Leskovac health official denies falsifying water quality results amid citizen group's claims

An employee of the Leskovac Institute for Public Health, Dr. Ivana Mitić, has responded to accusations from the informal citizens' group "Bitka za Vlasinu" (Battle for Vlasina). The group claims that falsified water quality analysis results for the Vlasina swimming area misled the public and has filed criminal charges against responsible parties at the Institute and the Vlasotince Municipality.

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Fecal bacteria are within the limits of permissible values in all examined water samples for bathing in the Vlasina River.

Dr. Mitić, a hygiene specialist, stated she has a professional and moral responsibility to clarify the facts, as she was named as the responsible person in the group's statement. She explained that the Vlasina River and the swimming area above the dam are not overrun with fecal bacteria. Mitić clarified the crucial difference between total coliform bacteria, which are common and generally harmless saprophytes, and fecal coliform bacteria, such as E. coli, which indicate potential contamination from human or animal waste and pose a health risk.

According to Mitić, all tested samples of the Vlasina River's bathing water showed fecal bacteria levels within the permissible limits. She emphasized that total coliform bacteria are ubiquitous and not inherently harmful, but their presence necessitates further testing for pathogenic fecal coliforms. Her initial expert opinion, detailed in Report OV-2026-113, recommended the water was not safe for swimming due to these parameters.

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Total coliform bacteria are commonly present in our environment and are generally not harmful. These are saprophytic bacteria normally found in the intestines of humans and animals, in water and soil.

However, Mitić consulted with specialists from the Institute for Public Health "Dr Milan Jovanović Batut" and the Institute for Public Health Niš. They directed her to the relevant European Parliament Directive on bathing water quality. Based on this directive and epidemiological data, which showed no previous issues with harmful bacteria in the past four years, she issued a second expert opinion in Report OV-2026-118. This second report, which confirmed the water's safety for swimming, was based on the EU directive and confirmed that fecal coliform bacteria levels were within safe limits.

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My initial opinion and recommendation in the first Report on Testing OV-2026-113 was that the water was not for swimming.