Water Quality Protection Project - under WB-GEF Strategic Partnership for Nutrient Reduction in the Danube River and Black Sea

The Neretva River is important to the economy of BiH and the regional environment. It is the largest river draining the Adriatic karst zone and is one of the most beautiful and picturesque rivers in south eastern Europe. Its estuary, the Neretva Delta, is one of the few remaining Mediterranean wetlands. The Neretva is 225 km long, out of which 203 km is on the territory of B-H and the last 22 km on the territory of the Croatia. The Bosnia River originates in BiH and flows to Sava River into the Danube. The majority of the Bosnia from the Miljacka mouth into the Bosna into the Sava, and also of great economic importance to both countries. Urban growth and industrial, agricultural and power development have had a negative impact on the ecology of the Neretva basin, in particular the Delta wetlands. Untreated municipal wastewater from communities along the Neretva (population of the Neretva catchment area is 350, 000 out of which 115,000 is in urban areas along the River) is responsible for about a third of the Neretva and its tributaries being classified as polluted. Industrial wastewater from metal processing industries in the Mostar area, harbor operations in the Delta and intensive farming along the river banks have also contributed to the pollution.