Inspectorate Investigates Fish Kill in Sava River; Water and Fish Samples Collected

Croatia's State Inspectorate has launched an investigation into a significant fish kill observed in the Sava River. The incident spans a considerable stretch, from Dubrovčak Lijevi near Ivanić Grad all the way to Zagreb. Water inspectors confirmed the fish mortality based on reports from Croatian Waters' waterkeepers. The investigation is actively underway, with water samples collected from the affected area to determine the cause, including potential pollution. The veterinary inspectorate is also involved, having collected viable fish samples for laboratory testing to exclude infectious diseases as the cause. Meanwhile, Zagrebački Holding, responsible for the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant of the City of Zagreb (CUPOVZ), has stated that its purification processes are functioning continuously and without disruption. The company insists that all output parameters for treated wastewater comply with legal regulations and denies any extraordinary events at the plant that could have led to the fish kill. They clarified that the company Vodoopskrba i odvodnja (ViO) is not responsible for monitoring the biological, chemical, and physical quality of the Sava River, especially concerning drought conditions or their impact on aquatic life, as this falls under the jurisdiction of Hrvatske vode (Croatian Waters).

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Water inspectors of the State Inspectorate, upon receiving notification of dead fish in the Sava River and within their jurisdiction, requested a report from Croatian Waters' waterkeepers, based on which the fish kill was confirmed from Dubrovčak Lijevi near Ivanić Grad to Zagreb, the central wastewater treatment plant of Zagreb.