Josip A. Bać was born in 1902 in Prijedor, Bosnia & Herzegovina. His father, who was a technical clerk in the administration of Bosnia & Herzegovina, suddenly passed away after the family moved to Sarajevo. As a result of his father’s death, his mother Marija was left alone to feed and educate him and his four brothers [3].

In these difficult circumstances, he completed primary and secondary school in Sarajevo. After graduation from the secondary technical school, in 1921 he travels to Vienna for further education graduate school [3]. He does not remain there for long as he is forced to give up due to a lack of financial support. He returns to Sarajevo, disappointed but not defeated, knowing well that it is only a matter of time before he can realise his dream of becoming a qualified engineer. In Sarajevo he lands a job in the General Directorate of the Water Authority as a means of financially supporting himself and advancing his career.

From 1922 to 1926, he was part of the General Directorate of the Water Authority and the regional hydrotechnical department in Sarajevo. From 1924 to 1926 he was the head of the hydrotechnical department in Livno (drainage, water supply, and landscaping torrent). In 1926 his dream of furthering his education becomes a reality. He travels to Prague where he enrols in the Prague Technical College and on March 5, 1936 graduates as a civil engineer, specialising in hydraulic engineering [1].

After graduating in Prague, he worked as a hydraulic engineer in various institutions and parts of Yugoslavia, but predominantly all over Bosnia and Herzegovina. At the time, he was one of a handful of highly qualified hydraulic engineers in the western Balkan region.

Right after liberation of the country in WWII, in 1945, he is assigned to the Ministry of Infrastructure of the Socialist Republic of Bosnia & Herzegovina as the head of the hydraulic engineering department [3].

He began his teaching career at University level in 1948 at, what at the time was known as, the Federal Technical School for Mountain Management in Sarajevo. In 1950 he was promoted to associate professor in the newly founded Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry in Sarajevo. In 1959 he moved across to the Department of Civil Engineering in the Faculty of Technology, University of Sarajevo, where he had been teaching part-time since 1952.

He was a permanent research associate in the Department of Hydraulic Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering since 1954. From 1955 he was a research associate in the Department of Balneology and Medical Climatology SR BiH in Sarajevo - Ilidža, and in the same year he was appointed a research associate at the Institute of Balneology of the People's Republic of Slovenia in Rogaška Slatina.

He was promoted to full professor at the Faculty of Civil Engineering in 1965. In 1967 he became corresponding member, and in 1973 a regular member of the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ANUBiH) [14].

For success and commitment in professional and research work he received numerous awards and recognitions. He is awarded the ZAVNOBiH award, July 27 and April 6 awards [15], and 5 Yugoslav state decorations. He is recognised as an honorary citizen of Rogaška Slatina and Gornja Radgona in Slovenia, Teslić and Gračanica in Bosnia & Herzegovina for his incredible work. He is credited with saving numerous towns by finding water sources required to sustain the population. Furthermore, he is recognised as an honorary member of many professional organizations and institution that prof. Bać significantly contributed to through his life’s work.

Of significant interest is the fact that Prof. Bać was decorated with 2 high Austrian decorations, namely: the Great Honorary Order of Merit (Das grosse Ehrenzeichen fur Verdienste) and the Silver cross for merit (Das silberne Komturkreuz des Ehrenzeichens fur Verdienste). Both decorations were handed to him in gratitude for his successful interventions on the grounds of the Republic of Austria. For the merits in finding drinking water in Slano near Dubrovnik, the inhabitants of this place erected a memorial fountain in his honor [2].

During his long career, Prof. Bać stood out not only as a highly recognized hydrotechnical expert, but as a notable scientific researcher. His original methods of work, in the field of hydro-balneology and balneotechnics are known and highly valued in the former Yugoslavia, as well as abroad. An overview of the works of Prof. Bać clearly show the breadth and successes of his professional and scientific activities.

It can be seen that, in addition to teaching and engagement in various professional and organizational work, he found time to articulate his investigations into scientific publications, especially in the fields of balneohydrology and balneology [1]. His original conceptual ideas were verified in peer reviewed publications in our country and abroad.

Under the leadership of Prof. Bać, successful investigative and catchment works of numerous thermo-mineral waters were undertaken, especially in the former Yugoslav republics. Many of these locations are today highly successful health resorts, contributing millions into local economies, largely thanks Prof. Bać. Here are just a few of them:

Slovenia: Rogaška Slatina, Radenci, Military health resort in Rimske toplice, Terme in Podčetrtek;

Bosnia & Herzegovina: Banja Ilidza in Gradacac, Kiseljak [6], Banja Fojnica, Klokoti near Kiseljak, Banja Vrućica, Vitinka kiseljak in Kozluk near Zvornik, Visegradska Banja, gaseous thermal spring in Boljanić near Gračanica; Ozren therme [13]

Croatia: Istarske toplice, Stubičke toplice, Varaždinske toplice, thermal bath in Lipik;

Serbia: Vica near Prokuplje, Smederevska Palanka;

Austria: Bad Tatzmannsdorf, Bad Mitterndorf, Bad Schonau; Italy: Casamicciola (Ischia Island); Germany: Urach, Baden- Wurttemberg;

Prof. Bać. approached problem solving with a multidisciplinary mindset, connecting hydrological and geological elements of individual water source areas with hydraulic elements of the catchment structure. He strived to achieve optimal conditions expressed by the height of the piezometric level (surface that defines the level to which water in a confined aquifer would rise were it completely pierced with wells.), yield and quality of the affected water. In contrast to the traditional shallow interventions of thermo-mineral waters, which cannot achieve optimal results, Prof. Bać applied deep drilling techniques and became a pioneering expert in the domain [1].

To illustrate the significance of the scientific and professional work Prof. Bać it is worth examining his problem solving through case studies. Rogaška Slatina in Slovenia, for over three centuries was a well-known mineral water health resort [1] [7]. Very modest quantities of mineral water were uncovered occasionally, often with prolonged onset of demineralization. The rapid development of Rogaška Slatina as a health resort at the beginning of the 19th century meant a rapid increase in demand for quality mineral water. The problem becomes interesting for numerous researchers, as evidenced by numerous references in literature [1].

The discovery of new sources and the rehabilitation works of old sources in the last century, could not quantitatively or qualitative meet the mineral water demands. In 1907, solving the mineral water problem was entrusted to the Viennese geologist Dr. J. Knett, a well-known expert for the intervention in thermo-mineral waters in the territory of the former Austro-Hungarian monarchy.

To capture mineral water in the narrower source area, Knett applied, very extensive and expensive works by uncovering 1000 square meters of terrain to a depth of up to 10 m below the ground. These efforts did not yield positive results either, moreover, the harmful consequences became more evident with time. Special commissions were formed to address this problem and some remedial work was undertaken.

After World War II, the water source situation became increasingly critical, and the survival of Rogaška Slatina as a health resort altogether comes into serious question. In autumn of 1951, prof. Bać is asked to intervene and save the day.  He travels to Slovenia to propose intervening measures. His proposed solution to the commission, in comparison to all the work undertaken to date, was revolutionary. Since these were gaseous mineral springs, shallow wells interventions (which were applied throughout the previous centuries) were not fit for purpose and moreover very harmful.

A large number of existing wells, some of which were not even used, enabled unnecessary loss of gas, critical to the mineral springs of this area. The beneficial effect of gas on the source mechanism, ie. on the increase of piezometric levels and increasing the yield of the source, was not taken into account at all by previous investigators.

The overflow levels of shallow affected springs were well below the mean level of the surrounding groundwater. Prof. Bać suggested that rehabilitation works of existing wells be completely ignored. Mineral water should be extracted through deep drilling and prior to drilling all existing wells should be sealed.

Prof. Bać’s solution was so unique from all previous proposals, that it was met with scepticism and was not accepted as a solution immediately. Although the government of Slovenia did not explicitly reject the solution either, they asked prof. Bać to bore holes and explore the narrower source area for the purpose of insights into the hydrogeological and tectonic relations. In the meantime, Prof. Bać further refined his proposed solution, presenting it towards the end of June 1952 to the commission and having it unanimously accepted. He immediately commences by sealing all existing shallow wells and on July 2 1952 drills the first structural wells at a depth of 28 m, discovering highly mineralized water with a positive piezometric level and a water jet range of 9 m above the surface terrain. The problem which hampered the health resort for centuries was solved in only 8 days by Prof. Bać. Furthermore, Prof. Bać suggested that the CO2 gas released from source can be used for economic and especially health purposes (dry baths), which until that time were not available or known of in Yugoslavia [3].

The new wells provided sufficient data on hydrogeological, stratigraphic, tectonic relations not only on the narrower geographic source area, but much wider. Extraordinary data on the mechanism of gaseous sources and CO2 impact on water mineralization was attained in this period.

Prof. Bać spends the next few years working intensively on generalization and synthesisation of the results of his numerous works, striving to connect them in a broader spatial context. He published important works with local context such as "Occurrences of thermal baths and sorrows along the Busovaca fault" (“Pojave termi i kiseljaka duž Busovačkog rasjeda” and "Occurrences, balneological solutions and rational use of thermo-mineral waters and carbon dioxide in the area of ​​the Bosna river basin" (“Pojave, balneotehnička rješenja zahvata i racionalno korišćenje termomineralnih voda i ugljičnog dioksida na prostoru sliva rijeke Bosne”) [1].

In the fields of balneohydrology and balneotechnics prior to World War II, experts and scientists in Bosnia & Herzegovina and Yugoslavia were exclusively foreign (Knett, Kampe, Mauerer, etc.). Thanks to Prof. Bać, that substantially changes. Our long reliance on foreign intellectual input begins to shift towards home grown talent. Not only does Prof. Bać minimise the reliance on foreign experts but he becomes recognised across Europe as one of the eminent experts in these domains.  

It is very important to note that Prof. Bać successfully applied depth drilling methods in ​​karst topography (topography formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks such as limestone, dolomite, and gypsum) for drinking water at the following sites:

• Slano near Dubrovnik • Studenac near Mostar • Ostrožac near Duvno • wider and narrower area of ​​Cazin

• wider and narrower area of ​​Velika Kladuša • wider and narrower area of ​​Gračanica

• Sarajevo - within the Sarajevo Brewery and in the wider area of ​​Sarajevo valley.

With his research observations he contributed significantly contribute to better understanding the occurrence and character groundwater in the Sarajevo valley. As a result of his advice, short depth wells become a thing of the past and deep drilling for groundwater becomes common practice.

Prof. Bać wrote and contributed to over 100 scientific works in the fields of general hydraulic engineering and hydrobalnology. The number is even more significant when we take into account the era in which he conducted his work and the fact that he served as a field expert rather than only spending his time in research labs.

Thanks to Prof. Bać’s work, the reliance on foreign hydrological intellect shifts towards home grown talent. Not only does Prof. Bać minimise the reliance on foreign experts but he becomes recognised across Europe as one of the eminent experts in these domains.  

A year after his death in 1986, a collection of prof. Bać’s works were published by the The Academy of Sciences and Arts of BiH (ANUBiH) and that until 2010 there was a complete gap in public acknowledgement of his name. In 2011 journalist Raif Čehajić started researching Prof. Bać [1]. On March 22 of 2016, World Water Day, a book devoted to the life and work of prof. Bać “Akademik Josip Bać, znameniti istraživač podzemnih voda“ was published by journalist Raif Čehajić [3]

In late 2016, a sculpture of prof. Bać was unveiled in the town of Kiseljak. The importance of his work in the development of Kiseljak and the source of mineral water, according to which the town bears the name, is invaluable. prof. Bać spent two decades living and working in Kiseljak. A part of park in front of Sarajevski Kiseljak headquarters also bears his name [16].

In 2019, in celebration of 155 years of operation, Sarajevo Brewery launched a series of promotional videos to depict their long history. One of the videos is dedicated to prof. Bać. The production of "Sarajevo beer" grew with increasing demand, and in the early seventies the fear that not all lovers would be able to be satisfied was more than realistic. The existing water well all but stopped working. In 1974 the brewery envisaged the production of 600,000 hectolitres in the first phase per year, and in another as much as a million! Prof. Josip Bać was called in for help. Using his vast scientific experience, Bać researched the configuration of the surroundings of Sarajevo, and determined that a rich water source can be found where few people would look for it - in the yard of "Sarajevo Brewery", at depth of 300 meters! When the pipes reached that depth, the highest quality water started erupting in jets to the surface. A few years later, another well was dug, and in the meantime, the old well was also put back into function. The brewery had twice as much water as needed. The work of Prof. Josip Bać not only saved the brewery operation but would years later save thousands of Sarajevo citizens because the very same wells were of vital importance to citizens during the nearly four-year siege of Sarajevo [10].

A 500 meter long street in Velika Kladusa bears his name [11].

Located in Kozluk (near Zvornik), a village in eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina, Vitinka is a leading bottled mineral water company nestled in a natural paradise of gorges, caves and burbling underground streams. Prof. Josip Bać led the expedition that uncovered this source of water in the 1970’s. Vitinka proudly recognised Prof. Bać’s contributions to their source of water on the website and social media “He did not look for sources. They already existed. He was looking for a place where water erupts with the strength of stone. Water that awakens the entirety of nature. Water that awakens every man. The expedition of academician Josip Bać was looking natural mineral water but instead they found our Vitinka.

“Nije tražio izvore. Oni su već postojali. Tražio je mjesto gdje izbija voda kamene snage. Voda koja budi cijelu prirodu. Voda koja budi svakog čovjeka.
Ekspedicija akademika Josipa Baća, znamenitog istraživača podzemnih voda, je tražila sasvim prirodnu mineralnu vodu. Pronašli su našu Vitinku.”

Bosnia & Herzegovina Futures Foundation would like to thank the following individuals and organisations for the contributions to this tribute page:

Academic Prof. Dr. Julije Hahamović Academic Prof. Dr. Aleksandar Trumić and Dr. Eddie Custovic

1.      Julije Hahamović i Aleksandar Trumić, O životu i istraživačkom radu Josipa A. Baća (sa bibliografijom od 1984.), Radovi Akademije nauka BiH, knjiga LXX- IX, odjeljenje tehničkih nauka, knj. 10, Zbornik radova posvećenih akademiku Josipu A. Baću, Sarajevo, 1986. str. 7–22

2.      “Oslobođenje - Pioniri hidrotehnike u BiH: Veliki istraživač podzemnih voda,” www.oslobodjenje.ba, Apr. 20, 2018. https://www.oslobodjenje.ba/magazin/tehnologija/nauka/pioniri-hidrotehnike-u-bih-veliki-istrazivac-podzemnih-voda-357313 (accessed Oct. 05, 2021).

3.      Raif Čehajić, Akademik Josip Bać : znameniti istraživač podzemnih voda. Sarajevo: Dobra Knjiga, 2016.

4.      B. Stojnić, “FELJTON (7): Banja Vrućica, vijek u službi zdravlja,” Nezavisne novine, Oct. 12, 2019. https://www.nezavisne.com/zivot-stil/zivot/FELJTON-7-Banja-Vrucica-vijek-u-sluzbi-zdravlja/562649 (accessed Oct. 05, 2021).

5.      “About us,” Hotel Terme Ozren. https://termeozren.com/en/about-us/ (accessed Oct. 06, 2021).

6.      “Kompanija,” Sarajevski kiseljak. http://www.sarajevski-kiseljak.ba/ba/povijest/kompanija/ (accessed Oct. 06, 2021).

7.      “Story,” Donat. https://www.donat.mg/tradition/ (accessed Oct. 06, 2021).

8.      Josip Bać et al., Moguće razvojne komponente opštine Ilidža u kontekstu razvoja grada Sarajeva : savjetovanje,(Ilidža, 28. i 29. marta 1985). Ilidža: Skupština Opštine, 1985.

9.      “Istraživač podzemnih voda,” www.jergovic.com. https://www.jergovic.com/ajfelov-most/istrazivac-podzemnih-voda/ (accessed Oct. 06, 2021).

10.   “Source.ba:Znameniti istraživač podzemnih voda pomogao ljubiteljima piva širom BiH,” Source.ba. https://www.source.ba/clanak/Zanimljivosti/502516/Znameniti-istrazivac-podzemnih-voda-pomogao-ljubiteljima-piva-sirom-BiH (accessed Oct. 06, 2021).

11.   “Ulicama moga grada: Ulica „Profesora Josipa Baća“,” Radio Velika Kladuša, Oct. 17, 2017. https://www.radiovkladusa.ba/ulicama-moga-grada-ulica-profesora-josipa-baca/ (accessed Oct. 06, 2021).

12.   O. Suljkanović, “TERMALNE VODE NA PODRUČJU OPĆINE VELIKA LADUŠA,” Centar za krš i speleologiju. http://www.centarzakrs.ba/bh/images/stories/nas_krs/nk_33-34_2000-01%20(7).pdf (accessed Oct. 06, 2021).

13.   “Prirodno bogatstvo iz kojeg svi mogu profitirati,” Avaz.ba, Jan. 04, 2015. https://avaz.ba/vijesti/teme/156073/prirodno-bogatstvo-iz-kojeg-svi-mogu-profitirati (accessed Oct. 06, 2021).

14.   “Preminuli članovi,” www.anubih.ba. https://www.anubih.ba/index.php/bs/clanstvo/preminuli-clanovi (accessed Oct. 06, 2021).

15.   “Šestoaprilska nagrada Grada Sarajeva - Bosnian Wikipedia,” Wikipedia - WikiDeck.

16.   “Predstavljanje knjige o akademiku Josipu Baću,” www.vecernji.ba. https://www.vecernji.ba/vijesti/predstavljanje-knjige-o-akademiku-josipu-bacu-1065028 (accessed Oct. 06, 2021).