Waste Piles Up Again in Tunnel Above the Jadro Spring
Despite last year's cleanup, illegal dump once again threatens groundwater that supplies thousands in Dalmatia.
Despite last year's cleanup, illegal dump once again threatens groundwater that supplies thousands in Dalmatia.
New shock at the Jadro River spring. Footage showing piles of waste in the tunnel above one of Dalmatia's most valuable natural treasures has spread across social media, and the public institution 'More i krš' confirms that the illegal dump has reappeared at a location that was cleaned up as recently as last year.
The ranger service of the public institution 'More i krš' first recorded the tunnel as an illegal dump back in 2025. At that time, they went to the site, filed a report, and notified the State Inspectorate. The waste was subsequently removed on the initiative of the institution, in cooperation with the Municipality of Klis and the City of Solin.
"We had information that the tunnel was being used as an illegal dump, and in 2025 our ranger service went to the site, filed a report, and informed the State Inspectorate. After that, on the initiative of the institution, in cooperation with the Municipality of Klis and the City of Solin, the waste was removed," said Domagoj Lažeta, director of the public institution 'More i krš', for Slobodna Dalmacija.
The Majdan, Kosa road leads to the tunnel, which stretches across the territory of two local government units: a smaller part belongs to the Municipality of Klis, while the larger part falls under the City of Solin. The local authorities are responsible for the disposal of improperly discarded waste and for addressing the communal aspect of the case, while the powers of nature protectors derive from the site's status and level of protection.
The protection team will visit the site again to assess the current situation, file an official report, and collect photographic evidence. The report will, as in previous years, be forwarded to the State Inspectorate, and information about the situation on the ground will be provided to the City of Solin and the Municipality of Klis. It is still unknown who dumped the waste inside the tunnel after last year's cleanup operation.
The public institution 'More i krš' emphasizes that, although waste removal is not directly within their remit, they pay special attention to waste in speleological sites due to its potential impact on groundwater.
"The public institution 'More i krš' pays special attention to the removal of waste from speleological sites because it poses a threat to groundwater. We are just beginning the removal of waste from three speleological sites in the Split-Dalmatia County, and in cooperation with our founder, the Split-Dalmatia County, we are preparing the removal of waste from six more speleological sites," Lažeta said.
The institution stresses that, in line with its powers, it will take all possible measures to determine the actual situation and promptly notify the relevant institutions. An inquiry has also been sent to the State Inspectorate to find out what was done following the 2025 report and what measures will be taken after the new report, and their response will be published as soon as it is received.
