In Belgrade's glitzy Waterfront district, a putrid surprise lurks beneath the surface 💀. A sewage-filled stream flows unchecked into the Sava River—one of 60,000 Olympic pool-sized discharges of untreated wastewater Serbia releases annually, according to government data. 🏙️
Residents with floating homes avoid swimming, while anglers report dwindling fish populations. “It stinks. We don’t even buy local fish anymore,” says Dejan Nikolic, a riverside homeowner who hasn’t taken a dip in years.
While Belgrade battles notorious air pollution, experts warn its water crisis could sink EU membership hopes 🇪🇺. The bloc requires 90% wastewater treatment for entry—Serbia currently processes just 15%. Neighbors like Albania and Bosnia face similar challenges, but Serbia ranks dead last in Europe for sewage management, notes Mirko Popovic of Belgrade’s Renewables Institute.
The environmental toll extends beyond borders: toxic flows from the Sava eventually reach the Danube River, impacting wildlife across multiple countries 🐟🌍. With EU accession talks ongoing, Serbia faces rising pressure to modernize its infrastructure—a challenge requiring billions in investment and political will. For now, Belgraders hold their noses and hope for change. 🤞
