Preliminary tests show Vardar foam within permitted limits; final analyses due August 4, 2026
Initial readings delivered by the City of Skopje fall within legal limits; accredited lab results are expected on 4 August 2026.
Preliminary laboratory results indicate that the white foam observed in the Vardar River near the confluence with the Lepenec on 24 July 2026 are within permitted limits, while final accredited analyses are due on 4 August 2026.
The City of Skopje delivered the initial findings to the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, which said the preliminary values do not exceed legal thresholds for discharge into surface waters.
“In relation to the registered occurrence of white waste foam in the Vardar River at the inflow of the Lepenec River on 24 July 2026, the State Inspectorate for Environment, in coordination with all competent institutions, immediately undertook a series of extraordinary field and laboratory activities. Inspectors of the SIE carried out extraordinary inspections at industrial entities in the zone that fall under state jurisdiction. During the inspections no legal irregularities were recorded, i.e. the entities acted in accordance with the prescribed conditions in the environmental permits for wastewater management,” the ministry said.
Officials stressed that water quality in that stretch of the river is affected by multiple sources — including municipal and stormwater inputs and the activity of numerous businesses along the banks — and that competent agencies are acting in a coordinated manner to determine the cause.
Sampling and next steps
The public utility Public Enterprise Vodovod i Kanalizacija – Skopje took water samples at the disputed location and delivered a preliminary report dated 29 July to the ministry. That report shows the analysed physico‑chemical parameters do not exceed the limit values for discharge into surface waters.
At the request of the State Inspectorate for Environment, additional samples were taken by an accredited laboratory. The finalized laboratory report will be submitted to the Inspectorate and the Ministry on Tuesday, 4 August 2026, after which the public will be timely and transparently informed about the final results.
Authorities also noted that an unknown substance carried from the Lepenec into the Vardar prompted investigative actions; a drone was used in efforts to locate the source or responsible party.
Photo: press material from the event
