Alexander Kirschner and Andreas Farnleitner from ICC Water & Health were responsible for the comprehensive microbiological testing program. In addition to Alexander Kirschner, the Austrian sampling team from KL and MedUniWien consisted of Alexandra Fobe, Mats Leifels, and Ofélia Kirschner. They were actively supported by a three-member team from the University of Belgrade.
A total of 68 water samples were taken to investigate fecal contamination and the spread of antibiotic resistance using state-of-the-art molecular biological methods along the entire river and its main tributaries. The samples were taken by car and rubber dinghy and analyzed in six partner laboratories or prepared for later analysis.
A first glance at the data shows that microbiological water quality in EU countries has continued to improve significantly over the last six years. Only in the central region of non-EU member Serbia is the pollution level extremely high in some areas, as there is still no wastewater treatment system in place.