EU-funded projects modernize cross-border water management among Bosnia, Croatia, and Montenegro using GIS and sensors to combat leaks and improve supply.
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Cross-border water cooperation among Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Montenegro is essential due to their shared geography. While past large-scale projects faced crises during the 1990s wars, new initiatives are emerging. EU support through programs like Interreg has funded projects focusing on combining local socio-economic development with biodiversity protection. One such project, Waterlink, aims to modernize monitoring systems and distribution infrastructure in the Trebišnjica basin to improve drinking water supply and reduce technical losses caused by aging pipes and climate change impacts. The project utilizes a Geographic Information System (GIS) and digital sensors for real-time data on the regional network. Additionally, efforts are underway to enhance water quality monitoring and interconnect local water supplies. Despite the technological advancements, some critics argue that EU-led projects promote bureaucratic technical solutions rather than inclusive, bottom-up cooperation, advocating instead for a holistic approach integrating ecological, economic, and social planning.
