The Zrenjanin Public Health Institute has firmly refuted claims made by the Regulatory Institute for Renewable Energy and the Environment (RERI) regarding the safety of drinking water in Zrenjanin. RERI had alleged that the water supply in the city poses serious health risks due to the presence of carcinogenic arsenic and other harmful substances. In response, the Zrenjanin Public Health Institute issued a statement categorically denying these assertions, emphasizing that such claims could mislead the public about the water quality in Zrenjanin.

The Institute highlighted that it conducts regular testing of the water both at the water production facility and throughout the city. The results, according to the Institute, clearly indicate that the water is safe for consumption. The statement stressed the importance of responsible reporting on public health issues to prevent unnecessary fear and panic among residents. It also outlined the testing process, which involves three sampling points: the water factory, the city network (from the factory to the water meters), and the local network (from the water meters to the consumer’s tap).

Before lifting a previous ban on using the water for drinking, the Institute conducted hundreds of analyses, including final tests on September 29, October 1, and October 3, 2025. These analyses involved 36 samples and 936 parameters, all of which were found to be compliant. Additionally, tests conducted at the water factory’s output confirmed that all samples were within safe limits.

However, the Institute acknowledged that some samples taken from local facilities on September 30, 2025, showed elevated arsenic levels in three instances, although trihalomethane levels were within permissible limits. Further testing on October 2, 2025, revealed increased bromodichloromethane in two out of nine samples and elevated arsenic in one. The Institute advised that these isolated deviations should be interpreted in the context of measured concentrations, legal limits, and other analysis results.

The comprehensive testing conducted from October 13, 2025, to September 30, 2026, involved 434 water samples from 13 different measurement points within the local network. The findings showed a compliance rate of 94.7% for microbiological tests and 97% for physicochemical tests, indicating a high level of adherence to prescribed criteria. The Serbian Public Health Institute “Dr Milan Jovanović Batut” corroborated these findings, confirming that the water from the treatment plant is 100% safe for health, with local network samples showing the same high compliance rates.

Over the past year, the Zrenjanin Public Health Institute analyzed 11,000 parameters from 422 water tests at the water factory, with only one instance of increased aerobic mesophilic bacteria, which was still within acceptable limits. The water quality at the Zrenjanin plant is continuously monitored with internal analyses conducted hourly and external checks performed daily by the Public Health Institute at the factory’s request.

This statement from the Zrenjanin Public Health Institute aims to reassure the public about the safety of the city’s water supply and underscores the need for accurate and responsible communication on public health matters. The Institute’s rigorous testing and monitoring processes are intended to ensure that the water remains safe for all residents.