Hydrogeologist Zoran Stevanović says Serbia’s water resources are under pressure from climate change and inadequate management. He links the risk to changes in temperatures and weather patterns, including longer dry periods followed by intense storms and floods. He also points to a rising frequency of extreme precipitation events while noting that Serbia is not preparing effectively for these shifts.
Water shortages have affected consumers in parts of Serbia for several years. Nine dry years have been recorded in this century, nearly matching the total number of dry years across the entire 20th century. Experts expect more days with heavy rainfall, but they warn that water availability will remain critical for ecosystems and will require improved water management.
Mining and infrastructure projects raise risks for water resources
Several large projects are cited as additional risks to water resources, including the Jadar project by Rio Tinto. The text also highlights copper and gold mining by Zijin in eastern Serbia. Infrastructure developments named include the Makiš metro and EXPO 2027 in Surčin.
Serbia treats water as a public, inalienable resource intended for sustainable use, but implementation is described as falling short. Stevanović’s concerns extend to how mining-related activities could affect water availability. The country currently uses about 25% of its underground water reserves, which supply 70–75% of total consumption.
The only new source opened in this century is identified as the Bogovina spring near Bor. It supplies high-quality water at 250 liters per second, but it is described as endangered by plans to build a reservoir that would flood the spring. The reservoir is intended to provide technical water for Zijin’s mining operations, and experts warn that treated water cannot match natural quality.
Inspections and pollution impacts linked to Zijin operations
Stevanović criticizes the state for entrusting foreign mining companies with environmental care. He also says staffing for mining inspections remains critically low, with only four inspectors covering the entire country. He describes this as insufficient for effective monitoring.
The text reports severe river pollution associated with Zijin’s activities. In 2023, pollutant levels in the Cerovo and Kriveljska rivers exceeded legal limits by multiple times, including high concentrations of copper, arsenic, lead, iron, and manganese. It also states that the Pek River near Majdanpek turned red and green due to contamination, with toxic metals far above safe levels.
It further notes that downstream waters are no longer usable because of heavy pollution affecting areas beyond the directly impacted rivers.