Montenegro is rich in water. But water is no longer a resource that we can take for granted. Climate change is changing the hydrological regime, and with it our relationship to water. Current droughts, the decline in the yield of certain springs, and the need for more rational use of water are a warning of what the future may hold.
When talking about water in Montenegro, we must not lose sight of one important fact: Montenegro is a hydrologically very rich country. According to hydrological analyses, the average runoff on the territory of Montenegro is around 595 m³/s, which corresponds to an annual volume of approximately 18,75 billion m³ of water. The estimated available water potential is around 13,76 billion m³ per year.
A special feature of Montenegro is its great spatial and hydrological diversity. Our territory belongs to the Adriatic and Black Sea basins. The Adriatic basin covers about 6.268 km², and the Black Sea basin about 7.545 km². Although smaller, the Adriatic basin provides more than half of the total runoff, with an average specific runoff of about 59,5 l/s/km², while for the Black Sea basin it is about 31 l/s/km².
This wealth stems from the natural characteristics of Montenegro - high mountains, large altitude differences, abundant rainfall and, in particular, highly developed karst systems. But it is precisely the karst that represents both a special feature and a challenge. Water often does not flow where we expect it to based on the surface relief. Some of the water disappears underground, appearing at springs, abysses and springs, so hydrological and hydrogeological watersheds often do not coincide. This is why our water resources are also sensitive resources.
WHAT DOES CLIMATE CHANGE BRING?
Climate change does not necessarily mean that Montenegro will run out of water. It is much more serious and realistic to talk about changing its hydrological regime.
The pattern and intensity of precipitation are changing, dry periods are lengthening, temperatures are rising, and extreme precipitation is becoming more pronounced. Climate projections indicate further increases in temperature and decreases in precipitation in the future, especially during summer.
This is especially important for water. It is not the same when 1.500 millimeters of rain falls. If a large part of that amount occurs in a short period, followed by a long and hot dry summer, the annual balance may look relatively favorable, while the actual water availability in the critical period may be much less favorable.
Therefore, the issue of water resources cannot be viewed only through the total annual amount of water. The question of its temporal and spatial distribution, as well as the ability to preserve it in periods when it is most needed, is becoming increasingly important.
EUROPE IS ALREADY CHANGING ITS ATTITUDE TOWARDS WATER
The problem is not only Montenegrin. The European Union has been developing a water management policy based on the protection of surface and groundwater and management at river basin level for decades. The 2000 Water Framework Directive laid the foundations for such an approach, while the 2025 European Water Resilience Strategy further emphasizes droughts, water scarcity, monitoring, use efficiency and protection of the water cycle.
The reason is simple: water is becoming one of the key issues for Europe's future. According to data from the European climate service Copernicus, around 70% of European rivers had annual flows below average in 2025, with May and June being among the periods with the most pronounced low flows in the available data set. This is a serious warning, although the situation varies from region to region.
WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO IN MONTENEGRO?
Our wealth of water does not absolve us of responsibility - quite the opposite. It is necessary to significantly improve hydrological and hydrogeological monitoring, renew and expand the measurement network and form a reliable, unique and up-to-date database on surface and groundwater. Decisions on water use must be based on real and continuously collected data.
Groundwater requires special attention. In the karst terrains of Montenegro, they represent a huge natural potential, but at the same time they are very sensitive to changes in the recharge regime and to deterioration of quality. In some areas, we still do not have enough data on their reserves, mutual connections and possibilities of sustainable use.
It is equally important that all interventions in the area that may affect the water regime and water quality are planned and controlled based on appropriate hydrological and hydrogeological data. Water protection cannot be an afterthought. It must be an integral part of planning and decision-making before the intervention is implemented.
And that is why it is not enough to have good laws and planning documents. State institutions must consistently perform the tasks entrusted to them by law - from planning, issuing conditions and permits, through monitoring and control, to protecting sources and water bodies. Only in this way can legal water protection become real protection on the ground.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
We must not allow the current droughts to lead us to conclude that Montenegro is water-poor. We are not. But we can no longer live with the idea that water is unlimited. and that there will always be enough when we need it most.
Montenegro has great water resources. This is confirmed by hydrological data, its rivers, springs, lakes and groundwater. But climate change warns that the value of water will increase in the future.
Therefore, the question of the future is not just: how much water do we have? The much more important question is: how much will we preserve, how will we manage it, and will we leave it for future generations?
Water is our natural wealth. But wealth that is not preserved - over time, ceases to be wealth.
The author is a B.Sc. Eng.
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