Experts Address Public’s Water Questions

To mark the initiative’s first anniversary and World Water Day, a professional conference titled "We are big on water" was held on March 24th in Šibenik.

 

The initiative and event were led and organized by the Šibenik-Knin County Tourist Board, with this year’s partners being Krka National Park and the Šibenik Water Supply and Sewerage Company (Vodovod i odvodnja Šibenik). This marks the first time the initiative has been supported by these two major stakeholders in the region’s water and nature management, sending a strong message about the importance of joint efforts in protecting drinking water.

Connecting Experts with the Local Community and Elevating the Small Giants Water Initiative

Gathered experts from various fields related to water, water management systems, water quality, and its protection addressed both general and highly practical questions about water.

Common beliefs about tap water quality, limescale levels, and the cleanliness of our karst region were examined and clarified by the experts through a panel discussion and interaction with the audience.

 

 

Major messages of the event

Some of the topics discussed by the gathered experts began with the fact that Croatia — and especially the Šibenik-Knin County — is rich in water resources.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Danko Biondić, Head of the Development and Water Management Planning Sector at Hrvatske vode, emphasized that while there is currently no general concern about our water supply, this does not diminish the importance of protecting it and raising awareness about responsible water management.

Lidija Bujas, BSc Eng., from the County Institute of Public Health, repeatedly stressed that the monitoring of our drinking water is regular and transparent. However, she pointed out that more attention needs to be given to the many unprotected drinking water sources in the county.

Đorđa Medić, BSc Eng., a chemical research analyst from Hrvatske vode, also highlighted the high quality of our water, which is subject to rigorous testing and control.

We often treat water irresponsibly. Dr. Neven Cukrov warned that sinkholes are not just holes in the ground — they are direct pathways through which our waste reaches underground water supplies, quickly and without filtration, due to the nature of the karst terrain.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Biondić also shared a message with the youth: “Think about your future and consider enrolling in studies that will allow you to work with water and its management.” There is a shortage of engineers and professionals at all levels, and without them, we cannot manage this resource that ranks us among the richest in Europe.

 

 

 

 

Pools in Tourism, Limescale in Water – The Most Common Questions

Before the conference, the initiative organizers gathered field questions that they sought answers to from the experts.

How can we reconcile the growing number of pools in tourism with water protection?

In response to the first question, Bujas explained that the real threat is not filling the pools, but rather the disposal of treated pool water.

Many citizens are unaware that such water should not be released into the environment, but instead must go to drainage or a septic tank. Recently, in the hinterland of Šibenik, discharged pool water caused the disappearance of a frog population in puddles where the chlorinated water ended up. "Would you drink water from a bathtub in which you had previously bathed (with added chlorine)?", Cukrov adds.

 

 

Is Šibenik’s Water Really Full of Limescale? What Does It Mean for Our Health?

In response to the most common question from our citizens about limescale, Biondić and Bujas clarify that limescale is not harmful to health; in fact, it is what gives the water its pleasant taste. Limescale is a result of dissolved minerals in the water, primarily calcium and magnesium. Demineralized water would be completely tasteless.

Our Šibenik water is moderately hard and contains no more limescale than water in other parts of Croatia. If the water is excessively mineralized, as is the case with mineral waters, it should be consumed in moderation.

Limescale in water primarily damages appliances, especially those that heat water, such as boilers, irons, kettles, dishwashers, coffee machines, and more.

 

 

We are big on water - why this title and what does it mean?

This catchy phrase, although in English, holds multiple meanings in just a few words. Here, in a county rich in drinking water, where the second largest babies in the world are born, and where the average height of high school students has reached the global peak, we can say that we are big on water.

We have water in abundance, we are rich in water, and most importantly, we are becoming increasingly aware of its importance and take pride in it. The English phrase We are big on water can be literally translated as, "We are excited about water!"

Engaged Youth – Šibenik’s High School Students

 

The event was also attended by high school students from Šibenik’s schools, the Tourist and Hospitality School and the Antun Vrančić Gymnasium. Two groups of students, after completing educational programs in their schools organized by the initiative, came equipped with knowledge and impressed our panelists with their engagement and insightful questions.

Some of their questions included what they, as the younger generation, can do to preserve water for the future, how to solve water supply issues in hard-to-reach areas of the county, and questions about microplastics.

One of the main messages of the event was that we must leave clean drinking water for future generations, and that this event is one of the ways we direct our focus to this important responsibility.

Through this event, the Small Giants Water initiative demonstrated its commitment to addressing a range of interesting topics related to this vital resource in an area fortunate enough to develop into a thriving region.