Following the initiated investigations against several persons who are reasonably suspected of being part of a criminal organisation that committed crimes against the environment and the economy in connection with waste entering the territory of Lika, including imports from other EU countries, the Institute added a new measuring station — Lika, Ostrvica Bridge to the water quality monitoring system on 5 March 2025.

Previously, the Institute already had one surface water quality monitoring station — Lika, Budak and two groundwater monitoring stations — Mrđenovac and Košna voda— – in operation for regular monitoring of the wider area of waste disposal and burial. From 2021 to 2023, the water quality at these sites was assessed as good. In view of the ongoing investigation, it was deemed necessary to introduce a new station significantly closer to the waste disposal and burial site, namely the Lika, Ostrvica Bridge monitoring station. This new monitoring station is located 1 km downstream and will detect possible surface water contamination that could be related to improper waste disposal and burial.

The list of indicators to be monitored includes basic physico-chemical indicators, heavy metals and indicators of priority and priority hazardous substances defined in the Regulation on Water Quality Standards. This activity was announced by the Minister of Environmental Protection and Green Transition, Marija Vučković, on 28 February during the programme “Poligraf – Political Graph.”

If the monitoring results at the newly established monitoring station indicate possible contamination related to activities being investigated by the competent authorities, monitoring will be extended along the Lika River and Lake Kruščica.