Serbia releases huge amounts of untreated sewage into the environment every year, almost half of that comes from Belgrade. The capital remains the only European capital without a sewage treatment plant, which means that sewage ends up directly in the Sava and Danube rivers. The consequences are visible - unpleasant odors, dead fish and pollution, which are also confirmed by international research, including by Austrian and German scientists, who have recorded high levels of bacteria such as Escherichia coli. Official institutions claim that large rivers have the ability to clean themselves, but scientists and activists warn that this is not enough to protect human health or the ecosystem. Belgrade does not have publicly available data on water quality, and statistics show that less than 15% of wastewater is treated in whole Serbia. Announced projects, such as the wastewater treatment plant in Veliko Selo, which should solve the problem, have been postponed for years, and there is no work on the construction site. In the meantime, the value of the project has increased from half a billion to one billion euros, and the government is constantly changing the completion dates. In addition to Belgrade, residents of Novi Sad, Niš, Zrenjanin and other cities are also waiting for wastewater treatment plants, while there are currently only about 50 outdated, often non-functional facilities in the entire country. The “Clean Serbia” program worth 3.2 billion euros includes the construction of sewage systems and wastewater treatment facilities in 65 municipalities, but contracts with Chinese companies are being signed in a non-transparent manner and without tenders.
According to expert estimates, a complete solution to the situation would take at least ten years and cost at least 10 billion euros. So, while the state is announcing investments and projects in preparation for EXPO 2027, a third of the population still does not have sewage. Critics warn that the wastewater problem has been sidelined for years and that if no changes are made, Serbia will remain the same in 2027 – with rivers serving as sewers and with serious consequences for human health and nature.
The article by Filip Lukić was originally published with the support of the project Enhancing the Capacities of Serbian Independent Media in Informing about the Green Transition Challenges by N1.
