Marking a century and a half of organized water management in the Republic of Croatia is an opportunity to pay tribute to the rich tradition of the Croatian water management sector and reaffirm its exceptional role in the country’s development and the preservation of its identity.
Water management has always been inextricably linked to the survival and development of the Croatian people. This is evidenced by the establishment of the Society for the Regulation of the Vuka River on 7 September 1876, headed by Bishop Josip Juraj Strossmayer a great visionary, statesman and champion of progress. Ever since, the water management sector has proudly marked anniversaries of organized water management and reflected on its beginnings in Croatia, while continuing to promote a vision of responsible water management within a system that has evolved over the past century and a half thanks to the knowledge, dedication and expertise of many generations of engineers, experts and employees in the Croatian water management sector. Thanks to their work, the Croatian water management sector has become one of the key drivers of development in harmony with nature and the needs of society and has been recognized beyond the borders of the Republic of Croatia as an example of successful, sustainable and responsible management of one of the world’s most valuable natural resources water.
At a time when the effects of climate change are becoming increasingly pronounced and society’s needs are growing, Croatian Waters (Hrvatske vode), in cooperation with the relevant ministry and their partners, implement numerous infrastructure projects financed with national and European funds, improve public safety, protect lives and property and create the conditions for economic development and a better quality of life throughout Croatia. All activities are carried out in accordance with the highest professional standards, national legislation and European directives. The results confirm that sustainability, responsibility and partnership form the foundation of successful water management. For 150 years, cooperation with state institutions, local and regional self government units, the scientific community, the business sector and many other partners has helped build a system based on expertise, trust, knowledge sharing and shared efforts to find solutions to the challenges of today and tomorrow.
People have always been at the heart of the Croatian water management sector the employees who built the system as it exists today. That is why Croatian Waters devote particular attention to education and professional development as well as to educating the public and young people and raising awareness of the value of water as a fundamental natural resource. Protecting water resources is not the task of a single institution or profession, but a shared responsibility of every individual and society as a whole. By investing in knowledge and encouraging new generations, the sector creates the conditions for the continued development of a system capable of successfully meeting the challenges of the future.
Today, Croatia’s water management system ranks among modern, internationally recognized water management systems. This achievement brings with it a responsibility to continue managing water resources responsibly, investing in people and knowledge and working together to build a sustainable future for generations to come.
Director General of Croatian Waters
mr. sc. Zoran Đuroković, dipl. ing. građ.
