Dr. Nataša Čereković, Research Associate and Project Manager at the University of Banja Luka, participated from 31 August to 2 September 2026 in the meeting of Working Group 4 (WG4) and the workshop of COST Action CA21112 “Offshore Freshened Groundwater: An Unconventional Water Resource in Coastal Regions?” (OFF-SOURCE), held at the University of Aveiro in Portugal.
During the three-day meeting, members of Working Group 4 focused on preparing a technical report on the regulatory, institutional and governance aspects of research into and potential use of undersea fresh groundwater - Offshore Freshened Groundwater (OFG).
Particular attention was devoted to developing recommendations for decision-makers, with the aim of establishing an appropriate legal and institutional framework before any potential large-scale exploitation of this unconventional water resource.
Dr. Čereković actively participated in analyzing and harmonizing the content that will form the basis for the final technical report, as well as for a potential scientific and professional publication planned with Springer.
Key recommendations have so far been formulated concerning the recognition of OFG resources within water management systems, their characterization, environmental impact assessment, licensing and monitoring, as well as the transboundary management of these resources.
One of the conclusions reached by the Working Group is that the mere identification of Offshore Freshened Groundwater does not automatically mean that it is suitable for use. Before any potential exploitation, it is necessary to conduct a detailed characterization of the resource, assess environmental risks, and ensure that its use is in the public interest and consistent with the principles of sustainable water resource management.
The participation of a University of Banja Luka representative in this COST activity contributes to strengthening the University's international scientific cooperation and its involvement in research focused on new and unconventional water resources.
The particular importance of this research lies in the need to develop modern approaches to water resource management in the context of climate change and increasing pressure on available water resources.
