Trans-boundary Water Pollution

Surface and groundwater are complex concepts that imply biological communities suitable to pollutants from different sources. Also, these are water surfaces which often connect different countries determining their boundaries or passing through them. Therefore, a number of international legal acts prescribe protection of waters and prohibit their pollution. A particular problem is trans-boundary pollution of water, in which a pollutant is located in one country, and the consequences of pollution are visible in other countries. Due to the connection of trans-boundary pollution with the health of people and their property, activities aimed at halting pollution and ways of reducing harmful consequences are envisaged. By analyzing international and domestic legislation one determines the concrete rights and obligations of polluters and the damaged party. In addition, the paper analyzes the last case of over current pollution of water that started in Bosnia and Herzegovina, passed through Croatia and has ended in the Republic of Serbia, as well as a proposal for ratification of a new international instrument to strengthen protection against this type of pollution.