22 Jan Water Management in Croatia
Barbara Kalebić (ESR7)
By protecting water, we protect the environment and human health and ensure the growth of tourism, economy, agriculture, and other activities related to the country’s growth and development.
Nearly two-thirds of the world’s population faces a serious water shortage problem for at least one month a year. It is estimated that by 2030, these severe shortages could cause a displacement of 700 million people worldwide.
Although the 21st century has brought improvement in the field of water management and some special encouragement for more steps forward, not only in Croatia but around the world, it brings new water worries – new challenges as well. It seems that science and technology must play a vital role in devising the solutions that will be necessary to overcome the problems arising from global water scarcity.
What about Croatia?
Croatia belongs to the group of European countries rich in natural water. It has enough water for its own needs, despite its uneven spatial and temporal distribution. Modest water resources at Croatian’s islands and abundance of water in the continental part, requires systematic and sustainable management of water resources, which was established in 1876. Over time, of course, the content and manner of water management changed depending on the political circumstances and the dominant socio-economic problems of a certain period. When entering the European Union in 2013, Croatia became a part of the international community with the highest environmental protection standards in the world.
Compared to the other EU members, Croatia has a poorly developed public drainage system with 46% of connection, and only 28% of collected wastewater has been processed. Therefore, investments have been made to modernize water supply, wastewater collection, and wastewater treatment infrastructure, mostly in urban areas.
A mobile device for wastewater treatment in which drinking water is produced from wastewater offers a fast, reliable, and cost-effective problem-solving service during so-called water crises, and it includes available processes such as reverse osmosis, oxidation, flocculation, electro-flotation, etc.
By using mobile (waste)water purification devices, drinking water can be delivered anywhere and thus solve the problem of areas with clean water scarcity. Additionally, the device purifies wastewater, which contributes to the preservation of clean natural water sources.
To point out, even if Croatia is 5th in Europe and 42nd in the world according to the availability of clean water supplies, these water stocks will not last forever. Maybe there is still enough clean water during your lifetime, but what about your grandchildren? If we continue to recklessly use clean water without restoring it to its original state after use, soon the water as we know it today will no longer be available to us.
As part of the Noweltis project, I believe that I have an excellent opportunity to contribute to the further development of efficient, environmentally friendly and accessible wastewater treatment technologies, and that my work can make people aware of the real water value.
Let us keep water safe today, so we can safely swim in it tomorrow!