations to join the European Union. Next to the shimmering high-rises of the Waterfront neighborhood, a foul-smelling stream continuously spews untreated sewage directly into the Sava River, adding to the city's reputation as one of Europe's most polluted urban centers.
Local residents who own floating summer homes along the river express deep concerns about water quality. Dejan Nikolic, a riverfront homeowner, lamented, \\"It stinks. Every year is worse than the previous one; we do not even buy fish from the Danube and Sava.\\" The polluted waters have led to declining fish stocks, leaving anglers disheartened and restricting recreational activities like swimming.
The environmental woes in Belgrade extend beyond water pollution. The city is already notorious for its air pollution, primarily caused by coal plants and aging vehicles. However, the unchecked release of untreated sewage exacerbates the situation, with government data revealing that Serbia dumps enough wastewater each year to fill 60,000 Olympic swimming pools. This not only endangers downstream wildlife but also hinders Serbia's bid to join the EU, which mandates stringent environmental standards.
Experts like Mirko Popovic from the Belgrade-based Renewables and Environmental Regulatory Institute highlight the magnitude of the challenge. \\"Serbia ranks lowest in Europe in wastewater treatment capacity,\\" he stated. Currently, only 15 percent of urban wastewater is processed, far below the EU's required 90 percent. This shortfall complicates Serbia's path toward European integration, with neighboring Balkan countries like Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina facing similar environmental challenges.
As Belgrade continues to expand with new developments, the pressing need for adequate wastewater treatment plants becomes ever more critical. Addressing this issue is not just about improving environmental health but also about meeting the benchmarks necessary for EU membership, which could pave the way for economic and infrastructural advancements across Serbia.
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Foul-smelling wastewater in Serbia adds to environmental woes
cgtn.com
