• The Romanian side has ended the warning

On January 20, the Danube Region Basin Directorate (DRBD) received a message from the Romanian side, ending the warning regarding the sunken barge in the Danube River. The message stated that the concentrations of pollutants had fallen below the threshold values. The results of the analysis of the water samples collected between January 15 and 19 by the Romanian side did not reveal any exceedances of the permissible values for the pollutants monitored.

The DRBD carried out extraordinary monitoring to assess the impact on the waters of the Danube River following the message received on January 13 about the sunken barge loaded with nitrogen fertilizers on the territory of the town of Zimnich, Romania.

The water sampling was commissioned by the BDDR and carried out by the Executive Environmental Agency (EEA) on 15.01.2026 with the aim of:

- identifying potential pollution of the Danube River in the area of the sunken barge near the town of Svishtov - water samples were taken from nine points;

- monitoring the potential spread of pollution along the Danube River - water samples were taken before the town of Ruse from three points.

The samples were analyzed for the following indicators: active reaction (pH), electrical conductivity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, BOD5, COD, undissolved substances, ammonium nitrogen, nitrite nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, total nitrogen, orthophosphates like phosphorus, total phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, and alkalinity.

The results of the chemical analysis show compliance with the standards for good condition. An exception was found only in the measured concentrations of the phosphorus indicator as orthophosphates and total phosphorus, which is typical for the waters of the Danube River and is found in comparable concentrations in all samples.

Additionally, in the period from 13 to 19 January, the Romanian side received results from daily tests of the waters of the Danube River in the area of the sunken barge (from three points - upstream from the sunken barge, towards the barge and downstream from the sunken barge). Deviations from the norms for good water status were found only in the results of the samples taken on 14 January, when deviations were found in the indicators ammonium nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen in the sample taken from a point downstream from the sunken barge.

The BDDR continues to monitor the situation, and in order to monitor and assess the risk of pollution of the waters of the Danube River, repeated water sampling was ordered on 22 January near Svishtov and on 23 January before Ruse.