Plastic pollution of Potpecko Lake, Serbia

Problems

• Potpecko Lake is an artificial lake created by a dam on the Lim River in southwest Serbia. It is also the site of a hydroelectric plant that provides electricity to the region. However, every winter, the lake becomes a huge garbage dump, as the river carries tons of plastic and other waste from unregulated landfills in Serbia, Montenegro, and Bosnia. This seriously threatens the environment, wildlife, water quality, and dam functioning.

• Causes of pollution in Potpecko Lake

  The problem of plastic pollution in Potpecko Lake has been going on for years, but it has worsened recently due to heavy rains and melting snows that increased the water level and the flow of trash. According to local activists, the volume of waste accumulated on the lake reached about 20,000 cubic meters in January 2021. The garbage covers almost the entire surface of the lake, forming a thick layer that blocks sunlight and oxygen from reaching the water. This affects the aquatic life, the lake's ecosystem, and the health and livelihood of the people who depend on it.

• Consequences of plastic getting into a reservoir

  The plastic waste also endangers the operation of the hydroelectric plant, which could be damaged or clogged by the debris. The plant produces about 10% of Serbia’s electricity, so any disruption could seriously affect the country’s energy supply and economy. Moreover, plastic pollution could contaminate the drinking water sources for nearby towns and villages and cause flooding and landslides.

• Actions taken to solve the problem

  In response to this ecological disaster, Serbian authorities ordered an immediate clean-up of the lake in January 2021. Two barges were deployed to collect and transport the garbage to a landfill about 80 kilometers away. The clean-up operation was expected to last several weeks and cost millions of euros. However, this is only a temporary solution that does not address the root cause of the problem: the lack of proper waste management and environmental regulations in the region.