GROUND SOAKED WITH SULPHURIC ACID TO BE CLEANED BY TUESDAY

ZAGREB, Oct 30 (Hina) - Croatia's Water Management said on Monday a water analysis of Slunjcica river indicated it had not been polluted by a sulphuric acid spill which leaked from an overturned cistern last Friday. The surrounding ground should be cleaned by Tuesday afternoon at the latest, the management said in a statement. The quality of drinking water in the Slunj area is being under non- stop monitoring. The Water Management has recommended that the competent sanitary inspection permit using water from the water-supply system for technological and sanitary requirements but not for drinking. Chief state water inspector Zeljko Makvic told Hina "it is possible that precipitation might wash sulphuric acid still concentrated underground down into the Slunjcica." "Additional measures of recovery and soil and water quality control will be taken in times of precipitation," he said. The grave ecological incident occurred last Friday when a cistern transporting 8,000 litres of sulphuric acid overturned due to excessive speed, spilling 7,500 litres of acid near the river from which Slunj, a town about 100 km south of Zagreb, derives drinking water. (hina) ha jn