The Hrvatske Vode water management company's office in Osijek said on Sunday that water samples taken so far from the Danube River at Batina had not revealed any signs of pollution coming from Hungary as a consequence of an environmental disaster that happened northwest of Lake Balaton last Monday.
The accident happened when 1.1 million cubic metres of toxic red sludge leaked from an aluminium plant in western Hungary, about 250 kilometres from the Croatian border. The spill flooded seven villages, killing seven people and injuring around 150.
The water tests done so far by the Public Health Institute of Osijek-Baranja County show that the concentration of metals in the Danube does not exceed the maximum allowed level, and that the pH level is around 8.1, which is a normal level for the Danube, Hrvatske Vode officials told reporters.
The results refer to water samples taken on Saturday and Friday, and the results of samples taken today will be known in two days, the officials said in a comment on reports that a possible pollution wave in the Danube could arrive in Croatia on Sunday.
The officials at Hrvatske Vode in Osijek also said that considering the measures taken in Hungary after the environmental accident, no major problems were expected in Croatia.
