The effects of war on water quality in the Una River
Following the break-up of the former Republic of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s, the region was plunged into a period of armed conflict. In addition to the human tragedy, the war also took its toll on the environment. A unique collaboration between European research institutes sought to evaluate the impact on water quality in the Bihar Valley in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as the Politico Lakes National Park region in Croatia. Scientists with the University of Bihac in Bosnia and Herzegovina specifically investigated the Una River watershed in which the city of Bihac is located. Samples were collected from potable water supplies as well as natural springs, karst aquifers and the river itself and subjected to a range of chemical and biological analyses. Levels of ammonia, nitrites and phosphates were mostly below the accepted thresholds. On the other hand, evidence of elevated concentrations of faecal matter pointed to a lack of proper sewage treatment facilities in the area. This was particularly noticeable downstream of the city of Bihac. Therefore, the primary recommendation following from the project calls for the implementation of wastewater treatment. The team at the University of Bihac also studied residence times in karst aquifers using multiple tracer species. Residence times provide important feedback regarding water storage and pollutant accumulation. Furthermore, although no clear conclusions could be drawn, it was suspected that leaks from toxic material stored in former military facilities could also be contributing to the pollution load.
