D-CLEAN in Hrtkovci, Srem Region, Serbia

D-CLEAN pilot area feature | Serbia, Sava River basin

In the quiet village of Hrtkovci, in the Municipality of Ruma in Serbia's Srem district, everyday water use and a vital drinking water resource sit side by side. It is exactly the kind of place where D-CLEAN's approach to nature-based wastewater management can make a real difference.

A village next to a regional water source

Hrtkovci lies in the Sava River basin, close to the Hrtkovačka Draga groundwater source, which supplies drinking water to the wider region. That makes water protection especially important for local people.

At the same time, the village still lacks adequate wastewater treatment. There is no sewer network, no stormwater facility and no wastewater treatment plant. Wastewater is managed through individual on-site systems, mainly septic tanks. In a setting where groundwater is shallow and connected to the Sava River, everyday water use could affect this valuable resource.

Why Hrtkovci is a meaningful pilot

Plans already exist to introduce a small wastewater treatment plant. But the sensitive natural conditions mean that any solution must be particularly safe and reliable. This makes Hrtkovci a valuable real-life example of how wastewater can be treated without putting drinking water at risk.

By testing nature-based approaches here, the D-CLEAN pilot will show how practical, environmentally friendly solutions can be developed even in vulnerable areas, supporting both clean water and healthy communities.

Part of a bigger picture

D-CLEAN, Improving Water Quality in the Danube River Basin: Nature-Based Solutions for Sustainable Wastewater and Stormwater Management in Small Settlements, works in pilot areas across the Danube River Basin because every small community faces its own challenges: different landscapes, different risks and different local rules. In each pilot area, local communities, experts and decision-makers come together to design solutions that truly fit local needs. By testing ideas on the ground, the pilots show what works, what doesn't, and how sustainable, decentralised solutions can be scaled up to benefit many other communities across the region.

Key dates for the Srem pilot

• 6 October 2026: Study visit in Ljubljana. Organised by our Slovenian partners.

• November 2026: Training 1 Planned for November; the exact date will be confirmed soon.

• 24 February 2027: Training 2 On-site training delivered by BOKU, subject to any changes required by project coordination.

Pilot at a glance

• Location: Hrtkovci, Ruma Municipality, Srem Region, Serbia

• River basin: Sava

• Nearby water source: Hrtkovačka Draga groundwater source

• Sewer network: none

• Stormwater facility: none

• Wastewater treatment plant: none; individual on-site systems (mainly septic tanks)

The Srem pilot flyer is available in English and Serbian in the D-CLEAN library.